Cordless pruning shears are a godsend. They are light and take the hard work out of pruning branches. Buying the best cordless shear will save you time, money…and your joints will thank you. However, you need to take a close look at many of the products on the market before buying one. Do not buy one that will simply fail on you the next year. A good set of shears should last you quite a while before needing to be replaced.
Gardening, to many people, is a very enjoyable hobby. It allows you to get out and enjoy the outdoor weather, while appreciating the beauty of nature.
However, gardening can also be physically demanding. The hard work needed to be constantly kneeling down or stooped over can have its toll on the body. The need to use large tools or tools that vibrate a lot can also be difficult on the joints and muscles.
You will likely also be interested in our other articles on bushes and trees. We have a comprehensive article on trimming apple trees to help you maximize growth and harvests.
I am always on the lookout for tools that can make my life easier. The repetitive strain that I feel on my joints and muscles as I constantly prune, dig, weed, or till is quite noticeable.
Cordless shears have revolutionized the way I approaching pruning. It is no longer a task that requires constant brute force. Rather, it is quite satisfying to see the branches easily snap and fall onto the ground.
Making this painstaking task easier, also makes me more cognizant about pruning and leads to healthier plants and trees.
Please read further below for my recommendations that are built to last and are effective at pruning.
Comparing Our Top 3 Recommendations
At A Glance
- KOHAM Professional Cordless Electric Shears
- KOMOK Professional Cordless Electric Shears
- Scotts Lithium-Ion Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
- KOMOK Electric Shears
- Sun Joe PJ3600C-RED Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
These are our top recommendations. They work well and they’re blades are made with quality steels that will hold an edge. Our top picks also come with extra batteries to make sure you can complete your pruning tasks without needing to pause to get an extra charge. Please keep reading below to learn more about each one.
Best Cordless Pruning Shears
KOHAM Professional Cordless Electric Shears
KOHAM’s pruner is designed to be both durable and easy to use. The blade is crafted from high carbon steel, so it’s incredibly strong and sharp and can snip through branches that are nearly an inch in diameter. It is lightweight and the handle features an ergonomic grip so that doing any sort of cutting is comfortable, even over long periods of time. Meanwhile, two lithium-ion batteries ensure that it can be used for an extended period before needing to be recharged.
KOMOK Professional Cordless Electric Shears
These KOMOK’s pruner can perform any task with ease. The two lithium batteries charge quickly and can be used for between six and seven hours before requiring another charge. These batteries are also designed to have a long life, so the shears can be used for many years to come. It is also designed to be durable, with a high carbon steel blade and brushless motor. The blade can easily cut through branches that are up to 1.2 inches thick. The shears are also ergonomically designed and shockproof, so using them is as comfortable as possible.
Scotts Lithium-Ion Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
The ergonomic, soft cushion handle of this product makes trimming trees or shrubs simple and comfortable. Scotts’ product is also lightweight, which helps to reduce fatigue while using it. A dual-pull safety trigger also makes it simpler and safer to trim anything, including branches up to 7/8ths of an inch thick, in the garden. In addition, it features a 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery that offers a long use time. Gardeners can expect to make between 200 and 800 cuts before needing to recharge it.
WARNING: Be careful when you plug the charger cord into this pruner. As the instructions say, remove the battery before plugging in the charger. If you do not, the pruning shear will close to the locked position. This will happen regardless of whether the actual charge is plugged in or not. If you do this, you are at risk of the blades closing on your finger or limb. Follow the directions and remove the battery before plugging the charging cord in. Or..at least make sure everything is clear from the blades paths before plugging it in.
Other than this one warning above, it works wonderfully. It makes clean cuts with the simple push of the trigger button (as well as the safety lock). It can cut branches up to ¾” diameter with ease and your joints will be thanking you. The trigger is very easy to push.
KOMOK Electric Shears
These shears were specifically crafted to make trimming plants in a garden incredibly simple. The steel blade can cut through branches that are more than half an inch thick, and the sharpness of the blade ensures that plants are not damaged during trimming. The lightweight design also means that gardeners won’t need to worry about putting stress on their hands or wrists during trimming. It also feature LED lights for better visibility and increased safety. In addition, its battery will last between six and eight hours before requiring a recharge.
Sun Joe PJ3600C-RED Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
Sun Joe’s product can easily and quickly cut through branches up to half an inch in diameter. The handle is ergonomic and features a rubber grip for added safety and comfort. A safety switch, LED lights for enhanced visibility, and a blade cover also maximize safety while using this tool. In addition, its 3.6-volt battery takes only about an hour to fully charge and can make up to 750 cuts before needing to be charged again.
Also make sure to check out our saucer magnolia tree guide here on the Green Pinky.
Pruning Guide
Pruning is essential to the health of your trees and shrubs. It not only helps you shape your plant appropriately, but it also removes dead branches that can be detrimental.
When you are pruning, you must have a general understanding of what you are doing. Improper cutting can result in lasting damage. Each cut has the potential to change the growth of your tree or shrub, so each limb that is pruned should be removed with a reason in mind.
Some of common reasons for cutting a limb might be to remove dead branches or to increase light and air penetration to the tree’s crown.
General Guidelines
When you are pruning, you want to prune diseased, broken or dead branches. These branches, if left unpruned, can be a source of disease for your tree or shrub. This process is known as cleaning. It can generally be done at any time during the year.
Thinning is the removal of branches to improve the structure of the tree or shrub. This will allow for better light and air penetration in through the crown. It also helps retain the tree’s natural shape.
Remove any downward-growing branches and branches that are entangled. If there are two limbs that are crossing, then simply remove one of them at the base.
Get rid of any tree branches along the trunk that are bigger in diameter than the trunk.
Young Trees and Shrubs
Pruning is necessary to immature plants. It develops a tree with strong structure and a desirable form. Trees that receive the appropriate trimming when they are young will need less attentive trimming as it matures.
When you are first planting a young tree, only remove the dead or broken branches. Pruning for the reason of training should occur in the dormant season following the planting.
Prune to shape the tree, but don’t cut back the leader. The leader is the branch that typically grows the fastest. In fact, don’t let any secondary branches to outgrow the main leader.
Make sure the cuts are just outside the branch collar. This will prevent damage to the trunk and compromise the tree’s wound response. If you prune incorrectly, it can lead to permanent internal decay.
Young shrub require less trimming than young trees. Nonetheless, you can use the same principles to develop good structure. Thin out branches for good spacing and to encourage good airflow and light penetration. Prune out dead or diseased branches.
You can check out this site for more tips and picture on pruning young trees and shrubs.
Mature Plants
If you have a large tree, we recommend that you leave the pruning to professionals for safety reasons.
For smaller, mature trees, think about thinning the crown. Remove weak branches to promote better form and health of the tree. By thinning the crown, you allow for better light penetration and air movement.
You can also consider crown raising. Prune the lower branches of your tree to raise the crown so that you give more clearance from the ground. By doing so, you allow for better foot traffic around your tree particularly if your tree is near a street or sidewalk.
It is ideal to prune in the late dormant season (late in winter or early spring).
Choosing A Quality Product
Cordless shears will make the painstaking task of pruning much easier. It is a worthwhile investment of your money and will save you many hours as well as joint pains.
Choosing a durable product is important. You want to choose a shear that won’t break easily, has a long-lasting battery, and will stay sharp.
Premium Blade Material
The highest quality electric shears are made with carbon steel. Carbon steels are some of the strongest metals in the world. Carbon steel is steel with high carbon contents, up to 2.1% in weight.
As a steel’s carbon percentage rises, the steel itself becomes harder and stronger. Higher carbon steels are also more difficult to weld, which is why they can be more expensive. Because it is stronger, carbon steel also holds a good edge.
Prevent Rust
Steels are prone to rusting, so make sure to keep your blades in a clean and dry place. If you are going to rinse them off, make sure to wipe it off with a towel. Not that this is a likely situation, but try not to let the blades touch acid. Acid is another thing that can cause more oxidation, which leads to rust.
When rust forms, it creates more surface area, which then further compounds the situation. Rust begets rust. So if and when you see rust, try clean it off early.
There are many ways to remove rust. One effective way is to use a 3000 grit sandpaper to clean it off. This usually won’t scratch the surface of the blades too much. You can also use something such as Barkeeper’s friend to help remove rust.
Lightweight with a Trigger that is Easy to Press
If you are buying a cordless pruner, you are doing so to help make the task of pruning. As such, make sure that whatever you buy has a trigger that is easy to press and is lightweight and easy to hold. All of the products that I have suggested fit these criteria. I have seen certain pruners that have triggers that are extremely difficult to press or simply have very poor handle ergonomics.
Battery Capacity
Compare battery capacity to see how long of a charge the pruner you are buying can hold. Obviously bigger is better as it will let your work longer and prune more branches.
You want a pruner that preferably has a lithium ion battery because these batteries have less “memory’ and will deteriorate less over time. This means that they will stand up through the test of time and work for many seasons to come.
Our top two picks are able to hold quite a long charge. The rest of the choices also hold a decent charge and should last you for a typical days work, but their batteries don’t last quite as long.
Bottom Line
Again, I recommend buying the Koham Cordless Electric Pruning Shears. It is our top pick because it is high quality and will last a long time. If you buy a pruner that is not on this list, make sure it has a blade that can hold an edge and that it is built with quality material so that it will not break down after one season of usage.
–The Green Pinky