Spring is here and it’s time to start gardening. There are plenty of things to do here, but not so much time. That is why every gardener uses such working tools that only contribute to the optimization of his work. One of these tools is a high-rise lopper (scissors that are used to trim trees). In this article, we will focus on the high-rise lopper (pole cutter), because. it is he who is a universal assistant in gardening.
Design
Garden loppers are divided into two types: rod loppers and simply high-rise loppers (high-cutters). A high-rise (high cut) externally is a garden pruner with an elongated handle, with which it is very convenient to prune tall trees and bushes. There is no need to expend super effort. Also, due to its long handle, the load on the lopper itself is reduced during pruning, which allows you to cut even fairly thick branches of trees.
Basically, there are two types of loppers: with parallel blades (so-called “bypass”) and with a persistent surface (anvil). Bypass loppers consist of two blades, one of which, as a rule, is presented in the form of a hook. It is he who holds the branch during pruning, preventing it from slipping out. The ends of such secateurs can be different: curved, straight, as well as one curved, the other straight.
Such a garden pruner operates on the principle of scissors. When using such an elongated pruner, the cut is the so-called. “clean”, which contributes to the rapid healing of the tree. Anvil loppers operate on a slightly different principle. Basically, they have one blade that is pointed and the other is not (it serves as a support, but does not cut). Common to these types of loppers is the presence of an adjustable spring-loaded screw. Anvil loppers may also have an additional screw with which the lower part of the lopper can be moved and, if necessary, replaced.
Where to use
Basically, loppers are used for trimming branches whose diameter does not exceed 5 cm. Bypass loppers can be deformed when cutting hard branches. Dry branches can also bend the lopper blades. Given the fact that such a pruner makes the cut softer and less traumatic for the tree, it is more suitable for trimming live branches.
Due to the fact that the lower part (anvil) of anvil loppers is made of a softer material than the blade itself, so they press the branch more than cut it, sometimes leaving a cut that opens the tree to various infections. The advantage of this type of long garden lopper is low cutting force and less fiber jamming. As a rule, I use this type of loppers for trimming dry wood or when removing live residues before making the final cut with a bypass lopper.
Video “Crop Tools”
The technical side
At the moment, there are several varieties of garden loppers (high cutters):
- mechanical cutters. Outwardly, they resemble an ordinary pruner, only with a long handle. It is possible to work with such a tool, as well as with a pruner, only in manual mode. This type of pole cutter is the easiest to use and, moreover, the most economical;
- motor loppers, in their design they often resemble chain saws.
Motor poles, in turn, are divided into electric and gasoline.
- electrical. Operates from a permanently switched on power supply. That is, when the electricity is turned off, working with such a pole cutter will be impossible.
- gasoline. Such poles have high power, but require high fuel costs. But, unlike electric ones, they can work offline.
The pole high-rise lopper allows you to work with trees up to 4 meters high, and with the help of an attached bar – up to 6 meters. But it should be borne in mind that the longer the handle, the more difficult it is to work with this delimber.
Such a tool can cut branches with a diameter of up to 32 mm. If it is necessary to work with branches of 100 mm, it is possible to attach a saw. In addition, with the help of such a lopper, you can harvest the crop located on the highest branches. Also, the internal system of such a pole cutter helps not to get entangled in densely located tree branches. There is also an adjustable angle of rotation of the cut.
A conventional high-rise delimber is a cheap analogue of a rod pruner. In terms of functionality, they are almost the same. As a rule, such a lopper works at a height of no more than 4 meters, since in a higher plane it requires considerable force, which is not always available.
The main difference from the rod pole pruner is a fairly large control system – an external rope, a pulley mechanism … it is the presence of these structures that leads to frequent entanglement of the lopper in the branches, which sometimes makes working with it simply unbearable. But, as many believe, this is more than offset by the price of this type, which is an order of magnitude lower than the rod counterpart.
Choice
It is worth remembering that you can not buy the first tool you see. Let’s name the basic rules that you need to follow when buying a delimber.
- when going to the store, take a couple of branches with you, on which you can test the tool you like. As a rule, if the tool is of poor quality, then after the first two cuts it will start to work worse or stop altogether;
- check the strength of the handles;
- try to forget about loppers with aluminum or plastic parts. Such tools deteriorate rather quickly, which no one needs;
- the lightness of the tool is a very important aspect, because it is you who will have to use it in the future (lift, twist and wear). So when buying a heavy instrument, be prepared for the fact that your hands will be in a not very good (always tired) condition.
Among the main models of loppers, the most popular are:
- Wolf-Garten RS 650T 7278000. Telescopic with anvil. Powerful enough. Used for cutting hard branches;
- “Centroinstrument 1141”. Good for long term use. It is used for cutting not only branches, but also wire up to 26 mm thick;
- Raco 4210-53 / 221. its light weight makes it indispensable for female gardeners. Also used for the cultivation of shrubs and hedges.
When choosing such tools, remember that the further beauty and well-groomedness of your garden depends on the care of your choice.
Video “Varieties of secateurs”
This tool is a kind of secateurs. With a large assortment of which you will be able to get acquainted in the next video.
