I’ve Had My Felco F2 Pruners Since My First Day as a Professional Gardener, and I Still Use Them Over a Decade Later – Here’s Why They Remain My Go-to Tool

When I showed up for my first day working at Hidcote Manor Garden in the Cotswolds, I was handed a pair of Felco F2 pruning shears. Little did I know they would become my go-to pruning tool for more than a decade through different jobs and widely contrasting gardens across the country.

After a year doing my horticultural training and getting my qualifications, Hidcote – one of the most influential Arts and Crafts gardens in the world – was my first foray into professional gardening. A welcome package had my uniform, name badge, work boots, a pruning saw, and the Felcos. All that remains is the pruning shears. I still use them for most of my pruning and will continue to, as they are strong, dependable, and comfortable pruning tools.

I have used Felco F2 pruning shears for an exhaustive list of jobs over the years, including cutting back perennials, pruning trees and shrubs, harvesting crops, cutting flowers, and topiary. The list goes on and on. I have used other pruners and have alternatives in my tool shed, but the ones I gravitate to first are the trusty F2s that have never failed me over the years. You can get your own pair of Felco F2 pruning shears at Amazon that could potentially last you a lifetime.

A Premium Cutting Performance

My Felcos have seen a lot of action in the years I have had them. I used them in two historic gardens, each with lots of different key features, and in two productive kitchen gardens.

They have been by my side in herbaceous borders, formal parterres, orchards, walled gardens, vegetable gardens, greenhouses, cut flower patches, and probably more places that I can remember. Surprisingly, I haven’t lost them in all that time (it has come close, though, as I once had to dig them out of a compost heap), but the bright red handles certainly help you spot the tool if you do drop them.

I have known many professional gardeners who use Felco F2 pruning shears. There has been a growing trend towards Japanese gardening tools (such as Niwaki pruners) in recent years, but Felcos remain very popular. Why is that?

I can’t speak for everyone, but for me it is their reliability, durability, and comfort that means I couldn’t be without them. I can’t add up the hours I have spent pruning with them, but I know I have regularly used them for many hours at a time before feeling any fatigue or discomfort. When I think of how long I would work along the long borders at Hidcote deadheading roses with them, for example, I don’t remember my pruners causing me any pain.

Each pair of Felco F2 pruning shears has forged aluminum handles and a hardened steel blade. The aluminum makes it strong yet lightweight – the tool weighs in at 251g – and the cutting blade remains sharp and makes clean cuts for a long time. You do need to sharpen the pruning shears a few times per season (how often depends on how much you use them), but they retain the sharp edge longer than other pruners.

I would always carry the lightweight tool in a sheath and it came in handy with all manner of tasks. When cutting topiary (including over 120 boxwood cones in one garden), it could do quick snips to tidy up and neaten any frayed stems after going over the cone with hedge shears. I also regularly used it to clip wayward stems when hedge cutting, especially along the base, to give it a final neat finish.

My Felco F2 pruning shears have been integral for pruning shrubs and cutting back perennial plants. The pruners can cleanly cut stems and small branches up to one inch in diameter, which is ideal for tidying flower beds and borders at the end of the season, cutting back perennials in summer for a second flush of blooms, or shaping shrubs.

The tool can cut smaller stems when pruning trees, too, and I used them a lot on a large number of espalier fruit trees in one walled garden. I have always found that you don’t need to use heavy force with the Felco F2 pruning shears – they cut comfortably right up to their maximum diameter.

The handles have ergonomic grips and cushioned shock absorbers to make pruning more comfortable and reduce fatigue. I have used pruning shears before where you feel every cut in your hands and wrists, but not with these.

The cutting action is smooth and natural and you feel no vibration through the wrists. It means you can cut for long periods without feeling pain, strain, or fatigue – which is good news considering how much time you may spend with your pruners over the years ahead.

The tools are suited for right-handed gardeners, but Felco themselves say they are for those with larger hands. Gardeners with smaller hands may be suited to the Felco 14 pruning shears, the most compact and lightweight pruners the company offers. You can get a pair of Felco 14 pruning shears at Walmart.

A Quality, Long-Lasting Pruning Tool

Felco F2 pruning shears are reliably well-made and manufactured from quality materials. This plays a key role in their longevity, along with the fact that all the parts are replaceable – so this tool can theoretically last you a lifetime.

In my decade-plus with it, I haven’t yet had to replace any components. I have had to adjust the screw on the locking mechanism as it started shutting after each cut, but this was a two-minute fix. Over the years, I have cleaned, sharpened, and oiled my pair often to keep them working at their best, but it is reassuring to know that, if anything happens, I can easily find replacement parts on the Felco website (or through other retailers).

The tool feels sturdy and well-made, and all of the moving parts continue to work as expected. It is easy to clean the blades, and I remember to spray WD-40 over the moving parts and wipe oil over the blades to keep them lubricated and prevent my pruning shears from rusting.

The locking mechanism is simple and effective. A latch locks the blades from opening, and you can lock or unlock the mechanism with just your thumb. You can be confident that when it is locked, the tool will stay shut. As I mentioned, the latch can be adjusted if it gets too loose or too tight, and even in a worst-case situation, a replacement latch kit is available.

An Essential Piece of Kit

For me, my Felco F2 pruning shears have become an essential part of the gardening kit since the day I was handed them. The sheer range of jobs the pruners can be used for, and how comfortable they are to use, has made them my first port of call for any pruning tasks I need to do.

If you have a medium-to-large-sized garden with a lot of shrubs and perennials, they will prove crucial. They are perfect for pruning roses, hydrangeas, azaleas, and any landscape shrubs, or cutting back black-eyed Susan, daylilies, salvias, phlox, peonies, or popular herbaceous perennials. The pruners will also be handy for deadheading flowers across the borders throughout the summer.

Elsewhere in your yard, the Felco F2 pruning shears can be used for trimming plants in container gardens and harvesting all manner of vegetables, herbs, and fruits. While you can use pruning snips or garden scissors for harvesting, there is nothing wrong with using pruning shears – and multipurpose tools like these are ideal for small space gardeners.

Felco F2s are professional-grade pruning shears. With that comes a premium price. They currently cost $76 on Amazon, which is around the average price for them. They cost more than other pruning shears on the market, but they are top-grade pruners that will last you for many, many years.

If you are a passionate gardener who does a lot of pruning throughout the year, they can be your go-to pruners for a lifetime. It is an investment, but in my experience with the Felco F2 pruning shears, it is an investment worth making.

Shop for Pruning Shears

Pruning is a prerequisite for any gardener, so getting the right set of shears is important. However, with many different types of pruners available and jargon to get your head around, it can get daunting. Relax, we are here to help you. Our guide to how to buy pruners reveals five golden rules to consider when looking for a new set of pruning shears.

If you love inspiring garden ideas, outdoor advice, and the latest news, why not sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox?