Rose pruning is the one job in the garden where a cheap pair of shears will cost you more in lost canes than you'd save on the purchase. Roses heal best from a clean slicing cut — bypass shears, never anvil — and the right pair pays itself back in a single season of healthier growth. We use these almost daily through winter and early spring on heritage and modern roses alike.
Our team’s top picks
Felco F-2 Classic Bypass Pruner
- The reference standard for rose growers
- Aluminium handles, hardened-steel blade
- Every part replaceable — buy once
- 25 mm cutting capacity
Fiskars Steel Bypass Pruner
- Hardened, low-friction PTFE-coated blade
- Comfortable rolling handle for stiff hands
- Excellent reviews on entry pricing
- Best value pruner under $30
ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Pruner
- Japanese chromed-steel blade holds an edge
- Surgical-grade slicing action
- Replaceable blade and spring
- A favourite of professional rose nurseries
Felco F-6 Compact Bypass Pruner
- Smaller frame, lighter spring
- Same Felco service-life and parts story
- 20 mm cut, ideal for finer roses
- Reduces hand fatigue on long sessions
Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Ratchet Pruner
- Ratchet action multiplies grip strength
- Slices canes most pruners can only crush
- Soft-grip handles, sap groove
- Wonderful for arthritic hands
What to look for in a pruning shears for roses
- Bypass action only. Anvil pruners crush rose canes and leave a wound that invites dieback.
- Look for replaceable blades — Felco, ARS and Bahco all sell parts so you can resharpen rather than replace.
- A sap groove on the blade matters once you cut your tenth cane of the morning — it stops the gum sticking.
- 20–25 mm cutting capacity is plenty for floribunda and most climbers.
- A locking hook should sit under the heel of your thumb; if you have to fish for it, keep looking.
Frequently asked questions
When should I prune my roses?
In temperate Australia and most of the US, hard prune in late winter (July–August in the southern hemisphere, February–March in the northern). Tidy lightly any time during the season and dead-head as flowers fade.
How do I sterilise pruners between bushes?
A wipe with 70% isopropyl alcohol, a spray of methylated spirits, or a five-second dip in 1:10 bleach all work. Sterilising between bushes really does reduce dieback transmission.
Anvil or bypass — which is better for roses?
Always bypass. The anvil action squashes the cane against a flat plate, which crushes the cells around the cut and leaves an entry point for fungal dieback. Bypass slices cleanly.
How often should I sharpen?
Every 50–100 cuts you should run a diamond card across the bevel. A sharp pair takes a fingernail-paring cut without effort — if you feel the cane resist, sharpen.
Bottom line
If you only take one thing from this guide, it is that quality matters more than spec on paper. The picks above have been chosen because our team uses them or trusts them — not because they are the most expensive or have the flashiest marketing. Buy once, garden often.
