Bypass vs Ratchet Secateurs: Which Is Best for UK Gardeners?
- Standard bypass secateurs like the Felco 2 offer the cleanest, most precise cut β ideal for live wood, roses, and delicate pruning.
- Ratchet and lever-action pruners like the Felco 13 multiply cutting force through a stepped mechanism β perfect for gardeners with reduced hand strength or arthritis.
- Standard bypass requires more hand strength per cut but works faster; ratchet types take multiple squeezes per cut but cut thicker branches with less force.
- For UK gardens with mixed pruning needs (roses, fruit trees, shrubs), a standard bypass is the better all-rounder; for heavy or frequent thick-branch pruning, the ratchet option saves your joints.
- Compact models like the Felco 6 bridge the gap β smaller hands get the bypass precision in a lighter, more manageable package.
Suggested Reading: See our full Best Secateurs UK roundup for our top picks across all types, or read our Bypass vs Anvil Secateurs guide for the other big secateur decision.
Every UK gardener reaches a point where the cheap secateurs from the garden centre just won't cut it β literally. Whether you're deadheading roses, pruning apple trees, or cutting back summer perennials, the right pair of secateurs makes the difference between a clean cut that heals fast and a ragged tear that invites disease.
But the choice isn't just about brand or price. The mechanism matters. Standard bypass secateurs β the classic design with two curved blades passing each other like scissors β are the gold standard for clean cuts on live plants. Ratchet and lever-action pruners, on the other hand, use a stepped or geared mechanism that multiplies your cutting force, letting you cut through thicker branches with noticeably less hand effort.
So which one should you buy? We compared the Felco 2 (the world's most popular bypass secateur) against the Felco 13 (Felco's flagship lever-action model) based on owner feedback across the conditions that matter in UK gardens β wet and dry cutting, clay soil, thorny brambles, and all.
Quick Comparison: Bypass vs Ratchet Secateurs
| Feature | Standard Bypass (Felco 2) | Lever-Action (Felco 13) |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting mechanism | Single squeeze β blades pass cleanly | Stepped lever multiplies force β 3 pressure points per cut |
| Max cutting diameter | 25mm | 30mm |
| Hand strength needed | Moderate to high per cut | Low per squeeze β spreads effort across 3 steps |
| Cut speed | Fast β one motion per cut | Slower β 3 squeezes per cut |
| Cut quality on live wood | Excellent β clean, precise, minimal crushing | Good β slightly more compression on the stem |
| Best for | Roses, perennials, soft green wood, precise shaping | Thick dead wood, arthritic hands, heavy pruning sessions |
| Weight | 230g | 310g |
| Price range (RRP) | ~Β£30β35 | ~Β£48β55 |
Standard Bypass Secateurs β The Classic Choice
A standard bypass secateur works exactly like a pair of scissors: two curved blades pass each other, with the sharp upper blade sliding past the thicker lower blade (the counter-blade). This shearing action produces the cleanest possible cut, which is critical for live plant tissue. A clean cut heals faster and reduces the risk of disease entering through the wound.
The Felco 2 is the benchmark that all other bypass secateurs are measured against. Swiss-made from forged aluminium handles and high-carbon steel blades, it's been the professional gardener's choice for decades. The 25mm cutting capacity handles the vast majority of UK garden pruning tasks β rose stems, shrub branches, fruit tree suckers, and perennial deadheads.
π Best for most gardeners: Felco 2 Secateurs β The professional's choice for UK gardens. Clean bypass cut, replaceable blades, and comfortable ergonomic handles. For smaller hands, the Felco 6 offers the same Swiss quality in a lighter, more compact frame.
π Read our full Best Secateurs UK guide for all our top-rated models.
Who should choose standard bypass:
- You prune mostly live green wood β roses, perennials, soft fruit bushes
- You want the cleanest possible cut for plant health
- You have average or above hand strength and make lots of quick, repetitive cuts
- You prefer a tool that cuts in one motion β snip and move on
- You value precision over raw cutting power
The main limitation? Cutting through thick, dead, or hardened wood requires significant hand force. A 20mm dead apple branch will make your palm ache after a dozen cuts. That's where the ratchet and lever-action designs earn their keep.
Ratchet & Lever-Action Pruners β The Power Multipliers
Ratchet pruners use a stepped mechanism: instead of cutting through a branch in one squeeze, the blade advances in stages. Each squeeze cuts part-way through, then the ratchet holds that position while you release and squeeze again. After 2β3 squeezes, the cut is complete. This spreads the cutting force across multiple grips, dramatically reducing the peak strength required.
The Felco 13 takes a slightly different approach β it uses a lever-action mechanism rather than a stepped ratchet. The lever multiplies the force you apply at the handles, giving you around 30% more cutting power per squeeze than a standard bypass. Combined with its 30mm cutting capacity, it can handle branches that would leave a standard bypass wedged halfway through.
π Best for heavy pruning: Felco 13 Secateurs β Lever-action mechanism delivers exceptional cutting power with less hand strain. Ideal for thick branches, arthritic hands, and long pruning sessions. Heavier than the Felco 2 (310g) but built for the tough jobs.
Who should choose ratchet or lever-action:
- You have arthritis, reduced grip strength, or suffer from hand fatigue
- You regularly cut branches 15β30mm thick (dead wood, old shrub branches, conifer trimming)
- You do long pruning sessions where cumulative hand strain is a problem
- You have larger hands β the Felco 13 has a wider handle span
- You need a single tool that handles both light and heavy cutting
The trade-off is speed. Where a standard bypass cuts in a single snip, a ratchet or lever-action needs multiple squeezes. For a full afternoon of rose pruning with hundreds of cuts, that extra time adds up. These tools are about trading speed for reduced effort.
Other Options Worth Considering
Beyond the Felco 2 vs Felco 13 decision, there are a few more options that deserve a mention for UK gardeners:
Compact bypass (Felco 6): The Felco 6 is essentially a smaller, lighter version of the Felco 2. Its 195mm length and 210g weight make it ideal for gardeners with smaller hands, or for precision work like deadheading, flower cutting, and shaping bonsai. It's a bypass secateur, so you get the same clean cut quality β just in a more manageable package for lighter tasks.
Anvil secateurs: If you mainly cut dead, dry wood, anvil secateurs (where the blade cuts down onto a flat surface) can be more efficient. We cover this in detail in our bypass vs anvil guide, but the short version is: use bypass for live plants, anvil for dead wood. For most UK gardens with mixed planting, a high-quality bypass is the better primary tool.
Budget alternatives: Not everyone needs a Β£35 Felco. Brands like Spear & Jackson, Burgon & Ball, and Darlac offer solid bypass secateurs at Β£12β20. They won't last 20 years like a Felco, but they're perfectly adequate for the average weekend gardener.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Verdict
For the vast majority of UK gardeners, a standard bypass secateur like the Felco 2 is the right choice. It delivers the cleanest possible cut for live plants, works fast for repetitive pruning, and the Swiss build quality means it'll last a lifetime with basic maintenance. It's the gardening tool equivalent of a chef's knife β essential, versatile, and worth investing in.
Choose the Felco 13 lever-action if you fall into any of these groups: you have arthritis or reduced hand strength, you regularly prune thick branches (20β30mm), or you tackle long heavy pruning sessions where hand fatigue is a real problem. The extra cost and weight are justified by the reduced strain on your hands.
And if you have smaller hands or mainly do light pruning β flowers, deadheading, soft herbs β the Felco 6 gives you all the quality of the Felco 2 in a lighter, more compact frame that's genuinely more comfortable for precision work.
Whichever you choose, buy the best you can afford. A good pair of secateurs is the most-used tool in the garden shed β and the one upgrade that makes the biggest difference to your daily gardening experience.
Sam Baker writes about garden tools and equipment for MyLushGarden, comparing products on specs, owner feedback and market research.
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Last reviewed: July 17, 2026 Β· Evidence-based content Β· Contains affiliate links