Bypass Secateurs: Monty Don's Pruning Tool of Choice

Secateurs are the gardener's constant companion. Monty Don keeps a pair in his back pocket at all times when he is in the garden, ready to deadhead a fading bloom, snip a wayward shoot, or take a cutting from a plant that catches his eye. He is emphatic about one thing: always use bypass secateurs, never anvil. The distinction matters enormously.

Bypass vs Anvil — Why Monty Don Won't Compromise

Bypass secateurs work like scissors — two curved blades pass each other, making a clean, precise cut that causes minimal damage to plant tissue. Anvil secateurs, by contrast, press a single blade down onto a flat surface, which crushes the stem rather than cutting it. Crushed stems heal slowly and are far more susceptible to disease and rot. For any living plant material, bypass is the only sensible choice. Anvil secateurs have their place for cutting dead wood, but if you are buying one pair, bypass is the answer.

The Secateur Brands Monty Trusts

The market leader for decades has been Felco, and with good reason. The Felco Model 2 is perhaps the most popular secateur in the world — used by professional gardeners, viticulturists, and horticulturalists everywhere. It is fully serviceable, meaning every component can be replaced individually: blades, springs, handles, even the adjustment bolt. This means a single pair of Felco 2s can last a lifetime with proper maintenance. Monty has also spoken favourably about Niwaki secateurs, a Japanese-influenced brand that produces exquisitely sharp tools, and about Tobisho, traditional Japanese hand-forged secateurs that are works of art in their own right.

What to Look For When Buying a Secateurs

When buying secateurs, the most important consideration is hand size. Secateurs come in different sizes and in right- and left-handed models. Try before you buy if at all possible — the secateurs should sit comfortably in your palm with the handles fully open, and you should be able to close them fully without straining. The cutting blade should be made from hardened steel and, ideally, be replaceable. Check that the spring mechanism is robust — a weak spring makes for tiring, inefficient cutting. Finally, choose a pair with a reliable locking mechanism to keep them safely closed in your pocket.

"Clean cuts heal faster. Always use bypass, never anvil. And keep them sharp — blunt secateurs tear rather than cut, and that invites disease into the plant."

— Monty Don