Throughout the gardening year, cutting tools are essential for pruning plants and keeping them healthy, attractive, and within bounds – and also to help promote good crops of flowers and fruit. There are many types of cutting tools available for garden use, including secateurs, pruning shears, loppers, and saws. Each is designed for a specific purpose and comes in different shapes and sizes, but they all have one thing in common: the need to be kept sharp.
Benefits of Sharp Cutting Tools
When pruning plants, it is crucial to ensure that the cuts made are clean and accurate. A sharp blade slices smoothly through plant tissues, leaving behind a clean, precise cut. Precise cuts allow the plant to heal quicker and more efficiently, reducing the risk of disease and infection. A sharp blade also keeps the wound created to a minimal size, reducing the amount of stress placed on the plant as it heals.
Why Blunt Tools are Bad for Your Plants?
Dull blades crush and tear plant tissues, leaving behind ragged cuts that may take longer to heal. When plant tissues are torn through using a blunt blade, an open wound that’s more susceptible to diseases and pests can be formed. These wounds can take longer to heal, which leaves the plant vulnerable to infection. When pruning with a dull blade, you may also need to apply more force to make the cut, which can result in a less precise finish. When having to apply more force, the stems of plants can become damaged in the process.
In addition to promoting plant health, using sharp cutting tools has several benefits for the gardener. Sharp blades make pruning easier and more efficient, reducing the strain on your hands and wrists. Dull blades, on the other hand, require more force to make cuts, leading to fatigue and discomfort.
Kent & Stowe Cutting Tools
When it comes to selecting cutting tools, investing in quality equipment with sharp blades is sensible. Kent & Stowe cutting tools have been expertly designed with the gardener in mind. Our SureCut cutting range has many features to ensure your tools remain sharp. These include high quality SK5 carbon steel heat-treated blades on secateurs and premium ground carbon steel blades with non-stick PTFE coating for rust resistance and a smoother cut on our range of loppers.
The Sharpest, Hardest Blades
Our Eversharp cutting tools have the sharpest, hardest, anti-rust blades on the market and come with a confident 10 year guarantee.
Why choose Eversharp?
- Cutting-edge blade technology
- Extraordinary chassis design
- Formula 1 plasma coating for incredible hardness
- Ultra-hard steel – tested to 4800 Rockwells (the average secateurs are only 54 Rockwells)
- Harder and two times sharper than any other blade
- Six times longer lasting than any other blade
These features are available in All Purpose Secateurs, Hard Wood Secateurs, Garden Snips as well as All Purpose Lite Secateurs for those who prefer a lighter tool.
Caring for Cutting Tools
Cutting tools need particular care – they should be sterilised regularly to prevent the transfer of plant diseases. Submerge the blades in disinfectant, dry them with an old towel, then apply oil over the metal parts. Dried-on sap can be removed with wire wool. Find out more on how to care for your garden tools.
