Best Tree Loppers - Ultimate Buyers Guide

Tree loppers are the perfect solution if you have trees or hedges in your garden that you are looking to maintain. Quick and easy to use, with a sharp blade that makes for easy cutting, tree loppers will allow you to tidy up a range of different plants in your garden if they need a little maintenance. The design of tree loppers also means that they will be able to reduce fatigue on your hands when you are working!

Tree loppers come in a range of different sizes, so that you can reach different heights of branches and also cut through different widths of branches too. Some are smaller, which gives you more accuracy and precision when cutting. Others are much bigger, so that you can reach branches at greater heights without having to use a ladder. Whatever you are looking for – there will be a tree lopper suitable for you!

Best Pick – Davaon Pro Garden Loppers

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In A Hurry?

If the trees and hedges in your garden are quickly taking over then this is the part of the article you need to be reading! We have combined all the essential information right here for those of you that are in a rush to get buying!

Blade

Arguably the most important thing that you need to think about when buying a set of tree loppers are the blades – let’s be honest without these you aren’t getting much pruning done! There are many different aspects that you need to consider when comparing the different blades on tree loppers so we have tried to look at each point in enough detail to help you make an informed decision.

Cutting system – Some blades will cut like standard scissors (but obviously bigger) whereas others will have a ratchet mechanical system with the blades being pulled out of the locked “cut” position. There are benefits to both although the ratchet mechanism does appear to be becoming more popular! A ratchet mechanism will slow down the speed at which you can cut due to the arched design, however it can make it easier to cut into thicker branches that you may struggle with using standard blades.
Blade Material – Ideally you want to look for blades that are made from carbon steel, which is going to be one of the strongest and most durable materials that you can opt for. This can be easily resharpened when the blades become blunt, saving you money and time when cutting, but should also last longer between being sharpened as well.
Anti-stick coating – Blade materials that offer an anti-stick coating are going to be your best option as this will stop sap and dirt from clogging up the blades whilst you are working. It also makes it much easier to actually clean the blades once you have finished the job!
Blade length – The length of your blades is important as this will affect the size of branches that you are able to cut. Longer blades are usually going to open wider, making it easier to cut through bigger branches. But smaller blades are going to be easier to control and work with, so more suitable for jobs that require more precision cutting.

Size and Weight

There are a wide range of sizes found in tree loppers and this really comes down to personal preference and the job that you are wanting to complete! Smaller loppers are generally going to be lighter and therefore easier to work with for longer periods of time. However these will then struggle to work with larger branches so will be suitable more for shrubs and hedges than tree branches. We found weights ranged from as little as around 650g up to 1.4kg depending on the style and size of the tree loppers.

The size of tree lopper that you go for is also going to affect the reach that you have. Some tree loppers have much longer handles which makes it easier to reach higher branches. If you are only working with shrubs and smaller hedges then this may not be necessary for you but is worth considering for anything larger in your garden.

Some models will be able to cut branches up to around 70mm in width, whereas other smaller loppers will only be able to work with around 35/40mm. This is quite a difference and is going to impact on the size of branches you are able to work with – remember the further down a branch you get the thicker it is going to be, but the longer you will then be able to wait before pruning again!

You also need to look at the reach that your tree loppers are able to offer. The first thing we need to mention is that some loppers will actually include a person’s average reach into their measurements when stating the reach the loppers offer! This is important to check for, as you could find yourself comparing the reach lengths inaccurately otherwise! We found loppers offering a reach of around 70cm (for smaller handheld models), to considerably larger depending on the style that is right for you!

TOP TIP: If you know that you are going to be pruning trees in your garden then it may be worth looking for a tree lopper with a telescopic handle. These allow you to extend the tree loppers to a much longer length so you can access those higher branches that are out of reach with much greater ease. Some models that we found give you a maximum reach of up to nearly 450cm!

Build Material

You will find that tree loppers are made out of quite a range of materials, which largely depends on both the style of loppers that you are wanting to purchase and the quality of the build.

Smaller loppers are usually made from wood or metal (although you will find some with plastic parts to make the overall build lighter and cheaper). Wood is by far the most traditional of choices and will offer a strong, sturdy feel when you are pruning. It is also a durable material that will last a long time (providing it is well maintained and not left out in harsh weather for long periods of time). However, you will find that tree loppers that have wooden handles are often going to be heavier than their metal counterparts, which is going to increase fatigue when you are working.

Larger loppers are more often going to be made out of metal. There are so many reasons for this…durability, strength and the lightness that it is able to offer. Look out for metals that are powder coated as these are going to be better protected from rust so therefore able to last longer!

When considering tree loppers that have used plastic as one of the build materials, the first thing that you need to ask yourself is…what parts of the tree loppers used plastic? If it is the main handles of the tree loppers then it would be worth checking if this plastic is being reinforced by any other material, as although plastic is weather resistant it is not going to be as strong. Plastic is much more prone to cracking and snapping when put under pressure so make sure that the plastic elements of your loppers are parts that are not going to be put under as much pressure!

Handle

It is important not to forget to think about the handle on your tree loppers when looking at the essential aspects of the best tree loppers. The handle is going to affect the ease at which you can cut through branches, the length of the overall tree lopper and the overall comfort and usability of your tool.

First and foremost, look at the size of the handles and check that they are going to be comfortable and easy to hold and grip whilst you are working. This can be supported by a comfort grip design made of rubber or similar materials that will have grooves on them to increase the strength of your hold when you are working.

Then look at the design of the handles….are they shaped to reduce effort and wrist fatigue when working? Do they come set in a wider angle or a smaller angle – wider angles are going to allow you to “wrap around” larger branches but this makes it harder to cut in tight corners!

Best Budget – Amtech U2880 Lopper

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What We Found in the Best Tree Loppers

So, in the first part of the article we included our favourite tree lopper to buy and the main features you need to think about before buying. Now it is time to look at some of the features only the best of the best tree loppers have! If you have a number of trees or hedges that you are going to be pruning – or you are just serious about getting the best from your tools so you are not wasting your time and energy then this is what you need to be reading…

Safety lock – Tree loppers are sharp, there is no doubt about that! So look out for tree loppers that have safety locks allowing you to lock the blades shut when the tool isn’t in use. This will help to keep little fingers (and paws!) safe.
Colour – Although you could argue that the colour of your tree loppers aren’t important, we actually found that the best tree loppers all had at least some splashes of brighter colour on them. This is going to avoid the tree loppers becoming buried in all your debris, branches and leaves if you have been completing a bigger cut back!
T-Handle – For telescopic tree loppers look out for a T shaped handle. This may sound like a small thing but will massively increase the hold you can get on your tree lopper when you are working with particularly high branches.
Hook – For bigger loppers look out for an extra hook underneath the blades. This will allow you to grab hold of branches that are out of reach for you otherwise, either to remove them if they have already been cut or to hold them steady so that you can then cut through them! We cannot say enough how much a simple hook will make your life so much easier when tree lopping!
Pull cord operated – Many of the longer, telescopic tree loppers are going to be operated by a pull cord mechanism. If this is the case then make sure to check that the mechanism and rope are going to be strong and durable.

Best of the Rest

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Frequently Asked Questions

What time of year should I cut back my hedges and trees?

If you are just wanting to neaten up your trees or hedges then the best time to do this is after they have flowered (which is obviously going to vary from plant to plant). However, if you are wanting to massively reduce the size of your hedge or tree then the best time to do this is late winter or early spring before growth begins. This will reduce the damage to the tree or hedge.

How often should I sharpen the blades of my tree lopper?

This obviously depends on how regularly you use your tree lopper and the types of branches that you are working with. We would recommend sharpening your blades once a year at a minimum, as this is going to keep the blades cutting through your branches smoothly. However, if at any point you feel the blades starting to “drag” through the branches then this is a sign that your blades may need sharpening more regularly.

What warranty can I get with a tree lopper?

Most tree loppers are going to come with at least a 12 month warranty – however there are many with a much longer warranty than this (some up to 5 years). Remember that it is unlikely the blades of your tree lopper will be included under the warranty as these are a part that will need replacing over time due to general wear and tear.

Is it easy to replace tree lopper blades?

Yes! Almost all tree loppers are going to come with blades that can be changed – you just have to make sure that you are purchasing compatible blades for the tool. You should be able to sharpen your blades around 5 times before you have to replace them to save yourself some money!