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R E A D O N L I N E
17
SCISSORS
Scissors are an excellent choice for beginning fl orists not yet ready
to try the knife. Scissors are available in many styles and should be
selected to suit the user's dominant hand. We recommend keeping
both short-blade fl orist scissors as well as traditional long-blade
scissors on hand.
When to use them:
Scissors are great for
trimming soft-stemmed
fl owers.
Brand we love: Sakagen,
founded in 1903 in Japan,
has been celebrated by
horticulturists for more than
100 years.
Try this model: Sakagen Florist
Scissors F-170 — $27.87
BYPASS PRUNERS
Bypass pruners feature two curved blades, one sharp and the other
blunt, that bypass each other. These tools are heavier duty than snips
and provide clean cuts—as long as the blades remain sharp.
When to use them: For heavy stems it is best to have a variety of
pruners in a few sizes specifi c to cutting stems of different diameters.
At the very least, we recommend keeping at least two pairs—one
used exclusively for slightly smaller diameter fresh fl ower stems, such
as roses, and a second pair for cutting seasoned dry decorative
woody stems.
Brand we love: FELCO Swiss Made. These shears offer the best
warranty of all similar products.
Try this model: FELCO 4C&H — $67.10
KNIVES
Prized by seasoned
professionals, fl oral
knives can add big-
time effi ciency to
your bench. Snips
and shears can
cause vascular
damage to stems
and can harbor
bacteria in hard-to-
clean areas, both
of which lead to
shorter vase lives
for the fl owers.
Floral knives are
the perfect solution.
When to use them:
When properly
maintained, fl oral
knives are extremely
sharp and should be
used only on soft
herbaceous stems—
never on branches or
other woody stems or
other materials that
may dull the blade
and pose safety risks.
Brands we love:
Opinel, founded
in France in 1890,
makes affordable
knives of excellent
quality.
Try this model:
Opinel No. 8
Pruning Folding
Knife — $24
