It's the garden tool you use most often: roses, shrubs, citrus, vines, olive trees… Yet many gardeners buy their secateurs without knowing there are two very different mechanisms. Bypass secateurs and anvil secateurs don't cut the same way, and the wrong choice can damage plants or tire your hand. In this guide we explain how to choose secateurs in Morocco, compare the models available (including Gardena secateur prices) and detail the care needed to keep a clean cut for years.
Contents
Bypass or anvil secateurs: the difference
Bypass secateurs
Two blades cross like a pair of scissors: the cutting blade slides past a counter-blade. The cut is clean, without crushing the tissue, which helps the plant heal well. These are the go-to secateurs for green wood: flowers, young shoots, roses, fruit trees, olive trees, vines.
Anvil secateurs
A single sharp blade closes onto a flat anvil. All the force is concentrated on the branch, so they cut dry wood, dead wood and hard woody stems more easily. On living wood, however, they can slightly crush the bark and are less precise for cutting just above a bud.
| Feature | Bypass | Anvil |
|---|---|---|
| Principle | Two blades that cross | One blade closing onto an anvil |
| Cut quality | Very clean, no crushing | Powerful, may crush green wood |
| Best for | Green wood, flowers, fruit trees, olive trees | Dry wood, dead wood, hard stems |
| Precision near buds | Excellent | Average |
| Effort on hard wood | Higher | Lower |
In practice, if you buy only one pair, choose bypass secateurs: they handle most pruning in a garden. An anvil model is a useful extra for clearing dead wood.
Criteria for choosing your secateurs
- Maximum cutting diameter: stated by the manufacturer (from 12 to 25 mm in our range). Don't exceed it: forcing bends the blades and strains the wrist.
- Hand size: secateurs that open too wide for a small hand soon become tiring. Some models have an adjustable opening.
- Handles: ergonomic, with a soft component or shock absorber if you prune for long periods.
- Blades: stainless or coated steel to resist corrosion and sap; replaceable blades extend the tool's life.
- Locking: a lock you can operate with one hand is more practical and safer.
Secateurs at Brico MIM and their prices
| Model | Type | Max cut | Key feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOTAL THT0109 | 205 mm secateurs | 12 mm | Aluminium body, low price | 45 DH |
| Gardena EasyCut | Bypass | 20 mm | Lightweight, stainless blades | 149 DH |
| Gardena PremiumCut anvil | Anvil | 20 mm | Dry wood and woody stems | 159 DH |
| Gardena PremiumCut Flex | Bypass | 24 mm | Adjustable S/M opening | 179 DH |
| Gardena PremiumCut Pro | Bypass | 24 mm | Shock absorber | 239 DH |
| Gardena Comfort B/L aluminium | Bypass | 25 mm | Aluminium handles, replaceable blades | 379 DH |
For occasional use
The TOTAL THT0109 secateurs (45 DH) handle small stems up to 12 mm, with an aluminium body and non-slip handles. The Gardena EasyCut secateurs (149 DH) make an excellent first pair: lightweight, stainless-steel bypass blades with PowerCoating, cutting up to 20 mm and a one-handed lock. Gardena states a 10-year commercial warranty.
For dead wood
The PremiumCut anvil secateurs (159 DH) are specially designed for dry wood and woody stems up to 20 mm, with ErgoTec handles and a 25-year Gardena commercial warranty.
For frequent, long pruning sessions
The PremiumCut Flex (179 DH) cuts up to 24 mm and its opening adjusts to two positions (S or M) to fit your hand. The PremiumCut Pro (239 DH) adds a shock absorber in the handles that protects your wrists during long sessions, such as pruning an orchard. Both carry a 25-year commercial warranty.
The premium choice
The Comfort B/L aluminium secateurs (379 DH) cut up to 25 mm with a slim, angled cutting head. Aluminium handles with a soft component, non-stick coated blade, sap groove, wire cutter, replaceable blades and an adjustable pivot bolt: a tool built to last, with a 25-year Gardena warranty.
Brico MIM tip: for a garden with olive or fruit trees, the most effective combination is 24 mm bypass secateurs for green wood and anvil secateurs for dead wood. That way you keep your main pair sharp for longer.
Beyond 25 mm: loppers and saws
As soon as a branch exceeds the diameter stated on your secateurs, switch tools. Long-handled loppers, like the Gardena EasyCut L 670 mm / 45 mm loppers, multiply your force; for thicker sections, a TOTAL pruning saw (from 130 DH) does the job cleanly. Find the full range in our tree care tools section, and read our guide pruning trees and hedges: from secateurs to chainsaws.
Cutting properly with secateurs
- Place the branch deep in the blades, close to the pivot, not at the tip: that's where the force is greatest.
- Cut at a slight angle, a few millimetres above an outward-facing bud, so water doesn't sit on the wound.
- With bypass secateurs, keep the cutting blade on the side of the part that stays on the plant: that's where the cut will be cleanest.
- Never twist the secateurs to finish a cut: if it resists, the branch is too thick.
- Wear gloves, especially on roses, thorny citrus and cacti.
For olive pruning periods in Morocco, see our olive tree pruning and care calendar.
Looking after your secateurs: cleaning, sharpening, oiling
After every session
- Remove the sap with a damp cloth or brush: as it dries, it gums up the blades and encourages rust.
- Disinfect the blades with a cloth soaked in household alcohol, especially between two trees if one looks diseased, so you don't spread disease.
- Dry carefully, then put a drop of oil on the pivot and a light film on the blades.
- Store them locked, somewhere dry, hung by their loop if the model has one.
Sharpening your secateurs
Secateurs that chew stems or need more force need sharpening. Use a sharpening stone or a small suitable file and keep to the original bevel angle. On bypass secateurs, sharpen only the bevelled side of the cutting blade; the flat face, which slides against the counter-blade, must not be rounded off — just remove the light burr. On an anvil model, sharpen the blade following its bevels; the anvil itself is not sharpened. Work with gloves on, with the blades locked or removed if the manual allows.
Adjusting and replacing
If stems get caught between the blades, there may be too much play: some models, like the Comfort B/L, have an adjustable pivot bolt and replaceable blades. A chipped or bent blade cuts badly even when sharpened: it's then better to replace it or change tools.
Frequently asked questions
Which secateurs should I choose for pruning an olive tree?
Bypass secateurs of 24 or 25 mm for green shoots, plus loppers or a pruning saw for thicker branches. Add anvil secateurs if you have a lot of dead wood to remove.
How much do Gardena secateurs cost in Morocco?
At Brico MIM, Gardena secateurs range from 149 DH (EasyCut) to 379 DH (Comfort B/L aluminium), with 159 DH for the PremiumCut anvil, 179 DH for the PremiumCut Flex and 239 DH for the PremiumCut Pro.
How often should I sharpen my secateurs?
It depends on use: generally at the start of the pruning season, then whenever the cut becomes less clean. Regular cleaning and oiling mean you'll need to sharpen less often.
Can anvil secateurs cut green wood?
Yes, but they may slightly crush living tissue. For a clean cut on green wood, choose bypass secateurs.
Do you deliver all over Morocco?
Yes, Brico MIM delivers to every city in Morocco, with cash on delivery.
Choose the secateurs that suit you
Genuine Gardena and TOTAL secateurs, loppers and pruning saws. Free advice on WhatsApp, delivery all over Morocco and cash on delivery.
0 comments