Garden shears

Woodies Hedge Shears 12.99

Highs:This has a short straight wooden handle which has a nice old fashioned feel to it. It is the second cheapest shears tried and will probably prove to be quite efficient for most jobs. The blades came with a substantial amount of grease still left on the hinges, giving it a smooth and easy chopping motion.

Lows:All the grease in the world could not disguise the fact that the blades seemed to be the dullest of the five and in our (admittedly fairly unscientific) chopping experiment, it left the shallowest notch in the test branch. Its reach is easier to assess, and that wasn't great. The shortness of the handle does not do it any favours, and if your hedges are above head height you may need a step ladder. Its availability is also limited to Woodies outlets.

Verdict:Cheap but limited

Star rating: ***

True Temper Hedge Shears €41

Highs:Coming with a 10-year warranty and a telescopic handle, this is the most upmarket option tested. The rubber grip on the handles is very good and is unlikely to lead to blisters. The blades are very sharp, helping it to glide through hefty branches. The telescopic handles give it an extra foot or so of reach while, thanks to some judiciously employed rubber cushions, it makes a very gentle noise.

Lows:But really what is the point of that? If you're going to be out in the garden on a bank holiday Monday (or indeed any day) clipping things, you will want the whole world to know just how hard you're working. It is the dearest of the shears tried, and the heaviest, so unless you have the arms of Desperate Dan, plenty of breaks will be essential - although that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Verdict:Long, dear and heavy

Star rating: ***

Ames Natural Fit Hedge Shears €29.99

Highs:"Sized right for smaller hands" the manufacturer promises, although we are not exactly sure what qualifies as a small hand. It has a nice contoured rubber grip and a fairly sharp and swift chopping motion. While this is certainly not for every job in the garden, it is good for smaller, more dainty tasks so if you have a bonsai tree in need of a trim, and are slight of hand, this may be the one for you.

Lows:If, on the other hand, you have a hedge that needs seeing to, this will not be the one for you at all. It has a very short reach - more like an outsized scissors than a shears - and covering a fairly small hedge might take an age. It seemed pretty dear, too.

Verdict:Overpriced and undersized

Star rating: **

Tesco Hedge Shears 5.49

Highs:While you might think Tesco has no business selling garden shears, this is surprisingly good and certainly worth considering. It is the cheapest chopper we were able to find. The handles have a good solid rubber grip, which is handy for sunny, sweaty days, and all the plastic parts make it very lightweight and easy to use. Despite its cheapness and lightness, it is still pretty effective when it comes to chopping.

Lows:It is not at all traditional and it might not have the longevity of some of the competition (mind you, at this price it hardly needs to). You also have to wonder how Tesco can bring this all the way from China, sell it at this price and still make a profit.

Verdict:Cheap and solid

Star rating: ****

Alba Hedge Shears 14.99

Highs:This is a very lightweight, very effective garden shears that should have a long life if cared for properly. The wooden handles are good and sturdy, and while it may be almost completely irrelevant to the quality of the product, it makes the most pleasingly summery clipping sound of the lot. The blades are razor sharp and it is very good value.

Lows:It was quite stiff on first use, although that problem will probably sort itself out in time. While the wooden handle looks pleasant enough, it may lead to blisters if serious work is being done with it. The blades did not close fully at the top, although we are not sure that actually makes any difference at all.

Verdict:Good and good value

Star rating: ****