The Cutting Tools for a Topiary

Long-Handled Shears

• This is the tool you use to begin cutting your topiary shape. The long-handled shears are perfect for cutting the rough shape of the plant. They have an angled blade that makes it possible to use from different directions to get just the cut you need. To prevent plant diseases from spreading, clean shears and other topiary tools with an anti-bacterial spray as you switch from plant to plant.

Secaturs

• Secaturs are designed to slice through woody stems in order to prune plants into topiary shapes or to keep them from getting out of control. Secaturs are also called hand pruners or pruning shears. High-quality secaturs have replaceable tempered carbon steel blades. The blades need to be cleaned and oiled after each use. Secaturs are right- or left-handed, so it is important to choose the kind you need.

Topiary Shears

• Topiary shears have a handle made from a single piece of steel that you squeeze together to open the short, thick blades. Topiary shears are designed for precise cutting of soft plant materials. The best blades for topiary shears are hardened, tempered, high-carbon steel.

Topiary Frames

• Topiary frames are wire or wire mesh frames that are used as armatures for topiaries created from moss vines. The vines are trained to grow in and around the frame and pruned as necessary to create the desired shapes. Topiary frames are available in a huge variety of animal and other shapes. Topiary frames are also used to train and prune shrubs to grow into specific shapes.

Sharpening Steel

• Many topiary artists sharpen their own tools using a sharpening steel. This is the same tool that chefs use to keep their knives sharp.