Rumor has it there’s a secret password to freely get inside each arboretum, conservatory, and botanical yard throughout the USA.
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It’s solely spoken in a hushed whisper, nonetheless appropriate correct proper right here, appropriate now, you’re going to be taught that password in print for the primary time ever.
That password is: Felco F-2.
Okay, you bought me. There is no such issue as a secret password. Nevertheless when there was one, you’d guess your backside buck that it actually could also be Felco F-2.
So far as pruners go, there is no fully completely different alternative for the start, excessive, or skilled gardener. This stuff could also be utilized for cuts as lots as 1 inch in diameter, nonetheless are nonetheless articulate ample to prune roses.
What you’re about to be taught isn’t a formulated draft put collectively after a mere weeklong, hands-on analysis of those pruners. Any variety of net pages can allow you to perceive about their secure aluminum development and dependable sturdiness.
As a substitute, this this can be a firsthand account of an individual beating the hell out of his work gadgets each single day as an expert landscaper and gardener.
Now, let’s get to it.
Your Introduction to the Felco F-2
I acquired my first pair of Felco F-2 pruners in November of 2016. The preliminary work I put them by was intense, nonetheless it was fairly common for landscaping work.
I pruned branches correct proper right here and tree limbs overhanging driveways there, snipped a couple of objects of wire for journey decorations (the F-2 has a built-in and smart wire cutter), and throughout the low cost of some dried out perennials.
One among my first classes as a landscaper was {{{that a}}} good gardener takes care of their gadgets. So, as frequent adjust to, I handled my pruners like they have been a fragile doll.
Felco F-2 Typical Handbook Hand Pruners
Take into accounts my shock after I seen a coworker utilizing his F-2s as a hammer, banging contained in the pressure pin on a grass rake! My look of concern was met with a shrug, and I tentatively started utilizing my very private pair as a light-duty hammer too.
I’ve used my pair of pruners in such a method that it voids any potential guarantee: driving bamboo stakes into the underside, pins into place (like these on a grass rake), and opening quite a lot of beer bottles (it took me some time to search out out that one out).
By means of the Christmas season, after I pruned tons of of branches from sticky, sappy Christmas timber, the F-2s in no way hiccupped. Even when the blade and anvil of the pruners would get gunked up from sap, they nonetheless administered crisp and clear cuts.
As New 12 months’s obtained proper right here and went, I positioned my pruners close to my work boots and gave them a much-needed relaxation till spring obtained proper right here.
The Exact Try
As of this writing, it’s been precisely 171 days on condition that landscaping and gardening season formally started in Philadelphia, and I’ve put my pruners by 172 days of absolute hell.
Take into accounts the same old punishment a gardener’s gadgets are put by in a day by day yard: there are perennials to chop as soon as extra, timber to show, roses to prune, stakes to chop, and wire to trim. Now ponder performing that sort of labor for 50 hours per week and the toll it takes on the software program program!
My trusty Felco software program program has actually been at my aspect, alongside to your complete journey. Significantly, I truly actually really feel like I’m a cowboy placing away my six-shooter after I holster my pruners. (Throughout the event you just like the look, Felco holsters are furthermore available on the market on Amazon).
They’ve pruned by tons of of branches and stems, and solely require some very primary upkeep.
The F-2 breaks down into 12 objects very merely, and may be reassembled shortly. It’s bought with a particular key that could be utilized to handle the stress on two of the screws, whereas the final word remaining bolt is properly adjusted with a ½-inch wrench.
I’ve used a bit little little bit of metallic wool and oil to scrub the blade and metallic elements of built-up gunk, then sharpened the blade as shortly as per week utilizing a day by day whetstone. By means of the week and between pruning jobs, I exploit isopropyl alcohol to scrub the blade and anvil.
Alright, since we’re being sincere correct proper right here… I’ve positively voided any potential guarantee that Felco provides.
My pruners have been used as a hammer, used with out regard to precipitation, dropped from excessive heights and used to chop swaths of grasses and lilyturf, sliced by thick-gauge wire, opened baggage of soil and mulch, and cracked open quite a lot of beers.
The Felco F-2s have confirmed themselves to be a pruner able to dealing with an unbelievable workload reliably and with none fault. Throw in some primary upkeep and sharpening practices, and as well as you’ve acquired your self a yard software program program value its weight in saffron.
However Wait, There’s Additional!
I didn’t allow you to perceive the place I acquired my pruners, did I?
The F-2s have a reasonably hefty price ticket for a hand software program program, regarding the same as a dinner for 2 at your widespread restaurant.
After transferring to Philadelphia, I merely couldn’t afford to purchase this important software program program.
Fortuitously for me, a coworker occurred to have a second pair. So he gave them to me, “looking out for the mannequin new man,” as he talked about. And he educated me the story of the place he discovered them.
This coworker was strolling on Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia when he seen a pair of Felco F-2s mendacity on the street. Throughout the event you aren’t acquainted with Philadelphia, ponder your self a townie now that you just understand Germantown Avenue might be going one of many important intently trafficked streets contained in the metropolis.
Typical F-2 Pruners from Felco, available on the market on Amazon
So he picked them up and disregarded the worst of the damage and launched them dwelling, throwing them on a shelf in his storage. After which, after a couple of years of sitting and ready, he gave these dangerous boys to me.
These have been beat up after I acquired them, scuffed and scratched and clearly efficiently worn. They incurred damage on a intently trafficked freeway in quite a lot of the populated cities throughout the USA. After which, these pruners have been ruthlessly examined and worn-in for the above-described 171 days.
They usually’re nonetheless kicking ass.
The F-2 clearly stands out as a workhorse contained in the yard, able to finely pruning roses after which taking one-inch limbs and branches off of that crabapple that’s getting crowded over the driveway.
And all of the whereas, it’s best to benefit from them to hammer in stakes, beat in rake pins, and reduce wire in your journey wishes… and all that with solely a bit primary upkeep.
The subsequent time you go to an arboretum, conservatory, or botanical yard, whispering “Felco F-2” is not going to cease the worth of admission. However it’ll most likely actually earn you a figuring out nod and present of respect from anyone working there.
You’ll not want all that the Felco F-2 can present, nonetheless the Felco F-2 can present for the entire thing your yard wishes.
A ultimate observe: When this textual content material was written, my Felco F-2s have been used useful prune 60 American boxwoods for a consumer. That is my official thumbs up.
Have you ever ever ever used your Felco F-2s to the same success? What’s your favourite tip for family pruner use? Inform us about it contained in the recommendations!
Images by Matt Suwak, © Ask the Specialists, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for additional particulars. Additional product photos by Felco.