Everything to Know About Loppers

What is the use of loppers? As a pruning tool, loppers are used to cut through thicker stems and branches that are difficult to reach with regular pruning shears. If you are preparing tools for your own gardening work, please read on. We'll cover everything you need to know about loppers.

What are Loppers Used for? 

Hand pruners are a tool that almost every gardener will have. They are small enough to be used with one hand and are used to cut off thinner branches or stems. Then, what are loppers used for? You can think of a lopper as a super-sized hand pruner. They are used to cut off thick stems and branches that small shears can't handle, and are especially useful in large gardening projects.

Loppers have longer handles, which means gardeners have more leverage to trim heavier branches. They also have a greater working range, and gardeners can cut branches high up even when standing on the ground. 

How to Use Loppers 

Using loppers efficiently takes a little practice, but once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you managed without them. When you are learning how to use loppers, you want to think about both the ease and accuracy of a cut. To get the best results from using garden loppers, figure out exactly where you want the cut, then line up the blade itself with that location. Another good tip is to be sure to open the blade and get the branch deep inside it prior to cutting. If you let yourself snip with the loppers, like you might with scissors, your hands will get tired very quickly. Once you place the lopper blade correctly, it’s time to cut. Close the loppers around the branch in one smooth motion.

Types of Garden Loppers 

The most popular garden loppers are bypass loppers. Like bypass pruners, these have one blade that slices past a thick base as you close the tool. 

The second are called anvil loppers. The blade in a set of anvil loppers connects with the fat lower base at the end of the cut. This makes them easier to use but less precise than bypass loppers.

Ratchets, compound action, and gears are three different classifications of loppers based on the cutting mechanism. These types of mechanisms multiply the force and allow gardeners to cut through thick branches with less force.

-Ratcheting loppers. Their blades lock on the branch so that the gardener can release and squeeze the handle again, thus cutting large branches continuously with little force.

-Compound loppers. With multiple pivot points and moving parts, these shears need to be opened further to get the blade around the branch.

-Geared loppers. They have a gear mechanism at the fulcrum point that gives you more leverage as you cut.

One thing to keep in mind with all of these types of loppers is that they are usually heavier than other loppers and, with all the extra moving parts and more complex cutting mechanisms, there are more things that can go wrong.

The last type is the lopper with extending handles. This design allows the gardener to use a shorter, more controllable lopper most of the time, but still be able to cut higher or farther branches when needed. Be aware, however, that they are usually heavier than similarly sized non-retractable loppers.