Kent & Stowe Traditional Bypass Secateurs

Please Note: From November 1st, 2019, In accordance with the Offensive Weapons Act 2019, this product is prohibited for sale to anyone under the age of 18. Before the product is handed over, the courier will require age verification at the point of delivery. Alternatively, you can pick up in store and show your ID.

What is the Kent & Stowe Traditional Bypass Secateurs?

Kent & Stowe traditional bypass secateurs are drop forged for strength and durability. The high quality carbon steel blades are non-stick and suited to cutting delicate green stems. The bypass action is less likely to cause bruising to the stem. This tool comes with a 5 year guarantee.

These are the best secateurs for deadheading, taking cuttings, pruning and cutting shoots down to the nearest bud. Use them on roses, shrubs and for general pruning of green live wood. The secateurs have a cutting diameter of 18mm.

Why Choose The Kent & Stowe Traditional Bypass Secateurs?

Use bypass secateurs for cutting green, live wood and young soft woods. The bypass secateurs work by a single sharpened blade passing over a fixed jaw to make a clean, precise cut that will heal quicker. Adhering to best practices, correctly using bypass secateurs will avoid damaging the plant through crushing or bruising. The blade side of the pruning cut is always a little cleaner and clean cuts heal faster.

How Do I Use The Traditional Bypass Secateurs?

Use the traditional bypass secateurs to cleanly cut close to the plants stem or roots. Keep the blades in good condition by wiping them down with an oiled cloth after each use and sharpen them when necessary.

Correct use of secateurs will help your plants, shrubs and trees heal quicker after pruning.

Best Practice Using Bypass Secateurs

Some simple best practice advice:

• 1. Blade on the Inside
• 2. Size matters
• 3. Deep in the jaws
• 4. Leave the branch collar

1. Secateurs blade on the Inside

The simple rule to remember when using bypass secateurs is to keep the blade on the inside of what you're cutting. The blade side of the pruning cut is always a little cleaner and clean cuts heal faster. The non-cutting jaw will slightly crush the stem leading to bruising, keeping the cutting blade on the inside avoids the issue as the damage is on the side that gets cut off.

2. Secateurs size matters

As a general guide don't cut anything larger than diameter of your thumb with secateurs. For larger diameter branches, use a small, agile saw, like the Kent & Stowe folding saw.

3. Deep in the jaws of the secateurs

You can apply a lot more force when the branch, that you're cutting, is deep in the jaws of the secateurs. Larger diameter items, that you want to remove are easier to prune when you apply more force. Avoid using the tips of the blades for cutting wood, it takes more effort and can damage the blade. You're much better off keeping the tips clean for more delicate work, like deadheading.

4. Leave the branch collar

The branch collar is the raised ridge around where a branch attaches to the trunk or branch of the tree. Cutting above the collar allows the tree/shrub to heal quicker. Cutting below the collar can invite disease or kill some healthy wood and future buds.

How Do I Sharpen Secateurs?

In general, you'll need a fine sharpening stone to sharpen your secateurs. A long, thin stone, like the Kent & Stowe Diamond Blade Sharpener enables you to sharpen the secateurs by hand. Refer to the user instructions for the type of sharpening stone you're using.

Garden tip:

• Before using the sharpening stone, prepare it with a few drops of paraffin oil.
• For straight blades, push the sharpening stone forward across the blade on a consistent angle, moving sideways with light downward pressure.
• For a curved blade, (most bypass secateurs) push the sharpening stone forward, working around the curve of the blade on a consistent angle. Maintain sideways movement with light downward pressure as you sharpen.
• Try to maintain the same sharpening angle along the blade.

NOTES:

• For bypass secateurs, it is important to sharpen the outside blade only. Don't sharpen the inside of the blade or the bottom jaw.
• On anvil and parrot beaked secateurs you'll sharpen both sides of the blades.