40 AMATEUR GARDENING 13 JULY 2019
A
S summer advances, many
flowering plants start to set
seed when blooms fade. Leave
them, and your borders and
containers will soon look a mess.
Make flowering plants bloom for longer and keep your garden looking tidier
with a pair of specialist deadheading snips, says Tim Rumball
Deadheading tools
However, a quick snip to remove dying
flowers will stimulate most plants to
produce fresh buds, extending the
season for weeks, or even months.
Ordinary secateurs are a bit clumsy forthis job. You’ll get a better, cleaner cut
using snipe-nosed pruners or specialist
deadheading snips. I’ve put six different
designs through their paces, so you can
find one to suit your gardening style.Tim tests six products this week to determine the best for you
Tried& tested by Tim Rumball
Darlac DP125
Deadheading Snips
£6.99Features
Lightweight, pocket-sized snips with
carbon steel blades, hard plastic body,
finger loop, sliding blade lock and plastic
blade sheath. Length: 4¾in (12cm).
Weight: 1oz (32g). Lifetime guarantee.Performance
Compact enough to keep in your
pocket all the time, and safe thanks to
the blade sheath and lock, which is easy
to operate. The finger loop and handle
are substantial and give a secure hold.
The blades are slim, very sharp and light
to operate – excellent for deadheading
annuals and perennials but not woodier
stems, and they don’t have the deep,
precision reach of longer-bladed snips.Value
Brilliant for baskets and pots that
constantly need some attention.✆ 01753 547790 for stockists
darlac.comARS 300L
Pointed Fruit Pruner
£9.95 + £3.95 postage✆ 020 8805 3535 for stockists
tooled-up.comFeatures
Steel handles with non-slip, lightweight
grips, specially hardened high carbon
steel blades and handle loop blade lock.
Length: 7½in (19cm). Weight: 3¾oz
(110g). One-year guarantee.Performance
They look plain and utilitarian, but these
snips do a nice job and are clearly well
engineered. They cut beautifully, thanks
to excellent blades, which deal well with
soft or woody material, and offer good
reach for snipping out the long stems.
The non-slip grip handles feel secure
and comfy in use, but unfortunately
the loop blade lock is irritatingly fiddly
to slide on and off.Value
No-frills snips that work well, but they
could do with a better blade lock.Burgon & Ball
Ergo Deadheader
£9.99 + £4.99 delivery✆ 0114 233 8262 for stockists
burgonandball.comFeatures
Ergonomically designed ‘wearable’
pruner with finger loop and palm handle
for control and stability. Carbon steel
blades. Blade lock. Length: 5½in (14cm).
RHS endorsed. 10-year guarantee.
Performance
Snug and secure with forefinger
through the loop. Blade lock turns off
one handed, but is easier to turn on with
the other hand. Strong, sharp blades and
well-sprung scissor action make light
work of repetitive light deadheading.
Blades deal with woody stems and
have fair reach for cutting out long
stems. Works well right-handed, but
not so well left-handed.
Value
An interesting and very usable tool
at a good price.
Features
0114 233 8262 for stockists
burgonandball.comErgonomically designed ‘wearable’
pruner with finger loop and palm handle
for control and stability. Carbon steel
Features
020 8805 3535 for stockists
tooled-up.comSteel handles with non-slip, lightweightdarlac.comFeatures
Lightweight, pocket-sized snips with
carbon steel blades, hard plastic body,Lightweight, pocket-sized snips with
carbon steel blades, hard plastic body,01753 547790 for stockists
darlac.comcarbon steel blades, hard plastic body,
finger loop, sliding blade lock and plasticFeatures
Lightweight, pocket-sized snips with
carbon steel blades, hard plastic body,darlac.comScore13
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