Bahco tools have a good reputation for quality and value, and their P75 Lawn Edging Shears are no different. Then there are hard wearing plastics like polypropylene and good old wooden handles. Whichever you decide to go with, make sure that there are some nice soft grips on them or you might find yourself nursing blisters after too long. Telescopic edging shears

Wilkinson swords are known for offering long guarantees on their products and this one is no exception. The Brand is offering a 10 year guarantee against faulty material or workmanship, and their confidence in these edging shears inspires confidence from me too. Another consideration is the handle length. If you’re 5’10” (178cm) or above, opt for shears with a total handle length of over 100cm . For those under 5’8”, a handle length of 80 – 90cm will be ideal. So how do I make my edging shears last a lifetime? Well there’s Winter care and how you put them away for the four or five months they don’t get used, steel quality of the blade, handle material, and then the quality of the fixing holding the blades together. The shears weigh 1.48 kg, which is ‘midweight’ for this style of tool – there are lighter models available, but lightness can compromise durability. For the most part, these Wilkinson Sword shears are considered a manageable weight, although more rests may need to be taken depending on mobility and arm strength.The cutting is performed by two 9 inch long blades constructed from heat treated carbon steel which is a material that is easier to get an extremely sharp edge on than stainless steel and so makes it great for cutting. Shorter blades, measuring between 17 – 21 cm are better for smaller gardens and getting into more intricate areas. If your garden has shallow verges, you may find it easier to work with smaller blades. Remember that shears with long handles (which aren’t telescopic) will require more storage space. Weight and Manageability Lightweight shears weighing 1 – 1.5kg are best for edging medium/large lawns . They’ll be easier on the arms when used for long periods. However, some of the larger, quality shears weigh over 2kg, as you’ll see below.

However, carbon steel blades to blunt faster so you do need to keep on top of maintenance to keep them cutting optimally. You will also have to oil them from time to time too as carbon steel isn’t as rust and corrosion resistant as aluminium or stainless steel. At 1.9 kg, the P75 Edging Shears are verging on the heavier side of lawn edgers. They are not especially light, although this helps give them a robust feel, and will need a fair amount of strength to use for a prolonged time. At the ends of the handles are rubber foam grips with ribbed and curved sides so that they fit in the hand more naturally and also provide better grip and prevent slipping once you start sweating. I found these grips comfortable enough and they certainly didn’t leave me with any blisters after using these edging shears for a while, but I do have fairly tough old hands. If you would prefer to have reasonably light shears, that are still robust, you should consider models that weight between 1 – 1.5 kg. There are also lighter shears available on the market, but they may not be as robust or durable. What Type of Blade to Look Out For If you’re looking to cut the tops of your grass, in places where perhaps the mower can’t reach, you’ll want lawn shears. If you want to sort out the edges of your lawn, go for lawn edging shears. You can’t easily use one type of tool for both tasks.

The 20 cm blades are drop forged and hardened with chrome plating; in real-life terms this means they are powerful blades that create a very clean cut against edges. They’re sharp, and stay that way for a long time thanks to their self-sharpening mechanism, and have a smooth cutting action. Another excellent feature of Fiskars servo system edging shears is the ability to rotate the blades 360 degrees so you can always get the angle that you need. You can also adjust the angle of the blades in relation to the handle so that it runs straight down and not perpendicular. This would be helpful for trimming some particularly tight spots.