How to Choose a Saw for Your Garden

Okay, you have a garden and want to take care of it. An essential part of caring is pruning; unless you want your trees to grow rampant, you need a tool to keep the branches in order. It should be a saw, but which type of it? Some say pole saws are the best for it (and battery pole saw reviews indicate they are really useful). Others vote for a plain pruning saw. Finally, chainsaws are also more and more popular these days. Which one to choose? And how to choose the best one in its class? Let’s break it down a bit.

Types of Saw Useful in a Garden

Assuming you only want a saw for your garden and not for any other type of work (which would shift the criteria), we can name the most useful types of saws in your garden. Each of them is highly specialized and meant for certain kinds of jobs. They are the following:

Hand pruning saws. These are the easiest and most affordable tools if you don’t need to do a lot of pruning and don’t need to trim your trees where you cannot reach them. The handle of a pruning saw is ergonomic, given that you often need to raise your hand above your head, and the blade is razor-sharp.
Cordless pole saws. This type of chainsaw is excellent for pruning trees too high to reach without a ladder. Or even with a ladder if your trees are even higher than that. Its controls are on the handle, so you can raise it high without getting there yourself. Manufacturers try to make them as lightweight as possible, so the pole will not add much weight.
Regular cordless chainsaws. They come in various sizes (primarily defined by bar length) and with multiple options. If you vote for this type, consider how thick branches you need to cut and how often you’ll do this job. This tool is also more versatile than the other two types.

There are other types (like professional arborist saws), but these would be overkill for regular garden care. So will be gas-powered ones that professionals highly appreciate, but a battery-powered chainsaw will do as well for smaller tasks.

How to Choose a Saw Within Its Class

Usually, manufacturers indicate volumes on their saws, but here are some basics you can start with.

The saw should feel comfortable. No matter if it’s a pruning saw, a cordless chainsaw, or a pole one, your hands hold it, so they should have a say.
You don’t have to opt for professional tools. Affordable models are meant for short sessions, and thinner branches will do.
Mind the price. Having a premium saw makes you feel better, but its performance may be much greater than you actually need, so you’ll just overpay.
Take your time. If your garden has grown rampant, it has taken some time. A week or two will not make it much worse, but you can use the time to choose a convenient and affordable saw.

Last but not least: one saw may not be enough for your garden. A regular pruning saw may be the best option for smaller tasks and for branches you can reach. But for doing the pruning up high, you better get a specialized pole saw which enables you to trim branches up high while standing on the ground. And a ladder is always a welcome addition. Hope you liked this and will choose the saw for your garden wisely.