Pruning shears are one of the most researched tools by those who design effective equipment for pruning. Alongside chain pruners, loppers, and saws, they are part of the essential gear for anyone involved in pruning operations and are now equipped with increasingly advanced technologies.
Essential in every pruning season, professional-quality shears like those from Campagnola ensure clean cuts on every type of branch, while also providing maximum comfort and productive work sessions. A good tool not only makes your work more precise and faster, but also significantly reduces physical effort—especially if you spend many consecutive hours working in the field. Well-designed tools also improve the quality of cuts, thereby decisively contributing to the health of the plant.
Choosing the right pruning shears is not as easy as it may seem. Many details come into play when the goal is to select the shears that best suit your needs: for example, the type of blade, ergonomics, context of use, the weight of the tool, safety features, and whether it is powered manually, electrically, or pneumatically. Let’s explore how to make the best choice for you!
Manual, battery-powered or pneumatic pruning shears?
The market offers a wide variety of pruning shears designed to meet different needs, use cases, and work methods. They range from traditional manual models to electric and pneumatic tools developed for professional and intensive use. In addition to the drive technology, differences include performance, autonomy, and cutting power. A thorough analysis of the available options is the first step in identifying the solution that best suits your requirements.
Manual pruning shears are ideal for light trimming work or for those who take care of green areas in domestic environments. They are appreciated for their ease of use and cutting precision—provided the blades are made from high-quality materials. A sturdy construction makes a big difference in durability and reliability, while ergonomics and handle design, as well as the cutting mechanism, must be carefully considered.
In addition to classic manual pruning shears, there are many mechanically powered alternatives on the market that make your work easier and help you minimize fatigue while maximizing performance.
Among the most popular alternatives are pneumatic pruning shears, powered by compressed air supplied by PTO compressors, engine-driven compressors, or mounted motor-compressors. Mainly used for intensive work, they are valued for their power, enabling quick and clean cuts even on thick branches. They also save considerable time and deliver high performance even in the most demanding working conditions.
Campagnola offers a wide range of pneumatic pruning shears, but in recent years, our Research & Development team has also focused on optimizing battery-powered pruning shears with plug-in batteries. These tools allow for much greener operation, relying on renewable energy sources and the most advanced lithium-ion technologies.
The main advantage of electric pruning shears with plug-in batteries is practicality: you can move more freely among the branches without cumbersome compressors or backpack batteries and their associated cables. Long battery life, fast charging, and battery interchangeability ensure excellent performance with significantly less physical strain.
How to Choose the Best Pruning Shears: What You Need to Know
Choosing the pruning shears that best suit your needs requires a thorough analysis of several technical and functional aspects. What are the main features to consider for a truly informed choice?
Cutting System of the Shears
The blades are among the first elements to evaluate when buying pruning shears. They must, of course, be strong, sharp, and capable of making precise, clean cuts on branches.
Avoiding burrs and imperfections is essential to safeguard plant health and ensure top-quality pruning work. Campagnola shears, for example, feature high-strength forged steel blades—a material that provides durability and reliability to the cutting mechanism and ensures long-lasting performance, even under intensive use.
Moreover, the cutting system can vary: bypass blade, double-cut, and anvil types.
- Bypass shears make a clean cut with a single blade that slides past a counter-blade. Ideal for green and tender branches, they ensure a smooth and easily healing cut.
- Double-cut shears have two blades that move toward the centre of the branch, cutting from both sides. This reduces compression and promotes faster healing.
- Anvil shears have a sharp blade that cuts against a flat surface (the anvil). Recommended for dry, hard, or woody branches, they allow for precision and control in the most demanding cuts.
Choosing the right cutting system means not only achieving better results but also making your work easier and reducing stress on the plant.
Many pruning shears are designed for universal use, while others are specifically engineered to meet the needs of particular operators. For example, some shears have blades specifically designed for vineyard work, while others are meant for pruning olive trees, fruit trees, ornamental plants, or home gardens.
For companies like ours, committed to the design and manufacturing of pruning tools, the goal is to continually develop increasingly high-performance and specialized technologies.
However, to ensure consistently effective cutting, even the best tool must be kept in top condition. Proper routine maintenance includes cleaning and, most importantly, blade sharpening, which is crucial to maintain cutting precision and avoid damaging the plant.
Ergonomics and User Comfort
Pruning operations often require many hours of work and significant physical effort from the operator. Therefore, shears must be designed with features that improve user comfort and minimize stress on hands and arms.
When selecting your pruning shears, make sure the handle fits the shape of your hand, so you can hold them comfortably and perform multiple consecutive cuts without straining muscles, tendons, or joints.
Ergonomics and handling studies also focus on the materials used for the handles to ensure a firm grip and prevent slipping. In addition, some technological features allow for more practical use of the tool. For example, the “double-click” trigger system—present on some of our shears and patented by Campagnola—allows for a quick switch between 70% and 100% blade opening.
In addition to the size and shape of the handle, the overall weight of the tool must also be carefully considered. A lighter weight reduces fatigue, even during intensive use. The construction of the body in technopolymer or technopolymer reinforced with carbon fibre makes it possible to produce tools that are lightweight and practical for daily use.
Using a lightweight shear means less strain on your limbs and back. The batteries are also designed to keep the total weight of the tool low, minimizing physical fatigue for the user.
Safety systems
Pruning shears offered by well-known and trusted brands like Campagnola are equipped with effective safety systems designed to protect both the user’s well-being and the health of the plants, as well as the integrity of any supporting trellises.
For example, some models include a safety feature that prevents the blades from opening accidentally when the tool is switched on, unless a rapid double press (within one second) is performed on the trigger. The same applies when switching the tool off.
Additionally, some of Campagnola’s plug-in electric shears feature an anti-cut system specifically for trellis wire. The ability to connect the tools to fixed or telescopic extension poles is another advantage that increases operator safety. This allows users to cut high branches without having to use ladders—one of the main risk factors for workplace accidents.
Maintenance of Pruning Shears for Long-Term Use
When you want to ensure you’re purchasing a reliable and durable pruning shear, make sure the brand you choose has a network of dealers and service centres that can offer professional support for correct usage and extraordinary maintenance when needed.
Regular maintenance is always necessary; for example, to keep your pruning shears in excellent condition, it is essential to sharpen the blades regularly. Likewise, it is good practice to thoroughly clean the blades and moving parts after each use, removing residues, sap, and debris that could, over time, affect cutting performance and lead to premature wear.
Campagnola-branded professional pruning shears are designed to last, but it’s your daily care that leads to long-lasting performance and quality.
Campagnola Shears: Your Best Ally in the Field
Campagnola pruning shears offer numerous advantages in terms of efficiency, practicality, power, lightness, autonomy, and comfort. Their high-resistance blades ensure consistently clean cuts, even under challenging conditions, while safety systems and the ability to mount fixed or telescopic extension poles help maintain high safety standards during your pruning operations.
Their design and weight balance are engineered for those who, like you, work in the field even in the toughest conditions, while ergonomics and ease of use help reduce fatigue and ensure maximum freedom of movement. With our manual, pneumatic, and electric models, you can count on excellent versatility, whatever type of plant you’re working on.
Need personalized advice on choosing your next pruning shears? Contact your nearest Campagnola dealer!