The Fiskars Solid Snip Pruning Micro-Tip SP13 is not your average pruner. This tool belongs to a category known as pruners. These tools are smaller than most bypass pruners or anvil pruners and have a specialized design that is ideal for precise, delicate work. For careful pruning work, the SP13 is one of the the best pruning tools you can buy.
These pieces are best described as pruning shears, due to their symmetrical design. The blades are narrow, sharply pointed and have a cutting edge along their entire length. This design equips the bolts to cut through soft plants cleanly and accurately. Although the stems are short, they have relatively long blades, which is useful when pruning through dense or tangled stems and leaves.
Their size (and especially the size of the blade) makes this pruning tool ideal for getting into dense clumps of plants and cutting efficiently and neatly. It’s also great for comfort, allowing for precise placement without straining the fingers.
Let’s get this out of the way quickly, though. Pruners such as the SP13 are not suitable for cutting tree branches. Even narrow branches are a challenge for this type of pruning tools. This Fiskars model can work well as a basic tool for delicate cutting jobs. But using it to prune woody stems or branches will only lead to failure (and possible degradation of the blades). For this task, it is best to use one good pair of bypass shears.
What the SP13 can do well is cut tender parts of plants. Because these pieces cut so cleanly, they are an ideal choice for pruning soft-stemmed plants. The clean cuts you can make with SP13 tend to heal well. With plant-friendly cutting in mind, the SP13 is an excellent choice not only for pruning jobs such as deadheading, but also for taking cuttings for propagation.
Pete has reviewed hundreds of gardening products for titles including; Ideal Home and the London Evening Standard – as well as writing articles on various topics for other publications such as The Guardian and Good BBC food. A long-time contributor to the blog of leading scissor maker Ernest Wright, Pete has a deep understanding of the qualities and design features that go into a really good scissor.
Overview
(Image: Pete Wise)
Finnish brand Fiskars is a leading name for affordable cutting tools. The company was founded in 1649 and has a long history of designing scissors and shears for a range of tasks. For repetitive garden-based tasks such as pruning, Fiskars has earned a solid reputation for thoughtful ergonomic designs. In this regard, SP13 is no exception.
This cutting tool is designed to bridge the gap between heavy-duty yard tools (like PowerGear clippers and bypass pruners) and utility shears. Its beauty lies in its size and control in tight spots and its comfortable spring action. You can find Fiskars Solid Snip SP13 online at Amazon for $21.44as well as through it Fiskars main storein the Snips & Scissors section.
If you shop at Walmart or hardware stores like The Home Depot or Lowe’s, you might see this as the Fiskars 6-inch Stainless Steel Micro-Tip Pruning Snips. You can right now buy the Titanium model of the SP13 from Home Depot for $13.98.
Basic specifications
|
Type |
Pruning bolts |
|
Cutting ability |
Designed for pruning soft, narrow stems |
|
Blade material |
Stainless steel |
|
Handling |
Left or right |
|
Accessories |
Safety case |
Implementation
(Image: Pete Wise)
Since these bits are made specifically for cutting tender stems, I focused on delicate types of pruning jobs. I started by using the SP13 to cut the stems of tender plants. The bolts did a great job of cleanly pruning the stems without chewing through the plant or leaving messy cuts. The SP13 also proved to be ideal for deadheading. Using the bits, I was able to remove the dead flower heads with precision and minimal effort.
After testing, strong winds knocked over a row of dahlias in my yard. The SP13 pieces proved to be the best and most convenient pruner for cutting the broken stems to size so that the dahlia flowers can be displayed in a vase indoors.
During testing, the plastic lock button on the SP13 review sample broke after being jammed. Fortunately, I had no such problem with the replacement sample I received from Fiskars. SP13 is generally rated very well by customers. Just keep in mind that this is a budget pruner. Don’t expect stellar construction.
(Image: Pete Wise)
Should you buy?
|
Property |
Notes |
Assessment |
|---|---|---|
|
Price & availability |
Very affordable, although this is reflected in the build quality. |
3/5 |
|
Plan |
Neat and user-friendly – except for the lock button. |
4/5 |
|
Implementation |
Excellent for the most delicate cutting jobs. |
4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How does it compare?
The precision pruning market is competitive, which is good news if you’re looking for a reasonably priced set of pruning tools. But depending on your pruning needs, the density of your plants and the thickness of your stems, you need a different blade style, length or ergonomic tension system. These options offer unique advantages for food safe hygiene, adjustable handle openings or professional grade bypass power. See how they measure up to the Fiskars Solid Snip Micro-Tip SP13 in terms of precision cutting, price points and everyday reliability in the garden.
Fiskars
Fiskars Garden Shears
With the same spring system as the SP13, this 5-inch (12 cm) model is expressly tailored for the kitchen garden. This dishwasher-safe model has a slightly wider blade profile for quick grouping of herbs or vegetables, but loses a little ability to reach deep into tight clumps of plants.
Fiskars
Fiskars SmartFit 8 Inch Bypass Pruners
This award-winning tool features a heavy-duty bypass blade with a smart, adjustable thumb lever to adjust how wide the handles open, for ultimate comfort no matter how big your hands are. Worth considering if you want something that will help you cut a lot of branches about 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick.
Crown
Corona Micro Pruning Snips (FS 4120)
The closest competitor to the SP13, these cutters are aimed at indoor growers and houseplant collectors. There is a double-sided blade with a micro-tip for tiny cuts in dense foliage. It has a built-in handle lock for secure storage, but its return spring is slightly stiffer than Fiskars’ system.
How We Tested
The author, Pete Wise, tests the Fiskars SP13.
(Image: Pete Wise)
Our reviewer tested the Fiskars Solid Snip Pruning Micro-Tip SP13 using the snips to perform light pruning tasks in the yard. He focused tests on cutting tender plant stems, cutting flowering plants and cutting stems to specific sizes for preparing cuttings and cutting flower arrangements.
First review in September 2023
