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Can anybody recommend a pair of very good quality secateurs (and at what cost)? :)

Felco, blessed expensive, but should last a lifetime...think anything from £30- £70...I was lucky, my lil ol man lends me his... ;D

Lottie. FOR GOD SAKE DON'T LOSE THEM. PIECE OF STRING AND FIXED TO YOUR BELT. I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE LIKE ::) ::)

Oh Ye of little faith.....pssst Lorna...you got any sellotape?
And please don't mention string.....  :-[ ;)

I use Burgon and Ball's secateurs, not as expensive as felcos costing me £12, but they are very good quality and are made to last a good few years. I would recomend them to anyone! I purchased mine at Hampton Court flower show after seeing them at Chelsea. I know you can buy them from the Organic Gardening Catalgue. They also sell a Sharpening tool fopr £12 tto use on them which is made by Burgon and Ball.

Hope this helps,
Dan :-)

p.s.- Just been sale shopping and am shattered so sorry about the small amount of detail on this thread!

Oooo you poor thing!! I can never face them, too many people, get anything good?

I have gone the other way, and bought several pairs of pound shop secateurs ...

I tried one pair first, was satisfied, so got some more, I have them everywhere now. and if they give me a problem, straight in the bin. I laugh at paying expensive money for stuff like that.

Felco are not expensive they will outlast the pound shop ones 1000 times more as there is no need to bin them. I was given a new pair last year, but have not used them as I am still running in my  ten year old ones, that are used and abused at least once a week.

Derek you may laugh all you like, and the cheapies are good for the occasional gardener ;D, but us serious hortecu   horticulter
gardeners need the proper tools for the job.

Perhaps you misunderstand me Ace, as an engineer, I understand tools extremely well, and have enormous respect for Felco, as one of the leading tool suppliers. However, I have an eye for a bargain, and these pound shop secateurs do the job perfectly well. I expect these secateurs to last at least a year, and as I am 50, I don't think I will ever get the use out of the Felco version, despite my respect for the quality. I will leave those as a present from someone who has more money than me ...

If you are talking professional use, then that is a different matter, the trade relies on quality tools. But I am a lowly amateur ... and have no pretensions about my abilities.

I prefer the Bahco ones myself. Cushioned non-slip handle grips, and a more secure safety sliding mechanism than the Felco catch, which I think has a tendency to become loose over time.

Ace. In the past I have only paid about £3.50 for my secateurs. In the summer I looked on the tool stall and he only had very cheap ones or a pair which he said people had liked . They were about £4.50. with a wider base where the cutting blade goes on to.(not very good at explaining) anyhow they are ruddy useless. Not keen enough cut for cutting back things like geraniums etc and after cutting a few thicker bits became blunt as hell. SO I am going to treat myself to a quality pair. I am 71 so I am sure a pair like you have spoken about will last me.

I am also familiar with Bahco tools, as they do various types of cutters for electricians, and I can attest to their standards through personal use, but I have not used their secateurs ...

Domonique They must be somewhere. Mind you saying that I have lost a photograph of my lovely brother-in-law (RIP) whick I promised to scan and send to his son. Where do thing go to.? Must be gremlins.

I feel for you there Dominique. You get attached to tools like that, and I presume they were a quality Japanese product as well.

Sounds like you are talking about the 'anvil type' cutters, Lorna, next time you need a new pair convince your relatives to buy you some felco 'bypass' type. Then really sulk if they get you the cheap ones.

Dominique, hope you find yours but get a holster for them and get into the habit of using it. You can also impress people by being quick on the draw ;D

My Lil Ol Man has about 5 pairs of felco built up over 70 odd years in the Horticultural Trade ( Phew Ace, that is hard to spell..  ;)), so when he says something is good, I listen... I'm thinking of getting some for myself for a birthday pressie, those only so many smellie candles a girl can have. ::) ;)
Have you checked the fridge, Dominique?

There is nothing as good as advice from experience, that is why this forum works so well. The Bahco ones that Jen mentioned also look very good, before making a choice I would want to look in more detail, and handle suitable pairs first.

UC. Hey Lottie 5 pairs?? I am a very poor widow ( ;D) couldn't you acquire a pair for me, he would still have 4 pair.  Just joking and being silly AGAIN, wehey nearly New Year more celebrations!!

Oh Lorna, his shed is like a treasure trove, loads of wonderful tools, some dead old, some still in wrappers....it's amazing! His granddaughter arranges the big shows for the RHS, lovely woman, terrifying cos of her knowledge but amazingly laid back, and always listens to my witterings..very pateint lady.. :-\

Wow, thanks everyone - I didn't realise secateurs were such a popular subject. ;D