The Art of Flower Arranging: Secateurs

Flowers & Gardens

The Art of Flower Arranging: Secateurs

A secateur, also known as pruning shears, garden scissors, or 'snips' is an indispensable tool for any English gardener. Derived from the French word "secateur," meaning to cut or prune, these tools are essential for maintaining the beauty and health of your garden. This summer, as English gardens burst into bloom, Willow Crossley relies on her trusty secateurs to keep her flowers and shrubs in perfect shape.

Types of Secateurs for Your Garden
Understanding the different types of secateurs is crucial for effective gardening. Here are the main varieties: anvil secateurs, bypass secateurs, and ratchet secateurs.

Anvil Secateurs: These feature a single straight blade that closes onto a flat surface, or "anvil." They are ideal for cutting dead wood. Willow uses these when she needs to clear out tough, woody stems in her summer garden.
Bypass Secateurs: With two curved blades that glide past each other like scissors, these are perfect for making precise cuts on live plants and green wood. Willow's go-to tool for her delicate English roses and peonies.
Ratchet Secateurs: These have a mechanism that allows incremental cutting, making it easier to cut through thicker branches. Willow finds these particularly useful for the stubborn branches in her lush summer garden.

Choosing Between Anvil and Bypass Secateurs

The choice between anvil and bypass secateurs depends on your gardening tasks. Bypass secateurs are generally best for live plants due to their clean cuts, while anvil secateurs are more suited for dead wood. For Willow, her bypass secateurs are indispensable for maintaining the vibrant blooms of her summer flowers.

Professional Grade Secateurs

For those who take their gardening seriously, investing in professional-grade secateurs is a must. Brands like Okatsune 103 secateurs and Burgon offer exceptional quality with sharp, durable blades made of carbon steel. Willow trusts these brands to keep her garden looking its best. Heavy-duty options from Spear and Wolf are also excellent for tackling thicker branches.

Essential Garden Secateurs

Garden secateurs come in various designs to meet different needs:

Heavy Duty Secateurs: Perfect for thick branches and tough stems. Willow relies on these for her more challenging pruning tasks.
Handed Secateurs: Ergonomically designed for comfort, available for both left and right-handed users. These are Willow’s choice for long summer days spent in the garden.
Flower Pruners: Designed for delicate flower stems, ensuring a clean cut without damaging the plant. Willow uses these to create her beautiful floral arrangements.

Keeping Your Secateurs in Top Condition

Maintaining your secateurs is vital for their longevity and performance:

Sharpen Secateurs: Regularly sharpen the blades using a sharpening stone or dedicated tool sharpener. Willow ensures her secateurs are always sharp for precise cuts.
Clean Blades: Wipe the blades clean after each use to remove sap and dirt, preventing rust and ensuring smooth operation. This is a routine part of Willow’s gardening care.
Holster Set: A holster set protects your secateurs and keeps them handy while you work. Willow’s holster set is an essential part of her gardening kit.

Selecting the Right Secateurs for Summer Gardening

Consider the type of plants you’ll be pruning and the size of their stems when selecting secateurs. Japanese secateurs are renowned for their precision and are perfect for the intricate pruning needed in summer gardens. Willow often reaches for her Japanese secateurs when working on her most delicate summer flowers.

Using Secateurs on Specific English Flowers

Summer in England is a time when gardens come alive with a variety of beautiful blooms. Here are some tips from Willow Crossley on how to use secateurs on specific English flowers:

Roses: For roses, use bypass secateurs to make clean cuts just above a leaf bud at a 45-degree angle. This encourages new growth and helps the plant to produce more flowers. Prune roses in late winter or early spring, but during the summer, deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant healthy and blooming.
Peonies: Peonies benefit from deadheading as soon as the blooms start to fade. Cut the spent flowers back to a strong leaf bud. Avoid cutting the leaves until they have turned yellow in the fall, as they are still photosynthesizing.
Lavender: To keep lavender plants bushy and well-shaped, trim them after flowering, usually in late summer. Use sharp bypass secateurs to cut back the stems to just above the woody part of the plant.
Hydrangeas: For hydrangeas, especially the mophead variety, deadhead spent blooms in late summer. Cut back to the first pair of healthy buds below the flower. This keeps the plant looking tidy and encourages future blooms.
Delphiniums: After the first bloom in early summer, cut the flower spikes down to the ground to encourage a second bloom in late summer or early autumn. Use bypass secateurs for a clean cut.
Sweet Peas: Regularly deadhead sweet peas and cut flowers for bouquets to encourage continuous blooming. Cut the stems just above a leaf node.

Order Your Ideal Pair Today
Explore our collection of secateurs on Willow Crossley's website. Whether you’re looking for stylish pink bypass secateurs or robust heavy-duty options, we have the perfect tools for your summer gardening needs. Our range includes top brands like Okatsune, Burgon, and more, ensuring you get the best quality and performance. Willow personally recommends these brands for their superior craftsmanship and durability.

This season, let secateurs be your trusted companion in the garden. Understanding the different types and their uses will help you choose the best secateurs for your needs. Proper maintenance ensures they remain effective, allowing you to enjoy the full bloom of English flowers. Discover your perfect pair of secateurs today and transform your gardening experience, just like Willow Crossley does in her enchanting English garden.

For more inspiration and to explore our collection of bud vases, visit WillowCrossley.Com and find the perfect pieces to enhance your home. Happy arranging!

For more flower arranging and styling ideas visit www.willowcrossley.com. Follow Willow on Instagram for more inspiration for flower arranging throughout the seasons.