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Ditch the roses and try these stunning alternatives for Valentine's Day - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-02-14T13:23:22.000Z

Forget about the traditional bunch of roses this year – choose something unexpected and colourful instead. Roses are air freighted into the UK in February and don't last longer than 10 days in the vase, so it's far more sustainable to gift a plant that's either in season or that can become a permanent feature in the house or garden.

Browse our list of 10 inspiring alternative ideas to woo your Valentine with this year.

Daffodils

Unfailingly cheery, a bunch of daffodils is seasonal and scented. Whether you pick some early daffodils from the garden to celebrate Valentine's, order a bouquet of scented narcissi from a UK flower farm or buy a pot of daffodils ready to bloom that can be replanted in the garden, you're giving a gift that has a low environmental impact while still making a romantic statement.

Buy scented narcissi from Scilly Flowers or a potted flower basket from Thompson & Morgan

Hellebore

There are hundreds of varieties of hellebores to choose from, many of them flowering from February through to April. Their flowers come in shades including pink, purple, white and green. Although not a traditional Valentine's flower, a pot of hellebores will look beautiful year after year, either in a container or planted beneath trees alongside spring flowering bulbs. Why not gift a new hellebore each year and plant them in the garden as a permanent reminder of your love?

Buy hellebores from Crocus or Beth Chatto

Cyclamen coum

Give a pot of bright cyclamen this Valentine's Day to help brighten up someone's garden until March. Cyclamen are perfect in containers alongside snowdrops and miniature daffodils, or planted beneath trees where they make colourful ground cover.

Buy Cyclamen coum from Crocus or Thompson & Morgan

Iris reticulata

Miniature irises look pretty in containers, with their blue or purple flowers adding colour even on an overcast day. Popular varieties include 'George', which is a deep purple and 'Harmony', which has royal blue flowers. They'll come back next year, too.

Buy Iris reticulata from Crocus or Thompson & Morgan

Sweet violet (Viola odorata)

This pretty perennial, which has small, strongly scented flowers, has been used in perfumes for centuries. This would make a thoughtful present for a gardener, ideal for a spot in light shade where it will light up dull areas and naturalise over time.

Buy Viola odorata from Crocus or Waitrose Garden

String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii)

Known as string of hearts, because of its heart-shaped leaves, this house plant is a more subtle present than the traditional bunch of roses, and will last for several years.

Buy string of hearts (Cerogpegia woodii) from Crocus or Houseplant

Anthurium (flamingo flower)

These exotic flowers produce bright blooms throughout the year, giving far more value than a bunch of flowers. Each flower lasts for around four to six weeks, and they are usually pink or red, but can also include shades such as orange and purple.

Buy Anthurium from Crocus or Beards & Daisies

Witch hazel

Whether as a shrub for the garden, or a bunch of stems for a vase, witch hazel makes a cheering, fragrant gift. This deciduous shrub is in bloom between December and February. Once it's established in the garden, it will provide fragrant stems to cut and bring indoors.

Buy witch hazel from Crocus or Thompson & Morgan

Orchid

Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis) is one of the easiest orchids to grow and makes a beautiful gift, with flowers that appear regularly throughout the year. Flower colours include pink, red, yellow, peach and purple, perfect for brightening rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Buy orchids from Crocus or Bloom & Wild

Hoya heart (Hoya kerrii)

House plant suppliers often have hoya hearts on sale, which are single leaves of Hoya kerrii planted in their own pot. Also known as the sweetheart plant this makes a small romantic gift for Valentine's Day. It's unlikely to ever grow into a full plant, however, so buy a whole Hoya kerrii plant if you want to make a lasting statement.

Buy hoya heart from Houseplant or Thompson & Morgan

Make your garden the ultimate bird hotspot with these 10 berried plants - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-26T12:40:27.000Z

Antioxidants are an important part of a bird's diet, helping them to endure long periods of physical activity. Berries are a particularly good source of antioxidants for birds. Those with the highest levels are ideal, though those with lower levels are important too, providing birds with winter food when their preferred berries are unavailable.

Take a look at 10 berried plants to try growing for birds on your plot.

Barberry (Berberis)

Non-native Berberis provides attractive fruits from summer to autumn and have a moderate antioxidant content. Particularly attractive to thrushes and blackbirds.

Dogwood (Cornus spp.)

The black fruits of the dogwood (Cornus spp.) appear in autumn and have a high antioxidant content. Finches and thrushes love to pay a visit.

Cotoneaster

Robins, blackcaps and bullfinches are regular visitors to cotoneasters in autumn, when the berries, though low in antioxidants, provide a long-lasting treat. Some cotoneasters, including Cotoneaster horizontalis, are listed in Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in England and Wales. It is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow these species in the wild. You should stop them spreading from your garden and avoid purchasing or accepting gifts of these species.

Hawthorn

Another berry with high antioxidant content, both native and non-native hawthorn species fruit in autumn and are a favourite of waxwings and blackbirds.

Ivy

Ivy berries don't contain as much in the way of antioxidants, but are very long lasting and an important winter food source for redwings, bullfinches and blackbirds.

Holly

Attract greenfinches and waxwings to your garden by planting holly. The berries are long lasting and provide good winter colour.

Honeysuckle

Robins, song thrushes and blackbirds love the glossy red berries of honeysuckle, which are produced after flowering, from late-summer to autumn.

Parthenocissus spp.

Though Parthenocissus berries are low in antioxidants, they're long lasting and will attract blackcaps and mistle thrushes to your garden. Chinese Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus henryana) has small dark blue berries and Boston ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) occasionally produces berries.

Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) is listed as an invasive, non-native species on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in England and Wales. It is an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow this species in the wild. You should stop them spreading from your garden and avoid purchasing or accepting gifts of these species.

Roses

For rose hips to be produced, leave spent flowers on the plant and wait for autumn. The burnet rose (Rosa spinosissima) has some of the best antioxidant levels and attracts waxwings and blackbirds.

Rowan

Rowan berries are produced in their masses in autumn. They make up for low antioxidant levels by providing a long-lasting food source for blackcaps, finches, song thrushes and waxwings.

Kate Bradbury says

Grow as many berried plants as you can squeeze into your garden. These plants provide a reliable, perennial crop of food that’s essential to birds’ welfare – and it’s a much cheaper way to help birds than buying expensive bird food.

Garden or no garden, why everyone should get involved in this year's Big Garden Birdwatch - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-21T12:30:27.000Z

This January the 47th Big Garden Birdwatch takes place, an annual event where the RSPB invite nature lovers across the UK to help count birds. It takes only one hour and you can do it in your garden or any open space, such as your local park.

What is the Big Garden Birdwatch 2026?

The Big Garden Birdwatch is the world's largest garden wildlife survey, run by the RSPB. Last year, 590,000 people took part across the UK. For just one hour over a weekend, people count the birds they see in their garden, park or other green space. This helps to work out how different bird species are faring. A total of 9.1 million birds were counted last year.

When is it?

The Big Garden Birdwatch takes place over the weekend from 23 to 25 January, 2026.

How do you take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch?

Spend one hour counting birds over the weekend of 23 January. Log the highest number of each type of bird you see, rather than adding every one you see over the hour. For example, if you see three blackbirds together, and then later two blackbirds, record the number you spotted as three.

Once you have your results, fill in the form on the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. There is also a digital guide and bird spotting form on the website, which you can print out to record your bird numbers.

Why is the Big Garden Birdwatch so important?

This annual survey helps keeps track of which bird species need our help and provides a vital picture of bird populations across the UK. This is especially important in light of continued habitat loss and climate change.

Our top tips for bird watchers

New to bird watching? Here are a few suggestions:

Stay quiet and still and observe visiting birds from a distance
Wear natural coloured clothes to help camouflage yourself
Take an ID chart or guide to help you identify the birds you spot. The RSPB has a pocket guide, and you can also buy from Waterstones
Invest in a pair of binoculars – the RSPB has an extensive range, as well as Jessops and Currys
Consult a field guide to help identify common garden birds and find out where and when you’re most likely to see them.
Download a birdsong app onto your smartphone so you can identify different bird calls

Which common birds might I spot during the Big Garden Birdwatch?

The five most spotted birds in 2025 were the house sparrow, blue tit, woodpigeon, starling and blackbird. Other common garden birds include robins and great tits. Find out more about the different species you might see over the weekend.

Got the bird watching bug?

If you’re inspired by the Big Garden Birdwatch, why not introduce bird nesting boxes into your garden to provide the perfect habitat for our British garden birds? Different birds have different needs, so if you’re looking to introduce birds to your garden this way it’s a good idea to have a range of bird nesting boxes. You can also install a bird box camera and follow your feathered friends as they raise a family.

Putting up a bird box? Monty Don shows you how in this easy-to-follow video guide:

View Green Video on the source website

The 11 best secateurs in 2026, as tested by our experts – bypass, anvil and ratchet types - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-15T15:51:15.000Z

Secateurs are an indispensable tool, essential for tidying up around the garden. While tools like hedge trimmers and other cordless garden tools are ideal for taking on heavy-duty tasks, secateurs are a simple, hand-held tool used for keeping on top of pruning, dead-heading, cutting back perennials and harvesting fruit, veg and flowers.

Available as bypass, anvil and ratchet, each type is designed for a particular job:

Bypass secateurs have two blades that cut like a pair of scissors, with a sharpened blade crossing over a thicker metal platform. They're pointed to help them get in amongst stems and branches and are ideal for cutting stems between 10 and 15mm thick. They're suitable for greener growth and should cut cleanly, so it’s important to keep them sharp. Read our guide on how to sharpen secateurs.

Anvil secateurs have one blade that cuts like a knife, with the blade pushing through a stem or branch onto a lower block, in a similar manner to a knife on a chopping board. They're useful for cutting through thicker, woodier stems and dead wood.

Ratchet secateurs have either anvil or bypass blades and feature ratchet springs and mechanisms to ease effort and cut through a stem in a series of stages. This type of tool can make tougher cuts gradually as you repeatedly squeeze and release the handles to get through the growth, and they are particularly useful for gardeners who lack strength.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Best secateurs to buy at a glance

Bypass secateurs

Best all-round secateurs (bypass): Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs
Best secateurs for ease of use (bypass): Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs
Best secateurs for comfort (bypass): Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs
Best premium secateurs (bypass): Niwaki GR Pro
Best secateurs for maintenance (bypass): Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs
Best secateurs for large stems (bypass): Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A
Best left-handed secateurs (bypass): Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass
Best secateurs for smaller hands (bypass): Darlac Compound Action Pruner

Anvil secateurs

Best all-round secateurs (anvil): Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears
Best secateurs for strength (anvil): Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs
Best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet): Ames Ratchet Anvil Pruner

Our expertise We tested the different types of secateurs, using them in the garden on a range of different plants and at different times of year, to help you find the right pair for your garden. Each pair has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to handling, cutting, maintenance and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on secateurs that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list. Every pair in our round-up below has scored a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars, so you can buy with confidence.

Best Bypass Secateurs

Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

RRP: £49.84

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Comfortable and well-balanced
Cut cleanly and well
Strong and robust

Cons

Stiff central bolt
The safety catch needs getting used to

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best all-round bypass, these simple secateurs have few parts or gimmicks, yet their strong, Japanese steel blades cut cleanly and effortlessly. They're ideal for all pruning tasks, including heavy-duty jobs, cutting consistently well and are well-made, sharp, easy to use, and feel long-lasting. Their red and white handles make them hard to lose in the garden, both day and night. Although the safety catch, which is at the end of the handle, takes some getting used to, it's a breeze once mastered. They come with a two-year warranty.

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Read the full Okatsune 103 review

Buy the Okatsune 103 Secateurs from Amazon and B&Q

Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Good features, including an integrated wire cutter and an adjustable hand-sizer
Excellent cutting strength
Light with comfortable grip handles
Replaceable parts
10-year warranty

Cons

Hard to see if dropped in the garden
Blade will rust if not cared for
Packaging is excessive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, these aluminium-framed secateurs are packed with valuable features. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and those with smaller hands, thanks to the easy switch on the top that adjusts from 1-2.4cm. They have a 2.4cm cutting capacity, although this feels like more, and despite their slightly chunky appearance, they're light and comfortable with marked rubber handles for extra grip. The safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. The hardened carbon steel blade has a plasma coating, and it feels strong and sharp, easily cutting through green and older wood on shrubs and roses.

Unfortunately, these secateurs' grey and black appearance makes them hard to spot if dropped in the garden or amongst prunings. They have a handy hole for hanging them up after use, and although the blade will rust slightly if not cared for, if these secateurs are looked after well, they should last you years. They come with a 10-year warranty.

Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Marshalls Garden

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Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs

RRP: £34.99

Our rating:4.5/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

Cut easily through live and dead wood
Hard, sharp blade
Comfortable FSC-certified wooden handles
Lightweight
Adjustable width
10-year warranty

Cons

Hard to spot if dropped in the garden

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for best bypass for comfort, these secateurs have an aluminium frame with a sustainably sourced FSC-certified ash insert. This smooth wood is comfortable to hold and offers an excellent grip, even without gardening gloves. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and although the secateurs are lightweight at just 330g, they still feel robust and hard-wearing. When pruning, they cut through almost every material on test with little resistance. Live, green wood was easy to prune, and even hard, dried wood was easy to snip. This is thanks to a carbon steel blade covered in a plasma coating, which Kent and Stowe claim makes these harder than any other blade.

The cutting width can be adjusted with a simple catch, from 1cm to 2.5cm, so these secateurs can tackle thicker branches as well as more delicate stems, and the safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. They also have a handy hole for hanging them up in a shed or greenhouse after use and a notch on the blade for cutting twine and garden wire. With a fantastic 10-year warranty, these secateurs should last you a long time. However, we found that the grey blade and light brown handles are tricky to spot if you drop them in a border or lose them amongst prunings.

Read the full Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs review

Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs from Crocus

Latest Prices

Niwaki GR Pro

RRP: £84 (right-handed)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Niwaki

Pros

Comfortable and well-balanced
Cut cleanly and well
Strong and robust

Cons

The safety catch needs getting used to
No replaceable blade
Expensive

These robust secateurs from Niwaki, awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium bypass secateurs, feature hand-forged, carbon steel blades which cut stems cleanly and smoothly. The safety catch sits at the end of the handles and is chunky but easy to engage once you get used to it, and they feel well-balanced and comfortable to use. A replacement spring is included in your purchase, and they come in a choice of sizes, including small, regular and large and for both left- and right-handed gardeners. A holster is also available to buy, and these secateurs come with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Niwaki GR Pro review

Buy the Niwaki GR Pro from Crocus and Niwaki

Latest Deals

Felco Model 8

RRP: £73.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from On Buy

Pros

The non-slip handle shape works well
The safety catch is easy to reach and use
Servicing is provided for life

Cons

Several different screw need to be tackled for adjustment
The grip is wide when fully opened and not helpful for smaller hands
An expensive, premium-priced model

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, these classic secateurs from the world-renowned Swiss brand Felco feel sturdy and cut well in a variety of different jobs. They're also easy to maintain and come with the Felco lifetime guarantee. The secateurs feel chunky but light, and the ergonomic handle protects the wrist and hand, making longer pruning jobs less tiring. The blade also has a handy wire-cutting notch. The red non-slip handle makes them easy to see if lost in the garden.

Read the full Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs review

Buy the Felco Model 8 from Amazon and On Buy

Latest Prices

Darlac DP1030A Expert

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from ManoMano

Pros

Nice to hold, with a comfortable grip
Cut efficiently and smoothly, and make large cuts easily
Comes with a generous lifetime guarantee

Cons

A number of different screws need to be tackled for adjustment or maintenance
Handles are wide when fully opened, which may be a problem for smaller hands

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for best bypass for large stems, these robust secateurs have a comfortable grip and are nice to hold. The central safety catch is easy to engage with the thumb and can also be used to reduce the blade aperture (opening width) for light work, which is useful. There is a handy wire-cutting notch on the blade, and the red handles make them easy to find if lost in the garden. They come with a lifetime warranty.

Read the full Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A review

But the Darlac DP1030A Expert from ManoMano and B&Q

Latest Prices

Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass

RRP: £23.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from On Buy

Pros

Easy safety catch
Replacement parts available
Comfortable
Long warranty

Cons

Struggle with large cuts
Best for bigger hands

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best left-handed bypass secateurs, these have a strong, high-carbon steel blade that cuts well and can easily take on most pruning jobs. They are also simple to sharpen and have a large safety catch that engages easily. Replacement parts are available, and they come with a 10-year warranty.

Read the full Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass review

Buy the Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass Secateurs from Amazon and On Buy

Latest Prices

Darlac Compound Action Pruner

RRP: £20.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Small and light, half the weight of other models tested
Easy to make most cuts thanks to the lever action
Smooth closing mechanism

Cons

Struggled with larger cuts
Blade opening is limited, making it tricky to sharpen the blades

These bypass secateurs have a central lever action, which makes them very easy on the hands when cutting, just like a ratchet secateur. The handles have a soft grip for comfort, and they're surprisingly light – half the weight of some of the other secateurs tested. The safety catch is on the top of the handle and is easy to switch on or off with a flick of the thumb. A great tool for those with less strength, they were given a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best bypass secateurs for smaller hands.

Read the full Darlac Compound Action Pruner review

Buy the Darlac Compound Action Pruners from B&Q, ManoMano and On Buy

Latest Deals

Best Anvil Secateurs

Felco Model 32

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Clean, easy, strong cuts
Wide cutting width
Servicing provided
All parts replaceable

Cons

Safety catch stiff
Expensive

These anvil secateurs are strong and robust, with a hardened steel blade that cuts cleanly and effortlessly through thick, woody growth. With a wide cutting width, they feel sturdy in use, and although there's no comfort padding on the grip, these cut so smoothly that there was no strain on the hand or wrist. All parts are replaceable, and they come with a lifetime warranty. We awarded these a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy as the Best Anvil All Round.

Read the full Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears review

Buy the Felco Model 32 Anvil Secateurs from On Buy and Amazon

Latest Prices

Stihl PG25 Anvil

RRP: £37

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Mowers Online

Pros

Smooth, easy cutting action
The central safety catch is simple to operate with one hand
Blade can be handily sharpened on the go

Cons

Handles are hard in the hand and feel uncomfortable after prolonged use
Several screws need to be removed for adjustment or maintenance

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner for the best anvil secateur for strength, these sturdy, compact secateurs cut woodier stems with ease. The carbon steel blade has a non-stick coating and can be easily sharpened or replaced, and their orange handles make them easy to find amongst prunings in the garden. They come with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs review

Buy the Stihl PG25 Anvil from Amazon and Mowers Online

Latest Prices

Ames ratchet anvil pruner

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from B&Q

View Gallery on the source website

Best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet): Ames ratchet anvil pruner

Pros

Rust-resistant polymer blade coating
Compact and lightweight nylon fibre handles and anvil
Japanese carbon steel blade
Soft-feel grip
Pocket-sized
15-year warranty
Hole in the handle for attaching a lanyard

Cons

Best for smaller stems, as it’s challenging to get leverage on larger stems
Cuts up to 1.8cm only
Catch is a little fiddly to take on and off

These little secateurs are lightweight, pocket-sized and yet capable of cutting above their weight. The blade is SK5 carbon steel, which is resistant to wear and highly durable. Comfortable in the hand, despite their small size, with the four-stage ratchet, these secateurs cut through 1.8cm dead wood relatively easily, leaving a clean cut. Although the catch is a little awkward to use, the compact form-factor was much valued by our testing team, earning these secateurs a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for compact and lightweight ratchet secateurs. The warranty is 15 years.

But the Ames ratchet anvil pruner from B&Q and Amazon

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs

RRP: £32.49

Our rating: 3.9/5

Available from B&Q

View Gallery on the source website

Pros

Polymer-coated blade for rust-resistance and smoother cutting
Comfortable non-slip grip
Four-stage ratchet action
10-year warranty
Cuts up to 2cm
Cast aluminium body
The catch comes off easily as you squeeze the secateurs

Cons

Opens a bit too wide for comfortable usage, depending on the size of hands

Well-made and robust with a cast aluminium body, these secateurs offer a cutting width of 2cm, with a ratchet action in four stages. On hard, dead wood, the secateurs cut cleanly and well, although they opened too widely to offer leverage for smaller hands. The blade is coated with PTFE, a non-stick coating that gives a cleaner, smoother cut while also protecting the blade from rust. A finger guard offers protection, while the catch can be closed with one hand and is easily opened by a gentle squeeze action. With a 10-year guarantee, this is a good buy for any keen gardener who deals with a lot of woody winter pruning.

Buy the Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

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Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from Burgon & Ball

View Gallery on the source website

Pros

Three-stage gear mechanism
Cuts up to 2.5cm
High-carbon steel blade
10-year warranty
RHS endorsed

Cons

The handle feels very large
Opens wider than smaller hands can deal with

With a wide cutting width of 2.5cm, these secateurs feature a three-stage ratchet and a high-carbon steel blade, offering 2.5 times more cutting power. The handle is nicely moulded with finger protection, although it feels like it is made for larger hands, with the opening width wider than some hands can deal with, reducing the leverage and grip necessary to cut larger branches. The catch is easy to open one-handed, but more difficult to close in this fashion. With a 10-year warranty, these are a good buy for a gardener with larger hands.

Buy the Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner from Burgon & Ball

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Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from B&Q

View Gallery on the source website

Pros

Coated steel blade
Oil pad for the blade is set into the handle
Robust and sturdy
Ridged, soft-grip handle
Cuts up to 2cm
Hole in the handle for attaching a lanyard

Cons

Slightly heavier than other models
Relatively short five-year warranty

These secateurs feel strongly made and robust, and are generally heavy and solid in the hand. The four-ratchet mechanism cuts through 2cm of dead wood easily and cleanly, and the coating on the steel blade protects against corrosion. The soft-grip handle is nicely ridged, offering an excellent grip, and the little oiler pad set into the handle is a nice touch and proved handy when testing. Despite a shorter warranty than some other secateurs on test, these feel like a sturdy and strongly made pair of secateurs.

Buy the Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

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Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Wide cutting width
Simple design
Cut cleanly and sharply
Suitable for right- and left-handed use

Cons

Feel flimsy
Bottom handle rubs with use

The secateurs are small and compact and feature a non-stick blade which cuts cleanly. There is an integrated spring closing between plastic handles, which do have a rubber grip, but only on the upper side. We found the safety catch was easy to reach; however, it was quite stiff to operate. Overall, the tool performed well, but it felt quite flimsy compared to more sturdy models.

Buy the Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus from Amazon and B&Q

Latest Prices

Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur

RRP: £40.00

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Jardin de France

Pros

Strong, clean cut
Light and comfortable
Replaceable blade
Right and left use

Cons

Ratchet slips occasionally
Fiddly safety catch

These ratchet secateurs feature a coated carbon-steel blade that cuts well through growth. The handles are aluminium and topped with a rubber grip for added comfort. The tool is suitable for left- and right-hand use, and both the blade and spring are replaceable. We found the safety catch could be fiddly, and the three-gear ratchet did occasionally slip. There is a one-year warranty included, and we thought the secateurs were great value for money overall.

Buy the Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur from Jardin de France

Darlac Super Classic Ratchet

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Mr Fothergills

Latest Deals

Pros

Wide cutting width
Cut well
Good value
Replaceable parts

Cons

Large and wide
Slow to cut
Lack grip

These Darlac ratchet secateurs come with an impressive 25-year warranty. The coated SK5 steel blade cuts smoothly, although the action took longer than other models tested. The tool has a wide cutting width, which is useful on larger stems. However, the handles were also quite large, which made them trickier to handle. Replaceable parts are available.

Buy the Darlac Super Classic Ratchet Secateurs from Amazon, D.T. Brown and Mr Fothergills

Latest Deals

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from B&Q

Latest Deals

Pros

Feel sturdy and robust with a strong blade
Replacement parts are available
10-year guarantee

Cons

The central safety catch keeps catching halfway through a cut
Grip needs adjusting for different cuts

These classic secateurs feel sturdy, capable and long-lasting. They have rubber shock absorbers on the handles to make cutting larger stems comfortable, but the central safety catch often caught halfway through a cut, which was frustrating. Cutting width also needed to be adjusted for different-sized stems. The plastic-coated handles are bright red, so they are easy to spot if mislaid. Replacement blades and springs are available, and they have a 10-year guarantee.

Read the full Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass Secateur review

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Latest Prices

Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from B&Q

Latest Deals

Pros

Feel well-balanced in the hand
Central safety catch is easy to reach and engage
Blade opens wide, so sharpening is easy
Cone with a 10-year guarantee

Cons

Large and heavy, and may be too much for gardeners with smaller hands and those lacking strength
The cord wrist strap gets in the way

With an integral spring, these large anvil secateurs are comfortable to use. The blade feels sharp and is angled, making accessing difficult cuts much easier. Plastic grips on the aluminium handles make holding them softer and less cold. However, the wrist cord just gets in the way, and larger cuts were a struggle.

Read the full Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil Secateurs review

Buy the Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Latest Prices

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. If you're pruning larger branches, take a look at our reviews of the best electric secateurs, best loppers, best pruning saws and the best mini chainsaws and best wood-splitting axes. For help clearing up, see our test of the best wheelbarrows or the best garden shredders.

Choosing the right type of secateurs

View Green Video on the source website

Watch Alan Titchmarsh's guide to choosing the right type of secateurs. He helps you identify the difference between bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs and explains which gardening tasks each type of secateurs is best suited to.

Why do you need to clean secateurs?

Once you’ve bought your secateurs, it’s important to look after them so they last as long as possible.

You should aim to oil and sharpen your secateurs every few weeks so they’re always easy to use and safe for you and your plants
It’s essential to keep them sharp, not just for ease of use but also for your plants' health. Heavy use can clog the tool with plant sap and blunt the blades, tearing plant tissue and letting disease in
Sharp blades cut cleanly and leave a small wound on the plant, which should fully heal, reducing the risk of disease. Clean tools also prevent disease from spreading between your plants

See our video, where Alan Titchmarsh shows you how to clean your secateurs for help

How we tested secateurs

The secateurs were tested around the garden on perennials, trees and shrubs and at different times of the year. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

Handling: Assessed the secateurs' comfort, weight, balance, the safety catch and general ease of use
Cutting: Looked at the qualities of the blades, including their material, strength and opening widths, as well as their manoeuvrability and cutting efficiency
Maintenance: Consider how easy they are to clean and sharpen, whether replacement blades are available, and whether a maintenance service is offered
Value for money: Focussed on the quality of the secateurs, any special features, warranty and RRP

For more information on our testing process, take a look at How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

How to enjoy winter birdwatching and recognise when garden birds need extra care - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-11T17:20:56.000Z

Birdwatching from indoors is a great way to stay connected to the natural world now that days are shorter and temperatures have plummeted. Not only does a few minutes observing garden birds in winter help raise spirits and boost wellbeing – I’m thinking of how much I love watching the starlings bathe in our pond – it also means you’ll become familiar with garden bird behaviour and you’ll be more likely to notice any problems that arise. If you spot physical or behavioural signs of stress or illness in birds, you can then take timely and safe action to help them where appropriate.

It’s important to observe birds without disturbing them, and this is easy to do from inside. Find somewhere comfortable to sit and avoid quick movements. Binoculars aren’t essential, but a good pair (a great idea for a Christmas present) means you can see garden birds clearly without needing to be too close. Creating a wildlife-friendly garden with a diverse ecosystem that includes healthy invertebrate populations and lots of plants that offer natural food and shelter to birds, means you’re already more likely to have a good number of birds visiting your garden.

You don’t need to know the names of all the birds you see, but I enjoy learning about different species and their habits. If this applies to you too, a bird book like the Collins Bird Guide, is really helpful. Once you’re able to identify a few common species, you can keep a notebook and pen by the window and write a journal on the behaviour of different species, or even a list of which species have visited your garden. One of the best apps to help identify birds is the Merlin app. It’s fairly accurate at identifying bird song and calls, and you can use it through an open window. In this way, you can find out what birds are about, even if you can’t see them.

Birds are most active in the early morning when, like us, they need to feed so they have enough energy for the day ahead. I like to watch the house sparrows in our garden at this time of day as they collect sticks, feathers and other natural materials to refresh the lining of their nests in the bird boxes where they roost overnight. Birds are also more active later in the afternoon, but there are likely to be some garden birds around all day, so take a little time out whenever you have the chance and see what’s about.

In winter, most birds spend the day foraging for food like insects, seeds or berries, which provides the energy they need to keep warm when temperatures drop. The more abundant their natural food sources, the better, because they only have a few hours of daylight to find enough to survive. Some species, such as long-tailed tits, forage in groups and even roost together at night, huddling together to share body heat. Other birds go even further to avoid the cold – they migrate to equatorial regions such as areas in Africa south of the Sahara, only returning in spring when temperatures begin to warm up again.

While you’re watching the birds in your garden, you can take the opportunity to check that they look fit and healthy. If you notice birds that are having difficulty feeding, resting in an unusual posture or that seem lethargic, it might be a sign of stress or illness. A bird with fluffed feathers might also be in difficulty, but birds do fluff up their feathers to protect against the cold, so it’s best to look for other signs of distress too.

If you feed the birds with supplementary food in your garden and you think a bird might have a disease (for example, a bird sitting on a feeder but struggling to feed), the RSPB advises stopping feeding for at least two weeks and emptying any bird baths. This prevents birds feeding and drinking together and potentially passing on diseases. Don’t restart feeding until there’s no further evidence of diseased birds. Even if you don’t see evidence of illness at feeding stations, you should clean feeders and water containers regularly (taking appropriate health and safety measures, such as wearing gloves and washing hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards), move them around the garden, clear up spilt food and don’t overfill, so they are emptied every few days.

If you see an injured, ill or dead bird, don’t touch it or pick it up. You can contact a local wildlife rescue centre to ask for advice and there are organisations that can help particular species, such as Raptor Rescue and the Swan Sanctuary. But often there’s not much that can be done for wild birds and trying to help can actually cause the bird more distress. Dead wild birds should be reported to Defra using this online form and you can also report sick or dead garden birds to the Garden Wildlife Health (GWH) project. These websites help monitor diseases such as avian bird flu.

Watching the birds in your garden regularly will help you to identify unusual behaviour, but sick birds will often show few signs and so it can be difficult to identify problems. Even if you notice a bird struggling, there’s often not much that can be done. So it’s best to focus on the things you can influence in your garden like maintaining good hygiene around feeders and bird baths, avoiding disturbing areas where birds feed, shelter or roost, avoiding using pesticides and ensuring that if you do have garden feeders, you provide appropriate, safe bird food. These measures should provide a healthy environment for garden birds and enable you to have many enjoyable hours of birdwatching throughout the winter.

The best mini chainsaws in 2026 – as tested by our expert reviewers - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-05T16:21:05.000Z

Mini chainsaws are simple tools that take the hard work out of cutting wood. They're ideal for gardeners with limited mobility or strength, or those who have a lot of pruning or wood chopping to do. Designed to bridge the gap between manual loppers and full-size chainsaws, they can do everything a saw does - prune trees, shape woody shrubs, or cut up firewood, but with less effort.

Lightweight and portable, mini chainsaws can get into tight spaces where other saws would struggle, and thanks to their lithium-ion batteries, you don’t need to deal with noisy, fiddly engines either. These small handheld saws aren’t designed for heavy-duty tree work, though. They’re designed to be lightweight and easy to handle, rather than heavy and powerful. They can't take the place of a full-size chainsaw, but if you want to keep your garden looking tidy, they're very handy pieces of kit, especially when combined with the best garden shredder. Plus, some of these mini chainsaws can also be combined with long reach extension poles to help you prune high, hard-to-reach branches.

Best mini chainsaws to buy at a glance

Best mini chainsaw: Stihl GTA 26
Best mini chainsaw for versatility: Husqvarna Aspire P5-P4A
Best budget mini chainsaw: Webb Eco WEV20PSB2

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Our expertise We tested a range of different mini chainsaws, using them to prune trees and cut firewood to help you find the best one for your next garden project. Each chainsaw features a list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to ease of use, comfort, performance, and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on mini chainsaws that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Jump to:

Best mini chainsaws
Best of the rest mini chainsaws
How to choose a mini chainsaw
How to use a mini chainsaw

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best pruning chainsaws below:

Best mini chainsaws in 2025

Stihl GTA 26 cordless garden pruner

RRP: £114 (for tool only)

Our rating: 4.9/5

Available from Amazon

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Pros

Lightweight, comfortable to use, and well-balanced
Comes in a handy carry case
Battery charge level indicator on the handle
Eco-friendly chain oil included

Cons

Smaller bar length than the competition
The white plastic body is easily marked
Only 25 mins runtime

The durable and reliable GTA 26 is a fantastic mini chainsaw that offers cordless convenience and enough power to cut through medium-sized branches and logs. It boasts a 10cm bar, a comfortable rubberised grip, tool-free chain tensioning, a battery charge level indicator on the side, and a razor-sharp Swiss-made micro chain. Powered by the tiny 10.8 Volt, 2.5 Ah AS 2 battery, which is compatible with a range of Stihl AS tools, including a strimmer, powered pruners and a hedge trimmer, it’s a surprisingly capable saw for such a small unit. There’s also the option of buying an extension pole for hard-to-reach pruning. The only drawback is a short 25-minute runtime. We awarded the Stihl GTA 26 a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best mini chainsaw. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Stihl GTA 26 from Amazon

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Husqvarna Aspire P5-P4A pruner

RRP: £179.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Husqvarna

Pros

Shares batteries with other 18V tools
Handy 12cm bar length
Holster and extension pole accessories available
Battery charge visible
Eco-friendly chain oil included

Cons

Bulky hand guard can get in the way
No carry case included
30-minute run time

The Aspire P5-P4A has a very comfortable handle and a power button that also shows the charge left in the battery. Making use of the brilliantly versatile 18 Volt Power for All Alliance battery platform, you can use the same battery in a range of different tool brands, including Bosch, Gardena and Flymo. This also means you can install higher-capacity batteries than the 2.5Ah one included, to increase your working time. Although it doesn’t come with a carry case, Husqvarna has included a handy hanging hook that you can easily screw into your shed wall to keep it off the floor. You can extend the reach with a pole extension accessory as well. The P5-P4A has been awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for a versatile mini chainsaw. It comes with a two-year warranty and a container of bio chain oil.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire P5-P4A Pruner from Husqvarna

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Webb Eco WEV20PSB2 cordless pruning saw trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.6/5

Available from Currys

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Pros

Generous 15cm bar length
Up to 40 mins runtime
Affordable pruning chainsaw
Extension pole available

Cons

Slow charging time at around 80 mins
Brushed motor isn’t as efficient
No carry case or chain oil included

The WEV20PSB2 cordless pruning saw is a welcome addition to the new Webb cordless range. An affordable and capable saw for pruning tree limbs or processing firewood, it features a generous 15 cm-long bar and an in-built chain break to avoid dangerous overrun. The 20 Volt tool comes with a 2.0Ah battery and a slimline charger that promises up to 40 minutes of cutting per charge. What we like best is that you get a very capable saw for less than £100, so we’ve awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for a budget mini chainsaw. The only thing you need to buy straight away is your own chain oil to keep the blade in good condition. It comes with a three-year warranty.

Buy the WEV20PSB2 cordless pruning saw from B&Q, Currys and Robert Dyas

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Best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 cordless chainsaw

RRP: £131.99 (without battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Amazon

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Pros

Long 15cm bar made by Oregon
Powerful brushless motor
Chain stops when the trigger is released
Battery charge indicator on the saw
Shares batteries with other 18V tools, including Flymo, Gardena and Husqvarna
Eco-friendly chain oil included

Cons

No extension pole accessory available
Chain tensioning is a bit fiddly

Weighing just 1.3kg, the Bosch EasyChain is light enough, and its brushless motor stops when you let go of the trigger, avoiding any dangerous overrun. Featuring a generous 15cm bar and chain made by famed chainsaw brand Oregon, it makes short work of branches and big firewood logs. The battery charge level indicator is a nice feature, as is the impressive run time, which promises 160 cuts per charge. The only issue we had was that the tool-free tensioning system worked itself loose too easily. It comes with a two-year warranty and a bottle of eco-friendly chain oil.

Buy the Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 from Amazon, B&Q and Currys

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WORX 12cm cordless compact chainsaw WG324E

RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 3.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Plenty of torque
40-minute run time
Affordable pruning chainsaw
Long reach handle available

Cons

Chunky handle isn’t too comfortable
Large hand guard can get in the way
Chain oil bottle supplied, but without oil

A great addition if you already have other WORX tools, this runs on their 20 Volt battery system. It’s compact and lightweight, while still feeling powerful enough to chew through branches quickly. It’s supplied with a 2.0Ah battery, good for a 40-minute run time, that features a charge level indicator. The 12cm bar length is fine for small to medium-sized branches, but the chunky handle stops it from being the most comfortable saw to handle. This product comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy WORX WG324E Cordless Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and Wilko

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Greenworks 24V Mini Chainsaw Pruner

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 3.7/5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

Smart carry case and chain oil included
Comfortable pistol grip
Tool-free tensioning
Long 50-minute run time

Cons

Short bar at just 10cm
Brushed motor lacks a bit of power
No extension pole available

This mini chainsaw pruner is ideal for pruning smaller branches and runs on a 24 Volt battery system, which should, in theory at least, get more working time from each charge. It comes with a 2.0Ah battery, which has a charge level indicator on the end, but you can also buy bigger capacity ones from Greenworks. It’s comfortable to use, thanks to an ergonomic pistol grip and a good weight balance. The bar feels a little bit undersized on this saw, however. You only get 10 cm to play with, even though it has a chunky body and a full-size battery. The tool-free chain tensioning system works well, once you get the hang of it, and it comes complete with a case and bottle of chain oil. It features a 50-minute run time and a three-year warranty.

Buy Greenworks 24V Mini Chainsaw Pruner from Amazon, Robert Dyas and Tooled Up

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If you're pruning smaller branches, take a look at our reviews of the best secateurs, best electric secateurs and the best loppers and for help clearing up, see our test of the best wheelbarrows.

How to choose a mini chainsaw

If you’re thinking of buying a mini chainsaw, consider the following points first:

Are they safe? Used properly, and with the right safety equipment, yes. Improper use, even with the extra safety features on the best mini chainsaws, can lead to devastating injuries. Some saws, like the Bosch EasyChain and Webb Eco, feature brushless motors that stop the chain immediately after releasing the trigger, which is effectively a chain brake that you would find on professional-level chainsaws. Other safety features include ergonomic non-slip handles for a firm grip, pivoting bar guards that cover the top of the blade and away from the hands, and handle guards to keep your hands safe

Are they easy to use? Operating an electric pruning chainsaw is as simple as pushing a button, and compared to a traditional petrol-powered chainsaw, you don’t need to learn the ins and outs of a two-stroke engine or mix fuel and oil together. However, learning proper cutting techniques is important to get the most out of your saw, so it's worth looking for a chainsaw training and maintenance guide for help. Learning how to use your saw and resharpen the blade will pay you back in the long run. Keeping the chain sharp will help you cut through wood easily and also puts less stress on the motor and battery. You can buy inexpensive manual chain sharpening kits that use round files and guides to sharpen each tooth on the chain, or splash out on an electric chain grinder to save some effort. Getting the tension right on your chainsaw blade is also important. You should check the tension before using a saw and after making several cuts. A loose chain is prone to jumping off the bar, which is both annoying and dangerous. A properly tensioned blade will cut efficiently and safely. Check the manual for your chainsaw for the correct tension, but it should fit snugly without any sagging

How long can they cut for? It’s not always straightforward, but essentially, the larger your battery, the longer you can cut for. If you value a lightweight and easy-to-handle tool, you’ll have to put up with shorter working times, although you could always invest in more batteries to ensure one is ready to work while the other is on charge. The length of the blade (given as bar length) will also affect battery power. The bigger the bar, the larger the branches you can tackle, but it can be unwieldy to use and will use up more battery power than a shorter bar

How to use a mini chainsaw

Without trying to put anyone off, chainsaws of any size need to be treated with respect.

Here are some tips on how to use a mini chainsaw safely:

Before you even think about pruning, you need to get the right personal protective equipment:
- Protective goggles stop chippings from getting into your eyes, but a full helmet and face guard will offer the ultimate protection
- Ear defenders are also a must. Even though electric chainsaws are much quieter compared with their petrol-powered counterparts, they can still run at around 90dB, which is enough to cause hearing damage
- Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and make sure that all long hair is tied back. Sturdy shoes or boots will help you keep a solid footing. Finally, make sure to use a sharp chain and to oil it regularly
Make sure your work area is clear of any trip hazards before you start
Although you can use a mini chainsaw one-handed, it’s much safer to use both hands. Holding down the safety switch, you can start the saw with the trigger
Position the chain on the branch you want to cut and apply firm and even pressure until you have cut all the way through. Take care when cutting above your head, and try to anticipate where the cut branch will fall
Practice on small diameter branches to get a feel for the saw before trying to tackle the big stuff. If you feel you’re overreaching to get at branches, consider buying a long-reach handle that will allow you to stand at a safe distance
When cutting firewood, use a sawhorse to keep the logs secure and your hands free to hold the chainsaw

How we tested mini chainsaws

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested a variety of mini chainsaws in the garden to prune trees and shrubs and cut firewood. The following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

Ease of use: Observed how easy the controls were to use, if it was difficult to correctly tension the chain, and if the batteries were easy to install
Comfort: Evaluated the weight and shape of the tool, the balance, and the amount of noise and vibration it created
Performance: Tested how well it cut into different types of wood, if there was enough torque, and how well the chain stayed tensioned after use
Value for money: Considered all of above, plus if it came with a case, batteries, and the variety of accessories included and available

For more information on our testing process, see How we Review

Mini chainsaw parts explained

Bar
Acts as the guide for the cutting chain and has a groove that the chain follows. Bar length determines the size of branches you can cut.

Protective hood
This pivoting section sits on top of the bar, protecting the user from the upper chain. It means that if the saw kicks back, the sharp chain is covered. It replaces the chain brake, a safety feature you’d find on full-size saws, which engages when the saw detects kickback.

Motor
This will be brushed or brushless. Brushed motors are simpler and cheaper, but a brushless motor (which literally has no brushes to conduct electricity) is more reliable and efficient, as there’s no friction or heat from the brushes rubbing on the motor, and therefore more expensive.

Safety trigger
A two-step safety start, you need to press both buttons before you can switch the saw on, which should avoid accidental start-ups.

Chain
A segmented chain similar to that on a bicycle. Each section contains a sharp tooth that cuts into the wood. The motor drives the chain around the bar to cut into branches. It only works in one direction, so look for an arrow on the guide bar.

Hanging hook
To keep your saw up off the ground and out of the way, most come with a hanging hook on the handle.

Chain tensioner
To run a chainsaw efficiently and safely, the chain tension needs to be just right - not too loose or too tight. Adjusting the tension is usually achieved with a small hex key, but some saws have a tool-free adjustment feature for ease.

Charge level indicator
Usually found on the chainsaw body or the battery, this shows you how much power is left in your battery. Press the button, and it lights up, telling you when to put it back on charge.

Handle
Designed to fit your hand for comfort and safety, it contains the trigger switch that operates the chainsaw.

Meet our testing panel

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

This article was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

The 8 best pressure washers and pressure cleaners in 2026 – tested by our experts - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-05T16:03:42.000Z

If you’re planning to spruce up outdoor areas in desperate need of a clean, a pressure washer could save you a great deal of hard work. Ideal for cleaning surfaces, furniture and large areas quickly, a pressure (or power) washer contains a motor that pumps a pressurised jet of water through a nozzle to shift dirt and stubborn grime with ease. There’s no need for hours of back-breaking scrubbing that would otherwise be required to get your garden back in shape.

Investing in a garden power tool like a pressure washer can save water, too, as they use less than a garden hose, cleaning quickly and efficiently. Both electric corded pressure washers and portable cordless pressure cleaners are now available, but choosing the right pressure washer for your garden will depend on the size of your space, what you're cleaning and, of course, your budget.

To make the buying process as painless as possible, we’ve tested a range of these versatile tools, all claiming to leave your patio, decking, garden furniture or car sparkling and put together a buyer’s guide filled with advice on key features to look out for, the different sizes available and suggestions on which models are best to clean a car and patio.

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Best Buy pressure washers at a glance

- Best pressure washer for storage: Stihl RE110 Plus
- Best pressure washer all round: Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer
- Best pressure washer for paving: Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer
- Best pressure washer for gentle cleaning: Nilfisk Core 140
- Best compact pressure washer: Black and Decker BEPW2000
- Best pressure washer for portability: AVA Go P40 large bundle
- Best value pressure cleaner: Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner
- Best pressure cleaner for performance: Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot Pressure Cleaner, WG620E

Our expertise

We tested a range of pressure washers and cordless pressure cleaners, using them for different jobs in the garden to help you find the right one for your needs. Each pressure washer has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to ease of use, handling, performance, and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on pressure washers that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Best pressure washers

Stihl RE110 Plus

RRP: £319

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Ebay

Pros

Lots of features, including a winding hose reel
Good onboard storage
Excellent cleaning performance
Good stability

Cons

Heavy

This powerful pressure washer has been awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for storage. Very little set-up is needed, just attaching the crank handle to the hose reel and slotting the cable, lance and nozzles into place, and it’s a very well-designed piece of kit. Both the 7m hose and the 5m cable are good lengths, and this pressure washer has a sturdy handle and large wheels that help make moving it around the garden and into place easy. At 20kg, it is heavy, though, so getting it up and down steps might be an issue for some.
It has very well-designed onboard storage, with a wind-up reel for keeping the hose stored away, a compartment for the cable and nozzles, and the handle is telescopic, so it takes up less room in the shed.

It comes with a detergent bottle and two nozzles – a rotary jet nozzle and an adjustable fan jet, and the lance has a soft grip handle so it’s comfortable with prolonged use, and even at the highest setting, when the lance pushes against the hand, it doesn’t vibrate like some models. Performance-wise, this is a very reliable machine. With an operating pressure of 110 bar, it tackles all outdoor cleaning jobs well and blasted away the stubborn stains on our patio with relative ease. This is a well-thought-out and consistently performing machine. Accessories for cleaning the car and patio are available to buy for this pressure washer, and it comes with a three-year warranty

Buy the Stihl RE11o Plus from Ebay, MowersUK and Stihl

Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Simple, with no nozzles to swap
Comfortable to use
Powerful, effective cleaning
Excellent stability

Cons

Accessories expensive

Ideal for bigger gardens, the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer has a long hose reach of 7m. A BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best all-round pressure washer, it has sturdy wheels and two handles that make it easy to move around the garden as you clean. The upright handle also folds down for easy storage. The pressure washer is supplied with three nozzles – pencil, jet and fan nozzle – and additional accessories such as a wash brush or patio cleaner can be bought, although they are a little expensive.

Read the full Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer review

Buy the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135 Pressure Washer from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up

Latest Deals

Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer

RRP: £159

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Powerful patio and surface cleaner
Comfortable to use
Integrated detergent feed
Good choice of sprays

Cons

Needs more assembly than many

This pressure washer is lightweight and has wheels and two handles to make it easy to move around the garden. It has a powerful 1,600-watt engine, and its patio cleaner had no problem clearing any dirt in our test, so it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for cleaning paving. There is an integrated detergent tank and onboard storage in the body of the pressure washer to tuck away the cable, hose and lances. A range of accessories is available, including a dirt blaster spray and an extension lance to limit the strain on your back.

Read the full Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer review

Buy Kärcher K3 Home Pressure Washer from Argos, B&Q and Currys

Latest Deals

Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer

RRP: £185.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Easy to assemble
Responsive trigger gun
Compact design for easy storage
Solid and sturdy

Cons

Limited accessories

A fast, efficient pressure washer, which tackled my patio, decking, furniture and car with ease. Three different power levels, combined with two nozzles, provide plenty of variation to suit delicate tasks as well as those tougher jobs, which is why it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for gentle cleaning. Small and compact, it has great storage features, while the sturdy wheels and handle make it conveniently portable.

Read the full Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer review

Buy Nilfisk Core 140 Pressure Washer from B&Q, Toolstation, Very

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Black & Decker BEPW2000

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Light and compact in use and storage
Ready to use
Powerful cleaning
Self-priming with additional hose

Cons

Vibration in the hand after only a short time
Handle slips down

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best compact pressure washer, this neat little model cleans surprisingly powerfully and efficiently. Almost ready to use straight out of the box, it just needs the hose, cable and lance attaching and requires no extra tools. A telescopic handle makes it simple to tuck away in storage, and at just over 8kg, it’s light and easy to move around, although the handle does slip down occasionally in use. It has a 6m hose and comes with two nozzles – a rotating turbo nozzle and an adjustable fan nozzle – and a detergent bottle.

There’s only one power level, but you can adjust the spray with the nozzles, and with 150 bar pressure, it cleaned our patio, garden furniture and caravan well. Tackling a stained patio took a little longer than some of the others in the test, but it is definitely powerful enough to get the job done. There’s also space on board for storage of the cable and nozzles once you’re finished. The only issue with this pressure washer is that after a while, the vibrations can be felt quite strongly in the hand. Otherwise, this washer is easy to use and store, small, light and quiet and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Black and Decker BEPW2000 from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled Up,

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AVA Go P40 Large Bundle

RRP: £149.90

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Light and easy to pick up and carry
Simple to use with good features
Excellent for storage
Powerful

Cons

No instructions
Can be tricky to slot on the nozzle
Telescopic lance gets stuck

This well-designed pressure washer was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for portability. Small and neat, it has no wheels but is low, with a rectangular design, and is light enough to pick up and carry around the garden with you. It has a strong, steel-reinforced hose and comes with a detergent bottle and two nozzles – 'turbo' and 'vario'. It also has a telescopic ‘zoom’ lance for reaching into corners and higher spots, although this did get stuck a few times in use in our test. It was also sometimes tricky to get the nozzles on and off, which was frustrating, but when both these things were working well, this was a great little pressure washer.

With an operating pressure of 120 bar, it cleans powerfully and well, tackling grubby patios and cars with ease, and we felt no vibrations in the hand as we worked. Once you’re finished cleaning, there’s a dedicated space to store both the hose and cable and the nozzles and lance, even on a machine as small as this. It's also very good value and comes with a 10-year warranty.

Buy AVA Go P40 Large Bundle from Amazon, Robert Dyas and Wickes

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Best pressure cleaners

Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet Cordless Pressure Cleaner

RRP: £134.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Easy to assemble and store
Multi-spray nozzle and Eco mode
Two-position handle
Fast charge
Battery level indicator display
Accessories, including an extension lance, a soap bottle and a brush
Part of the Yard Force CR20V range

Cons

Heavier than the WORX pressure cleaners, at 3.7kg
Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for value, this cordless pressure cleaner is compact yet powerful enough to handle washing the car, patio and garden furniture, as well as watering the garden. Self-priming, it draws water from a bucket, pool or river rather than the mains supply and comes with a water inlet filter on the end of the six-metre hose to prevent debris from clogging the system. We really loved that you can also adjust the angle of the handle, so it’s comfortable to operate. The multi-spray nozzle features three settings – Jet, for a wide fan-shaped spray, Low pressure, for a lighter clean and Turbo, for a higher pressure spiral spray.

It operates at 22 Bar pressure, which delivers a flow rate of 160 litres per hour through the six-metre hose, which is more than the WORX models in our test. The Eco Mode allows you to quickly switch to using less water and power for a lighter clean, and also helps conserve battery life. We love that the battery light indicator shows the percentage levels remaining. It uses a 20V 2.5Ah lithium-ion battery, which gives a 20-minute run time from a fast one-hour battery charge. It can also be used across the other power tools in the Yard Force cordless range. It comes with a foldable 10L water bucket, soap bottle and brush, as well as a three-year warranty.

Read the full Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet cordless pressure cleaner review

Buy the Yard Force LW C02 Aquajet cordless pressure cleaner from Amazon and B&Q

Latest Deals

Worx 20V Powershare Hydroshot WG620E Pressure Cleaner

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Easy to assemble and store
Multi-spray nozzle
Comes with an extension lance
Good run time
Battery level indicator display
Part of the WORX PowerShare battery system

Cons

Limited accessories
3-5 hours charge time
Unsuitable for jobs that require very high pressure

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this cordless pressure washer from WORX is a super option if you don’t have an outside tap for a garden hose or would find a portable pressure cleaner useful. Self-priming, it can draw water from a bucket, pool or river rather than requiring a mains supply – it has a water inlet filter on the end of the hose to prevent debris from clogging up the system. It comes with a multi-spray nozzle, which features five settings - 0°, 25°, 40°, shower and mist, an extension lance, as well as a 6m hose.

Lightweight, weighing just 1.7kg, it operates at 22 Bar pressure, which delivers 120 litres per hour water flow rate. It uses a 20V 2 AH MAX lithium-ion battery, and we like that there’s a battery level indicator to show how much charge is left. While it doesn’t come with the range of accessories that the WORX WG629E.1 and the Yard Force Aquajet do, it’s part of the WORX Powershare family, which means the battery can be used across the other power tools in this range. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Worx Pressure Cleaner WG620E review

Buy Worx Pressure Cleaner WG620E from Argos, B&Q and Very

Latest Deals

The best of the rest

Stihl RE80 Pressure Washer

RRP: £144

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Ebay

Pros

Very lightweight
Excellent rotary nozzle
Onboard storage
Easy to set up
Great value
Three nozzles - fan, rotary, and detergent

Cons

Significantly weaker at lower pressures

Stihl’s latest pressure washer is a lightweight, budget model. With a 1400W power output, 120 bar pressure, and a 5m hose, the RE80 offers great performance for good value. Thanks to clear and simple instructions, it’s easy to assemble - all you need is a Phillips screwdriver and 15 minutes. It features tidy onboard storage for all of the nozzles, and the best of these is the rotary nozzle, which efficiently powers through dirt on every surface. There’s also a fan nozzle with adjustable pressure that performs well on patio slabs, but only at maximum power – if you weaken the pressure even slightly, it’s much less effective. It also includes a detergent bottle attachment. One of the lightest machines on test at 7.5kg, it’s comfortable to wheel around, and because it’s compact, it’s easy to store in your shed. It’s great value for its low £144 RRP, especially considering the good three-year warranty.

Buy the Stihl RE80 from Ebay and Sam Turner & Sons

Yard Force EW U15 Pressure Washer

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Good cleaning power
Long hose reach
Useful features, includinga winding hose reel

Cons

Vibrations uncomfortable
Heavy
Sprays are hard to change

The Yard Force EW U15 is a compact pressure washer with two carry handles. It has a number of storage features including a hose reel and it has a good choice of sprays. It needs very little assembly to set up but sprays can be difficult to adjust and cause some vibrations. Best suited for small areas and quick jobs.

Buy the Yard Force EW U15 Pressure Washer from Amazon, B&Q and Very

Husqvarna PW125 pressure washer

RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Lightweight
Long hose
Excellent performance on patios
Good value
Three different nozzles - fan, rotary and detergent

Cons

The nozzles are less effective at the edge of paving slabs
Poor instructions so it takes a long time to set up
Warranty is only available through Husqvarna dealers

A compact but powerful pressure washer, the Husqvarna PW125 has a 1500W power output, a flow rate of 320-460 litres per hour, and 135 bar pressure. The 7m hose equals the length of the Bosch Universal Aquatak 135, so you can reach most of a patio or deck without having to reposition the main body of the pressure washer. It’s manoeuvrable thanks to wheels and a handle, and it feels robust and sturdy despite being relatively light at 8.3kg. It comes with a lance and two nozzles - a flat spray nozzle and a rotary nozzle for tougher cleaning. It also has a detergent bottle attachment for cleaning greenhouses, windows, and cars, which produces a good spray.

Though the jet from the flat spray nozzle is narrow, it easily removes dirt on patio slabs, bricks, and stonework. This nozzle also makes quick work of moss, rust and paint, as does the more efficient rotary nozzle with its wider spray. However, we found that this pressure washer is slightly less effective at the corners of paving slabs. The biggest weakness is the instructions, which are only pictures, so it takes about 45 minutes to set up the first time. It’s good value, but you should note that its two-year warranty is only available when you buy directly from a licensed Husqvarna dealer.

Buy the Husqvarna PW125 from Amazon and Mano Mano

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Makita HW111 Pressure Washer

RRP: £200

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Cleans well
Compact and stable
Handy hose reel

Cons

Lacks accessories
Lance feels short

A good option for cars, fences and driveways, the Makita HW111 is compact, stable and has wheels to help make manoeuvring easy despite its weight. The pressure washer is relatively simple but cleans well and is supplied with a choice of sprays, an integrated hose reel and a foam sprayer.

Buy from the Makita HW111 Pressure Washer from Amazon and Tool Den

Our experts have also tested the best leaf blowers and leaf vacuums, which come into their own when you're tidying up the garden, as will the best strimmers and the best hedge trimmers. And if you need to update your watering kit, check out our tests of the best garden hoses and best garden hose spray guns.

For more cordless garden tools, read our best cordless mowers and best robotic mowers guides, or take a look at the best cordless drills and best multi-tools.

Buying a pressure cleaner - video

View Green Video on the source website

Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.

How to choose the best pressure washer or cleaner

Good cleaning performance is essential, but there are a number of things to also consider before buying your pressure washer or cleaner.

Think about what you need to clean, how often and how dirty it will get. The higher the pressure that a washer produces, the more power it has to shift stubborn dirt. Pressure is measured in bars, so the higher the bar number, the heavier duty the washer, but the size of the motor, measured in watts, plus the water flow rate, also indicate high performance.
However, although a more powerful machine can lift heavy dirt quickly, a cheaper, lighter-duty washer will still do the job – it will just take longer. A low power and flow rate are ideal for cleaning delicate surfaces like decking, fencing and block paving, so a smaller machine would suffice. Otherwise, choose a gentle nozzle on a more powerful washer to avoid damage. For larger surfaces, look for a higher bar rating and flow rate to tackle the job quickly
All washers come with a standard nozzle, sometimes two, but specialist attachments will help you get specific jobs done properly. Work out the main jobs you’ll be doing and choose a washer with the relevant accessories – or check they’re available to buy later, at not too high a price. A brush is handy for cleaning furniture, cars and greenhouse glazing, while a patio cleaner will make very light work of surfaces without spraying dirt and grime everywhere. Some washers have an integrated detergent tank, others have a bottle that you fill with diluted detergent and attach between the lance and the nozzle
The amount of assembly required varies – some simply need the lance and hose attaching, but others have to be practically built from scratch, with screwdrivers and Allen keys required. Check what's needed before you buy
Pressure washers differ considerably in weight. Make sure a larger model has wheels to help you move it around the garden. Carry handles in the right places are essential if you have a lot of steps or need to lift the washer up onto a shelf for storage. If you have a large garden, check the hose length to ensure you can reach everything you need to clean. An extension lead suitable for outdoor use will also extend your working area –just make sure you protect it from the sprays

What's the difference between a pressure washer and a pressure cleaner?

The main difference between the two is that pressure cleaners are portable, so they don’t need to be attached to the mains water supply. Instead, they're self-priming and draw water via a suction hose from any source, including a bucket, pool or even a river. However, most pressure cleaners also feature a hose adapter, which can be connected to the mains tap, offering the best of both worlds. They’re also cordless and powered by lithium-ion batteries, so you will be limited by their run time, but the batteries are usually part of a wider range of power tools within the brand’s range, which can save you money.

As with pressure washers, pressure cleaners also come with multi-spray nozzles. Depending on the model, they can be bought with a range of accessories, like a foldable bucket, brush and soap bottle, or these can be purchased separately. Pressure cleaners offer a moderate flow rate, around 120L per hour, with 22 bar pressure from 20V power.

Types of pressure washer

Budget pressure washers

A basic, lower-powered machine is best for smaller garden tasks such as cleaning gardening equipment and washing down bikes. If you’re planning to tackle a lot of built-up grime on rough surfaces, this isn’t the machine for you.

For a lower-powered, budget model, you’ll be looking at a lower flow rate plus:

Motor wattage – 1200 to 1600 watts
Water pressure – 90 bar or under

Mid-range pressure washers

These pressure washers are ideal for most households. Machines in this range should be able to cope with cleaning paving and garden furniture as well as cars.

For a medium-powered model, you’ll be looking at a reasonable flow rate plus:

Motor wattage – 1600 to 2000 watts
Water pressure – 90 to 130 bar

Top-of-the-range and semi-professional pressure washers

If you’ve got a large commercial area to clean or some seriously built-up grime, you’ll need a high-powered pressure washer. These pressure washers should be able to clean large areas of paving as well as vehicles, such as 4x4s and caravans.

For a top-of-the-range machine, you’ll want a high flow rate plus:

Motor wattage – 2000 to 2500 watts
Water pressure – 130 to 150 bar

What's the best pressure washer for a patio?

To clean a paved patio, you’ll need at least a mid-range, medium-power pressure washer, although a lower-pressure machine is more suitable for block paving or wooden decking. The three pressure cleaners we tested will also cope well with this type of task; just bear in mind their battery run time. To make it easier to clean larger areas, look for a long hose that will be kinder on your back and opt for a washer with specific patio cleaning attachment tools. Similar to an indoor floor cleaner, the brush head and rotating jets diffuse the pressure across the surface to clean flat surfaces evenly, rather than concentrating the water in a single stream at a time, as a hose would.

What's the best pressure washer for cars?

For a standard car, a mid-range pressure washer should do the job. 4x4s that see a lot of heavy-duty use, caravans or commercial vehicles may need a higher-end model. All the pressure cleaners we tested are designed to clean cars and camper vans, as well as bikes, when you’re out and about. You will need to keep in mind the run time and possibly charge more than once for larger vehicles.
Specific car cleaning attachments are also available, including angled tools for reaching beneath the body of the car and brushes to softly clean the bodywork.

How we tested pressure washers and pressure cleaners

We tested a range of pressure washers and pressure cleaners, putting them through their paces on a range of surfaces. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

Set up and storage. Assessed how easy the pressure washers and cleaners were to assemble, how long this took and if any extra tools were needed, and how easy the instructions are to use. We also looked at size, any storage features, how quick it was to charge the batteries for the pressure cleaners and how easy it was to store
Handling. Looked at weight, balance and how easy it was to move around the garden and use, its grip, including features like a safety button, the battery runtime, and noise levels
Performance. Focused on cleaning power and how well and quickly the pressure washer cleaned. We assessed how they dealt with different surfaces, such as paving, furniture, brick, and cars and tested different nozzles, water pressure levels, and different areas of the garden
Value for Money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How We Review

What to wear when pressure washing

Before you begin pressure washing in the garden, it’s worth considering what you’re wearing. You might be surprised at how much water and muck can get thrown up whilst using these tools. Wear wellies and waterproof trousers to stop your clothes and feet getting soaked. Goggles are essential to protect your eyes from the dirt and grit that may be blown up in the spray, and you might also like to wear ear defenders when using noisier models, or if you’re working for a long period of time. For more clothing inspiration whilst you’re gardening, take a look at our selection of the best clothes for gardeners.

Meet our testing panel

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

The best garden shredders in 2026 – as tested by our reviews experts - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-02T19:03:35.000Z

When you're pruning in the garden, rather than adding the spent branches to your green bin or bagging them up and taking them to the recycling centre, why not make the most of this valuable resource by shredding it for the compost or for use as a mulch? A garden shredder chips garden waste so that it takes up less room and breaks down quickly and easily, and if you want to save money on compost and mulch in the future, they’re an essential piece of kit.

There are two main types of garden shredder: roller and impact, and both are available as petrol or electric machines:

Roller shredders use a rigid roller to draw material into the machine to crush and chop it. They're usually quick and therefore good if you have lots of material to shred. They're quiet but tend to struggle with fresher, greener growth, and are heavy and usually more expensive.

Impact shredders are often the budget option. They're simple to build, light, and easy to move around, with steel blades that finely shred material that's perfect for mulching. However,1 they're noisy, and cheaper models can feel flimsy and unstable in use.

Electric shredders are the most common and affordable type of garden shredder, and they're comparatively quiet, emission-free free and better for the environment, but you do need an outdoor power source, or extension cable that's a decent length, and remember to check the length of the shredder cable too, depending on where in the garden you plan to shred.

View Affiliate Playlist on the source website

Best Buy shredders at a glance

Best budget shredder: Hyundai electric garden shredder
Best shredder for features: Ryobi RSH2545B Corded 2500W impact shredder
Best shredder for performance: Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 shredder
Best rotary shredder: Webb electric silent shredder

Our expertise

We tested a range of electric corded shredders, using them with different prunings, including both woody branches and fresher growth, to help you find the right one for your garden. Each has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to assembly and storage, ease of use, performance and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on shredders that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Best garden shredders

Hyundai electric garden shredder

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

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Pros

Simple assembly
Light and easy to move
Shreds finely and quickly

Cons

Noisy

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner for best budget shredder, this easy-to-use impact shredder comes with all the assembly tools you need, and just the stand and wheels need attaching, and it’s ready to go. At 10.3kg, it’s light, and large wheels and a handle make it easy to move around the garden and in and out of the shed. It has a long, 10m orange cable that's easy to see and comes with a good-sized collection bag that attaches to two hooks on the side to catch the shreddings as they fall. A flat plunger helps you push down waste into the funnel easily, but it pulls in material strongly and smoothly. Best of all, it shreds quickly and finely, making great mulch. It's quite noisy and not as sturdy as some of the rotary models, but for the price, the ease of use and quality of the shreddings, we think it's a great value shredder.

Buy the Hyundai electric garden shredder Amazon and OnBuy

Latest Deals

Ryobi RSH2545B corded 2500W impact shredder

RRP: £179.00

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B&Q

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Pros

Easy assembly
Shreds efficiently and well
Solid collection box
Good length, bright cable

Cons

Round plunger is less effective than a flat one
Takes up room in storage

This well-thought-out impact shredder won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for features. It's easy to set up, and unlike most of the other impact shredders in our test, it features a 40L collection box that slots under the funnel, helping to make the shredder sturdy and stable. A safety mechanism ensures that the shredder only works if the box is in place, and although the box feels sturdy, if it breaks, it will need to be replaced, or the shredder won't work. Despite its size, the shredder is light to move around, and it has a 6m orange cable, which is easy to see but shorter than some in our test. The round plunger is useful for pushing material into the funnel, and it has a safety flap to protect fingers and a reset button in case of jams. It pulls material in well and shreds quickly and efficiently, down to a fine mulch.

Buy the Ryobi RSH2545B corded 2500W impact shredder from B&Q

Latest Deals

Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 shredder

RRP: £289

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Just Lawnmowers

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Pros

Easy to assemble, move and store
Fast, efficient shredding
Pulls material in strongly
Flat, wide plunger

Cons

No collection bag
Blade is hard to access

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this impact shredder is well-designed and a joy to use. It's easy to assemble, just the legs need attaching, and at 12kg, it's light and easy to move around the garden and in and out of the shed. It has a large funnel and comes with a wide, sturdy plunger that was our favourite on test and which helps to push material into the shredder easily. It copes with all prunings fast, grabbing and drawing them into the funnel quickly and smoothly and shreds them into a fine mulch. However, no collection bag is provided, and the bright red cable is easy to see but only 4m long, so you may need an extension lead with this, depending on where in the garden you're shredding. It's also a little tricky to access the blades, as the dial was stiff to turn and reach. For shredding performance and ease, however, this is a worthy Best Buy winner.

Buy the Bosch AXT Rapid 2200 shredder from Currys, Just Lawnmowers and Robert Dyas

Latest Deals

Webb WEESS electric silent shredder with box

RRP: £249.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Currys

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Pros

Pulls material in well
Quiet in operation
Large collection box and long cable
Easy to store

Cons

Heavy to move

One of the quietest shredders on test, this rotary model won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for best rotary shredder. Like most rotary shredders, this needs more assembly than an impact shredder, but it's not complicated to put together, and once assembled, it's sturdy and stable. It's heavy, though, at 27kg, and is not the easiest to move around, and it would be difficult to lift if you needed to get it up and down steps. But, it breaks down well for storage, with the funnel slotting upside down into the collection box, and if storage space is limited, it would fit easily into a corner or under a shelf. The plastic collection box has a large capacity of 55L and a safety mechanism so that the shredder will only work when this is engaged - if the box breaks, it will need to be replaced or the shredder won't work. This shredder is quiet in operation with a strong pull on material in the funnel, and it shreds prunings down to compostable material easily, dropping them into the box below. It has a reverse button if material gets stuck, a safety switch, a round plunger for pushing material into the funnel and a long 10m orange cable that's easy to see.

Buy the Webb electric silent shredder from Currys, Tooled Up and Wickes

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The best of the rest

Although this model didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, it still had great features that made it worth recommending.

Einhell electric knife shredder

RRP: £125.95

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Tooled Up

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Pros

Simple assembly
Easy to move
Shreds finely
Comparatively quiet

Cons

No reset switch
Unstable when loading

This impact shredder just needs the stand and wheels attached, and it’s ready to go. At 9.9kg it’s light, and has large wheels and a handle so it’s easy to move around the garden and in and out of the shed. The black cable is short, at just 3m long, and it comes with a small collection bag that attaches to hooks on the side to help it catch the shreddings as they fall. The flat plunger helps you push down waste into the funnel and can be hung on a simple hook on the handle when it's not in use, a nifty feature which should prevent the plunger from getting misplaced. There's a safety flap to protect fingers, and the steel blade shreds well, producing fine shreddings. It's comparatively quiet, but it can feel quite flimsy and wobbly when loading, so it must be firmly set up on flat ground. There's also no external reset button on this shredder, but it does have an internal stop button if jams occur.

Buy the Einhell electric knife shredder from OnBuy, Robert Dyas and Tooled Up

Latest Deals

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best hedge trimmers, the best splitting axes, the best pressure washers and the best strimmers.

To help you in pruning season, see our tests of the best secateurs, best mini chainsaws, best pruning saws and the best loppers. And to stay safe while you work, check out our test of the best gardening gloves.

How to choose a garden shredder

Think about the following before you choose:

Impact or roller shredder?
Most electric shredders are designed to handle branches around 40mm thick. If you have lighter, fresher branches and twigs to chip, an impact shredder will chop these up easily and quickly. Woodier growth is better suited to a rotary shredder, which can crush most waste apart from wet, sappy material, which will get stuck. They’re also fast, so if you often have piles of prunings, etc, one of these would be a good choice.

What do you want to do with the shreddings?
In our test, some shredders were particularly good at finely chipping while others were better suited to breaking down fresher waste, so think about whether you want a fine mulch to use on your borders or are content with condensing garden waste and speeding up the composting process.
A collection box or bag makes it easier to move and use your shreddings, and the bigger the better. A rigid box may be easier to use, but note that these shredders have a safety mechanism that stops them from working if the box is not in place. If the box breaks, it will need to be replaced, or the shredder won't work.

How often will you use your shredder?
If the shredder is in and out of the shed regularly, you’ll need one that’s easy to manoeuvre. Look for large wheels and comfortable handles, and if weight is an issue, opt for an impact shredder, which will be much lighter to lift and move.
If you’re planning on shredding away from the house at the end of the garden, check the length of the electric cable or factor in the need for an extension cord.
If storage space is limited, assess which type of shredder will better suit the room you have – most impact shredders are tall and thin, while roller models can be broken down to the size of the collection box and should fit in a cupboard or under a shelf.

Is it safe?
Impact shredders should have a safety flap within the funnel to protect fingers from the blades, but stability is also important. Check that the shredder has firm feet so that it remains stable in use. A motor protection lock is also essential if the blades ja,m and a reset button will help ensure you only start the machine when it’s ready to go again. It's also worth investing in some basic safety equipment before you start shredding, such as gloves, goggles and ear defenders.

Is it easy to look after and repair?
The blades on cheaper impact shredders can blunt quickly, so make sure you can access them easily – most funnels swing open with the twist of a dial, and all the machines in our test had reversible blades, so they last twice as long before they need replacing. Check how easy it is to get new blades before you buy. Rotary shredders need the gap between the roller and the plate adjusted regularly, so ensure this is easy to do, or your machine won't shred well.

Shredding with care

Ensure the shredder is standing firmly on a flat surface before you begin.
Always wear gloves, eye protection and ear defenders.
Don’t put too much material in the funnel at once, and put the thicker ends of branches in first if you can.
As you shred, alternate fresh, wetter, and then dry material to prevent the machine from jamming.
Never shred in the rain or in wet weather.
Clean out the shredder regularly, and particularly after shredding sappy growth.

How to use your shreddings Shredded plant material is much quicker to compost. Simply mix it through your heap, and it will soon break down to make nutrient-rich organic fertiliser for your beds and borders. Shreddings make a valuable mulch for your borders that will help keep down weeds and hold in moisture. Worms will eventually incorporate it into the soil and improve its structure. Add it in spring, when weeds are yet to germinate and herbaceous plants are still dormant, or during the autumn as plants are dying back. Shredded bark is a great alternative for gravel on paths through borders and on the veg plot and allotment. Use a generous amount and tamp it down firmly, so your path is well defined and less susceptible to weeds. If you can't use or compost your shredded waste, add it to your garden bin, where it will take up a lot less room than unshredded material.

How we tested shredders

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested different electric shredders for the same amount of time and with the same range of material, including woody branches and fresher growth, and both straight and messier, branched stems. The shedders were assembled, and the following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

Assembly/storage: Assessed how easy the shredder is to set up, its size and weight, and also how easy it is to store.
Ease of use: Looked at funnel size, noise levels, blade adjustment, cable length, safety features, collection boxes or bags, and how easy it is to clear blockages.
Performance: Judged debris collection, blade efficiency and the quality of the final shreddings.
Value for money: Considered all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP and length of warranty, and the availability of spare blades.

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

The best hand weeders in 2026, tested on real weeds by real gardeners - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-02T18:40:58.000Z

Weeds are a perennial problem in the garden, popping up on the veg patch, in between plants in borders, and in containers, and weeding is one of the gardener's most regular jobs. Digging them up, roots and all, is the best way to banish them, and while hoeing is effective if you're tackling large, weedy areas, for individual weeds or when you're weeding among other plants, a dedicated hand weeder is the tool for the job.

Around the size of a hand trowel with a similar handle, hand weeding tools can come with a variety of different ends according to the weeds they're designed to remove. Some simply have a long, sharp head, others a pronged end or a corkscrew, while some may have a hooked end, serrated edge or a fulcrum for greater leverage.

We researched the most popular weeding tools on the market, and then a panel of BBC Gardeners' World Magazine readers rigorously tested them, so we could bring you our list of the best hand weeding tools.

Best Buy hand weeders at a glance

Best for stubborn, deep-rooted weeds: Fiskars Xact Extractor
Best versatile hand weeder: Niwaki Weeding Hoe
Best all-round hand weeder: Corona ComfortGel Weeder
Best long-lasting hand weeder: DeWit Cape Cod Weeder
Best for individual weeds and lawns: Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder & Fulcrum

Our expertise

We've tested a range of hand weeder brands, using them in different gardens and situations to help you find the right one for your garden. Each hand weeder has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to comfort, design, performance and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on hand weeders that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

The best hand weeders to buy

Fiskars Xact Extractor

Our rating: 5/5

RRP: £16

Available from Amazon

Pros

Very strong and solid
Comfortable with a good grip
Ideal for stubborn, deep-rooted weeds
Long lasting

Cons

Only missing a hanging strap

With its long plastic handle, lengthy stainless steel head and serrated edge, this sturdy weeder is ideal for digging deep and tackling stubborn, long-rooted weeds. The soft-grip handle is comfortable and doesn't slip, even when applying pressure, and provides great leverage. The Fiskars Xact Extractor hand weeder has been awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for stubborn, deep-rooted weeds.

Read the full Fiskars Xact Extractor review

Buy the Fiskars Xact Extractor from Amazon and B&Q

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Niwaki Weeding Hoe

Our rating: 5/5

RRP: £18

Available from Niwaki

Pros

Comfortable and light
Strong and robust
Easy to use in all soils and situations
Easy on all weeds

Cons

A very sharp blade needs a substantial cover

Well thought-out and versatile this weeding hoe is useful for more than just weeding. The sharp, hooked, carbon steel blade slices easily into the ground, prising out weeds in a whole host of situations from pots and containers to the veg patch and flower border. Its shaped pine handle is comfortable, and the weeder is light and easy to use. It comes in a handy bag and has a protective sheath for the blade. It's available for both left- and right-handed gardeners. We awarded the Niwaki weeding hoe a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for best versatile hand weeder.

Read the full Niwaki weeding hoe review

Buy the Niwaki weeding hoe from Niwaki and Crocus

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Corona ComfortGel Weeder

Our rating: 5/5

RRP: £15.99

Available from Burgon & Ball

Pros

Comfortable, non-slip handle
Easy to use
Well designed with good extra features
Excellent at removing all weeds, including ones that are deep-rooted and situated in lawns
Bright colour, easy to spot
Good quality and value

Cons

Serrated edge is best for right-hand use

This great weeder has a sturdy, stainless steel head that's lightly curved for leverage and tapers to a narrow, forked end. Sharply serrated on one side for cutting roots, the bright red handle has a finger guard to protect the hand. It feels strong and robust, and capable of tackling any weeding job. We awarded it the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for best all-round hand weeder.

Read the full Corona ComfortGel weeder review

Buy the Corona ComfortGel weeder from Amazon and Burgon & Ball

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DeWit Cape Cod Weeder

Our rating: 5/5

RRP: £22.99

Available from Crocus

Pros

Comfortable and nicely weighted
Sharp, sturdy carbon steel head
Robust and long-lasting
Tackles all weeds easily

With a long, slender head, this is perfectly suited to rooting out weeds in tight spots. It's for right-handed use only, but is comfortable and nicely weighted, and the ergonomic handle sits well in the hand. Hand-crafted from tough carbon steel, this sturdy hand tool comes with a lifetime warranty. We awarded it BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy long-lasting hand weeder.

Read the full DeWit Cape Cod weeder review

Buy the DeWit Cape Cod weeder from Crocus

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Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder & Fulcrum

Our rating: 4.8/5

RRP: £16.99

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

Sturdy and robust
Comfortable contoured grip
Levers out deep-rooted weeds well
Ideal in between plants

Cons

Clogs with soil
Struggles with clumping weeds like couch grass

Ideal for digging out individual weeds and those with long taproots like dandelions, this eye-catching tool has a long, forked head backed with a fulcrum to aid leverage and make digging up stubborn weeds a breeze. Its non-slip, plastic handle is comfortable, and it comes with a 10-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for individual weeds and lawns.

Read the full Spear and Jackson Select Stainless Weeder and Fulcrum review

Buy the Spear and Jackson Select Stainless weeder and fulcrum from Amazon and Tooled Up

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Best of the rest

Although some weeders didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Draper Spinnaker Hand Weeder with Ash Handle

Our rating: 4.5/5

RRP: £14.25

Available from B&Q

Pros

Light and comfortable
Sturdy and long-lasting
Sharp with good leverage
Great for deep, suborn weeds and lawns

Cons

Takes a few attempts to work out how to use it

This heritage-style tool has a polished stainless steel head and a comfortable FSC ash handle. It's light and comfortable to use, and the fulcrum gives good leverage for rooting out lone weeds or spot weeding on the lawn. Sturdy and long-lasting, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Draper spinnaker hand weeder with ash handle from Amazon and B&Q

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Sophie Conran weeder

Our rating: 4.3/5

RRP: £20.49

Available from Burgon & Ball

Pros

Well-made and classic design
Ideal for tight spots
Great for annual weeds
Struggles with deep-rooted weeds
Stones get stuck in the prongs

Cons

Lacks hanging strap

A striking looking tool, this hand weeder has a smooth, rounded handle crafted from waxed FSC beech wood and a brass neck. The head is stainless steel with three sharp, mirror-polished prongs that are ideal for getting into tight spots and twisting out weeds between plants and rows of veg. Ideal for tackling annual weeds, it comes with a 10-year warranty.

Buy the Sophie Conran weeder review from Burgon & Ball

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If you're wrestling with large areas of weeds, we've tested the best garden hoes as well as the best border forks, ideal for lifting and clearing whole beds and borders of difficult weeds. And for more help preparing the ground, take a look at our guide to the best garden spades.

How to choose the best weeding tool

Different designs of weeding tools tend to suit particular types of weed, so it’s important to choose the right one for the job:

• If you’re constantly rooting out established weeds in the lawn, look for a weeder with a pronounced bend or fulcrum to help give you the leverage you need to prise them out, without disturbing the turf around them

• For stubborn dandelions with long taproots and other established weeds, a strong handle and a long, narrow head will help lift them and withstand the force that’s needed

• Weeders with a curved end are helpful for hooking out younger and shallower-rooting weeds with a hoe-like action, while those with tines that claw or drag through the soil are great for attacking clumps of annual weeds, as well as cultivating the soil once they’re gone

• A forked end and a sharp or serrated edge will help you cut through the soil more easily, as will weeders with prongs or tines, which are particularly useful for weeds in difficult, stony soil

How to use a hand weeder

To successfully root out weeds, insert the garden weeder into the soil close to the weed roots to loosen them. Hold the leaves ready to give them a gentle tug, to help ease them out and push the weeder back against the soil, to gain leverage. The weed should pop up out of the ground straight away, or you may need to repeat this action several times around the roots first.

How we tested hand weeders

Each BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reader was sent a hand weeder and asked to use it for a few weeks, in a range of different areas of their garden, tackling both perennial and annual weeds. The weeder was reviewed with the reader assessing it for comfort, looking at how it felt in the hand, its weight and whether the hand weeder had a good, comfortable grip. They also looked at its design, the materials the weeding tool was made of, its strength, any features it may have, such as a fulcrum or serrated edge, and if it was easy to clean.

The hand weeders were then reviewed for performance, focusing on how easy the garden weeder was to use, how well it removed weeds, which types it removed, and how it coped with different soils. Finally, its value for money was assessed, considering all of the above in relation to its RRP and the length of warranty.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

This review round-up was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

The 8 best garden loppers for your garden in 2026 – as tested by our reviews experts - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-02T16:56:36.000Z

When it comes to pruning season, trimming and shaping trees and shrubs with thick, woody growth can feel like a daunting task. While your secateurs and other essential gardening tools may not be up to the task, a strong pair of garden loppers are more than capable of tackling tougher trimming jobs. Used with both hands, their long handles make them ideal for cutting branches up to 50mm thick, depending on the lopper.

If you’re pruning dense dead wood, then a pair of loppers with an anvil blade is the tool for you. Cuts are made as the top blade slices through the wood onto the flat anvil base. They can crush stems as they cut, and although bypass blades make cleaner, more precise cuts, anvil blades have greater force. They're ideal for clearing dead branches and making the first cut on thick branches before removing them cleanly with bypass loppers or a saw.

Bypass loppers carry on where your secateurs leave off, giving a lovely, clean cut on living stems that are just that bit too thick for secateurs. They have two blades, which pass over one another to give a precise cut in a scissor action and that makes them perfect for the finer pruning of shrubs and trees. Both types of loppers are available with telescopic handles that extend for greater reach, and many have an additional cutting mechanism to help you cut thicker wood with less effort, helpful for those with less strength, and for very tough wood.

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Best Buy garden loppers at a glance

Bypass lopper Best Buys

Best bypass loppers for ease of use 2024: Alpen Loppers Weisshorn 280
Best bypass loppers for value 2025: Kent & Stowe SureCut All Purpose Extra Power Bypass Loppers
Best bypass loppers for general use 2025: Felco 221 70cm straight head loppers

Anvil lopper Best Buys

Best heavy-duty anvil loppers for ease of use 2025: Felco 231 Loppers
Best telescopic anvil loppers 2025: Wolf Garten Telescopic loppers
Best anvil loppers for general use 2025: Fiskars Power Gear X anvil loppers LX99
Best anvil loppers for ease of use 2025: Darlac Compact Compound anvil loppers
Best ratchet anvil loppers 2025: Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage Telescopic ratchet anvil loppers

Our expertise We tested the different types of bypass and anvil loppers, using them in the garden on a range of different woody shrubs and trees to help you find the right one for your garden. Each pair has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to handling, cutting, maintenance and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on loppers that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Best bypass loppers

Alpen Lopper Weisshorn 280

RRP: £64.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Lightweight aluminium handles
Effective shock absorbers
Cam-assisted mechanism for easier cutting
Replaceable blade

Cons

Long handles make these more difficult to use close to your body

These simple, unfussy loppers are light, with Japanese SK5 carbon steel blades and a cam-assisted mechanism that makes them a great choice for gardeners who lack strength. The gearing gives greater cutting power for tougher woods, and they really do make light work of even tough older wood, with shock absorbers also helping to take the strain. We awarded them a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use in 2024. A 40mm cutting width makes these perfect for pruning larger stems and branches, and the long handles are useful for reaching up into shrubs. Although they’re light and easy to manoeuvre, they do make it trickier to work in tight spaces. They’re excellent value for money, the blade is replaceable, and they come with a two-year warranty.

Buy ALPEN Wiesshorn 280 loppers from Amazon

Kent & Stowe SureCut All Purpose Extra Power bypass loppers

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

Handles are comfortable with a good grip
Easy to adjust telescopic handles
Excellent shock absorption
Hanging loop
Good value

Cons

Colouring makes them hard to see in the undergrowth
Design may not appeal to all

This comfortable, versatile pair of loppers cuts cleanly and smoothly, and it's ideal for cutting live, green wood. Made from high-quality carbon steel, the blades are coated for high rust resistance, and chunky rubber bumpers help ensure easy cutting with little effort and no reverberation travelling through your wrists and arms. They have a maximum cutting width of 35mm, which is adequate for most garden tasks, and the shaped handles are gripped for extra comfort. They’re also telescopic, giving you extra stretch to reach higher branches, but when reduced in length, they’re still easy to manoeuvre through dense stems. Unfortunately, no spare blades are available, but otherwise, these loppers are very competitively priced, come with a five-year warranty, and we’ve awarded them a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for value in 2025.

Buy the Kent & Stowe SureCut All Purpose Extra Power Bypass Loppers from Amazon, B&Q and Crocus

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Felco 221 70cm straight head loppers

RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Simple, no fuss styling
Comfortable and easy to use
Effective shock absorbers
Strong and robust
Repair service and lifetime warranty

Cons

Expensive

Robust, well-made and thoroughly practical, these loppers from Felco are user-friendly and simple in design. The lightweight aluminium handles are comfortable and well-balanced, with grip handles in ‘Felco red’, and the hardened steel blades have a generous 45mm cutting width. A hooked lower counter blade helps to keep a firm hold of the branch you’re cutting. The loppers are also easy to maintain and come with the same tool you get with Felco secateurs to take them apart for cleaning and sharpening. They also come with a lifetime warranty and, although they’re the most expensive loppers on test, they’re a lifetime purchase for a serious gardener. We awarded them a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for general use in 2025.

Buy the Felco 221 70cm straight head loppers from Amazon

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Best anvil loppers

Felco 231 Loppers

RRP: £219.99

Our rating: 4.75/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Cuts up to 40mm
High-quality steel blade
Lightweight tubular aluminium alloy handles
Optimised lever system for effortless cutting

Cons

Very expensive

The straightforward but quality construction of these loppers makes them a delight to use, cutting through 40mm woody material with ease. They feel powerful and strong in the hand, while the 1.2kg weight is both comfortable and nicely balanced. The strong alloy handles feature bright red grips, which would be easy to spot in debris. The lever action looks deceptively simple but adds substantially to the cutting strength, while the curved anvil head is easy to clean, sharpen and service.

With their narrow, uncomplicated design, these loppers are easy to manoeuvre between branches, cutting cleanly and deftly, which is why we awarded this product a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy heavy-duty lopper for ease of use, 2025. With a lifetime warranty on handles, and replacement blades readily available from the manufacturer, these are a lifetime purchase for the keen or professional gardener.

Buy the Felco 231 Loppers from Amazon

Wolf Garten Telescopic Anvil Loppers

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Comfortable, with a non-slip grip handle
Easy telescopic handles lock securely in place
Cut effortlessly
Flat screws prevent damage to wood

Cons

Expensive

The Wolf Garten loppers were our highest-scoring model overall and were awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best telescopic loppers in 2025. They have a non-stick steel blade with a metal anvil. The extending aluminium handles have matching locking holes on each handle to keep them even and a comfortable, non-slip grip. With flat screws, there was no damage to the wood, and the cut was effortless. Replacement blades are available, and the warranty lasts for 10 years.

Buy the Wolf Garten Telescopic loppers from B&Q

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Fiskars Power Gear X Anvil Loppers LX99

RRP: £79.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Light and comfortable
Good reach
Clean, powerful cutting action
Curved anvil hooks branches into place
Long warranty

Cons

Expensive

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for general use in 2025, these garden loppers feature a coated, non-stick steel blade with a curved metal anvil that helps you catch and grip branches as you cut. There’s a geared mechanism as well as light and narrow aluminium handles with a rubber grip. The loppers cut cleanly with a wide cutting width, and there are also useful hanging holes in the handles. They come with a generous warranty of 25 years.

Buy the Fiskars Power Gear X Anvil Lopper LX99 from Amazon and ManoMano

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Darlac Compact Compound Anvil Loppers

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Mr Fothergill's

Pros

Very light
Simple design and easy to use
Excellent cutting strength for size
Great value

Cons

Small cutting width
Limited reach

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use in 2025, these small, light loppers have a steel blade with a rust-resistant coating and a metal anvil. The oval handles are made from aluminium with a rubber grip for added comfort, and there’s also a compound-action cutting mechanism, which we found provided excellent strength when working. These lightweight loppers have a small cutting width; however, a lifetime warranty is included, and replacement parts are available.

Buy the Darlac Compact Compound Anvil Loppers from Mr Fothergill's

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Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers

RRP: £32

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Argos

Pros

Light and comfortable
Cuts smoothly
Handles adjust easily with one hand

Cons

Narrow cutting width
Handles slide into place by eye only

Our testers were impressed with these Spear and Jackson loppers and awarded them a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best ratchet loppers in 2025. The carbon-steel blade and anvil are non-stick and rust-resistant, plus there’s a five-stage ratchet mechanism. The twist-and-slide aluminium handles have a rubber grip and extend 72-104cm. The included warranty is valid for 10 years.

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Advantage Telescopic Ratchet Anvil Loppers from Amazon and Argos

Latest Prices

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Roughneck XT Pro Anvil Loppers

RRP: £70.91

Our rating: 3.6/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Drop forged for extra toughness
High leverage compound cutting action
45mm cutting capacity
Chrome vanadium steel upper blade ensures outstanding toughness and longer-lasting sharpness
Heavy-duty steel handles
25-year warranty
Bright yellow makes them easy to spot in debris

Cons

Struggled to cut denser wood

Sturdy and robustly made with a chrome vanadium steel blade, these anvil-action loppers feel nicely weighted and strong enough to tackle any job, especially with the wide 45mm cutting capacity. The air-cushioned grips and overall weight of 1.4kg make them feel workman-like in the hand, and the narrow cutting head makes them easy to manoeuvre amongst branches. They cut most material well, although dense green holly proved something of a challenge.

The spare construction makes them easy to clean and oil, while the bright yellow handles make these loppers easy to spot in debris. With a lengthy 25-year warranty, these are a good choice for a gardener dealing with rough pruning work, such as brambles.

Buy the Roughneck XT Pro Anvil Loppers from Amazon, B&Q and Power Tools Direct

Bulldog Pro Heavy Duty Tri-Bite Loppers

RRP: £34.98

Our rating: 3.6/5

Available from Tool Station

Pros

TRI-BITE geared system
Carbon steel blades with non-stick coating
40mm cutting capacity
Large, soft-grip handles
Lifetime warranty

Cons

More moving parts to clean
Can snag on branches in tight spaces

These loppers feel strongly made and robust, and are generally heavy and substantial both in the hand and in use, weighing in at almost 1.6kg. The three-geared mechanism, combined with the non-stick coating on the steel blade, cuts through 40mm woody material easily.

The large, soft-grip handles offer excellent control, especially when using the loppers in awkward spaces. However, the chunkier head makes manoeuvring the loppers more uncomfortable, and the complex gearing makes them more prone to getting caught and more difficult to clean. With a lifetime warranty and an affordable price tag, these loppers feel like a sturdy, well-made tool that would suit many gardeners.

Buy the Bulldog Pro Heavy Duty Tri-Bite Loppers from Tool Station

Corona ComfortGEL DualLink extendable limb and branch loppers

RRP: £49.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Lifetime warranty
Cuts up to 4.5cm
Power-compounding link feature
Bumper system for user comfort
Two-zone blade for powerful large cuts and precision small cuts
Non-stick blade coating for enhanced cutting performance
Telescopic handles

Cons

Not very manoeuvrable in a tight space
More moving parts to clean
Heavy

Weighing in at just over 1.8kg, these loppers feel tough, beefy and ready for anything up to their 45mm cutting capacity. They're comfortable to use with telescopic steel handles featuring ‘comfort gel’ grips and an integrated bumper system designed to reduce hand and shoulder fatigue. The power-compounding link feature, DualLINK, works to boost power with less effort, which makes light work of woody material.

The high-carbon steel blade is coated with a non-stick finish for ease of cleaning and cutting, but the gearing requires a number of moving parts to keep clean and oiled. Also, the chunky head is difficult to manoeuvre in tight spaces, although the loppers are nicely balanced both in the shorter setting and at the full 94cm reach of the extendable handles. With a lifetime warranty and an affordable price, these loppers are a great buy for the gardener with a lot of regular woody pruning to do.

Buy the Corona ComfortGEL DualLink extendable limb and branch loppers from Amazon

Darlac Heavy Duty Double Compound Action Anvil Lopper

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Crocus

Pros

Light and easy to use
Good reach
Spare parts available

Cons

Long blade only cuts tough wood at the base
Struggles with denser wood
Strain on the wrist when cutting tough wood

A long steel blade with a rust-resistant coating and light, narrow aluminium handles with a rubber grip make these loppers light and easy to use. Guaranteed for life, the tool features a compound-action cutting mechanism and offers great reach. While spare parts are available, the loppers struggled on tougher wood, putting strain on the wrists while working.

Buy the Darlac Heavy Duty Double Compound Action Anvil Loppers from Crocus

Latest Prices

Wilkinson Sword Ratchet Loppers

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Wilkinson Sword

Pros

Very light and easy to use
Cuts most wood cleanly and smoothly
Good value

Cons

Narrow cutting width
Ratchet catches occasionally

Good for less able gardeners, these loppers feature a long, non-stick blade made from carbon steel with a metal anvil. They have long, narrow aluminium handles with a rubber grip, plus a three-gear ratchet mechanism, although our testers found this did sometimes catch. The warranty on this model is 10 years.

Buy the Wilkinson Sword Ratchet Loppers from Charlies and Wilkinson Sword

Burgon & Ball RHS-endorsed Telescopic Ratchet Loppers

RRP: £48.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Turner & Sons

Pros

Cuts tough wood well
Handles are easily adjusted with one hand

Cons

Handles slide into place by eye only
Handles bow under pressure
Narrow cutting width
Heavy

These Burgon & Ball loppers feature a five-stage spring-ratchet mechanism and a carbon-steel, non-stick blade with a chrome-plated anvil. While heavy, the tool cuts well through tough wood, and the telescopic handles extend to 72-104cm. The loppers are guaranteed for 10 years.

Buy the Burgon & Ball RHS-endorsed Telescopic Ratchet Loppers from Dobbies and Sam Turner & Sons

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If you're pruning larger branches, take a look at our review of the best mini chainsaws, the best wood-splitting axes and the best pruning saws, or for smaller cuts, our roundup of the best secateurs and electric pruners. For help clearing up, see our test of the best shredders, best splitting axes and the best wheelbarrows. We also have guides detailing how to prune fruit trees in winter and pruning mistakes to avoid, as well as information on other tools, such as the best Japanese gardening tools and how to use them.

How to choose the best garden loppers

Loppers are ideal for tougher pruning jobs later in the year, and there's a wide range of choices available. In this guide, we go through some of the different models of loppers and the various features they offer, so you can understand which type might work for you.

What are loppers used for?

Loppers are essentially a pair of large, long-handled secateurs capable of taking on stems that would be too thick for even your very best secateurs. Ideal for the autumn and winter pruning period, loppers are designed to cut branches up to around 50mm thick. The tool features long, even telescopic handles, which are operated with both hands to tackle stubborn growth.

What are bypass loppers?

Bypass loppers have two blades that operate in a scissor action to slice cleanly through stems and wood. They are best for all general pruning of green stems and thicker live branches. They often have a slightly narrower cutting width than anvil loppers, of up to 45mm.

What are anvil loppers?

Anvil loppers feature a single blade closing onto a flat base, operating in a similar way to a knife cutting on a chopping board. There may also be a mechanism in the head of the loppers. This could be a ratchet, compound-action or geared mechanism that helps them cut more powerfully and with less effort from you. A ratchet cuts in multiple steps, while geared and compound action provide more leverage to a single cut. Anvil loppers are the toughest type of garden loppers and particularly suit any jobs which involve clearing a lot of dense, dead wood. Lopper blades are usually made from steel or carbon steel and can have a protective or non-stick coating to increase durability.

What are extendable loppers used for?

There are many long-handled loppers that help you reach further or higher up branches, but some are extendable, with telescopic handles. Being able to adjust and extend loppers means you can increase your leverage and cover more areas of your garden. The adjustable nature of telescopic tree loppers means you can alter the length for your needs, rather than being left with excessively long handles while you complete jobs within easier reach. Many of these long-reach loppers with telescopic handles have an additional cutting mechanism that should help make slicing through tough wood a less strenuous job. There are often other handy features on loppers, extendable or otherwise. These include grips over the handles for added comfort or ‘bumpers’ that soften the impact of each cut by preventing the two handles from banging together.

Top tips for pruning

Once you’ve got the perfect loppers, don’t get too carried away; pruning can make or break a plant. Follow these four tips to keep your plants in top condition:

Prune in the right spot on the stem or branch to keep your plants healthy – too high, and you could encourage disease, and too low, and you could damage the bud
Check what time of the year to prune your plants. Most plants respond well to winter pruning, but not all, so do a bit of research before you get started
Keep your secateurs and loppers sharp and clean to avoid disease
Prune at a downwards angle, so rainwater runs off the wound. If you cut flat, there's a risk of fungal infections

For more pruning advice, browse our pruning guides

How we tested loppers

We tested a range of bypass and anvil loppers with different features, including telescopic handles and ratchet mechanisms. Our experts put the loppers through their paces on various woody branches and stems to test their overall performance. Each pair was assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

Handling: Looked at comfort, weight, balance, manoeuvrability and ease of use.
Cutting: Focussed on the blade material, strength, cutting widths and cutting efficiency.
Maintenance: Assessed ease of cleaning and sharpening, and whether replacement blades are available.
Value: Considered the price versus quality, design, performance and warranty.

For more information on our testing process, take a look at How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability

The 9 best gas BBQs to buy in 2026, as tested by our experts - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-02T16:39:08.000Z

Cooking and eating outside in the garden are highlights of the summer, and although charcoal barbecues are often the traditional choice, gas BBQs make grilling simple. Quicker and cleaner than charcoal, they leave little mess, cook without smoke, and often come with a range of bonus features to take your cooking to the next level. Watch our video above for expert advice on buying the best gas BBQs for your garden.

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Gas BBQs – Buyer’s Guide

Best Buy gas BBQs at a glance

Best gas barbecue for small gardens: Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart
Best premium gas barbecue: Weber Genesis Series EPX-335
Best portable gas barbecue for design: Cadac Citi Chef 40
Best gas barbecue for convenience: Weber Traveler gas barbecue
Best portable gas barbecue: Weber Q1200
Best gas barbecue for crowds: Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue
Best all round gas barbecue: Napoleon Rogue 425
Best gas barbecue for small families and couples: Char-Broil Grill2Go
Best basic gas barbecue: Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue

Our expertise We teamed up with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine to ensure our tests were as accurate, fair, and useful as possible. With their culinary knowledge and our reviewing expertise we’ve found the best gas BBQs for every garden. Each review has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and assembly, ease of use, cooking results and value for money. From 2026, you’ll only see newly awarded Best Buy badges on gas barbecues that score 4.5 out of 5 or higher. Anything rated 3.5 or above will still feature in our ‘Best of the rest’ list.

Jump to:

The best gas BBQs to buy in 2025
The best of the rest
Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?
Are gas BBQs safe?
How to choose a gas BBQ
Which gas do I need?
How we tested

Best gas barbecues

Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart

RRP: £463

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from BBQ World

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Pros

• Feels sturdy and well made
• Handle stays cool and comfortable
• Drip tray effective
• Cooks quickly, evenly and well

Cons
• Expensive

This sturdy little barbecue is easy to put together and to move in and out of storage with four lockable wheels and side tables that slot on and off in seconds. It takes up very little room and the gas can be stored in the cart when not in use. It’s light but robust, and the grill is a comfortable height for cooking. It's easy to connect the gas, with intuitive controls, and the Porcelain-enamelled, cast-iron cooking grates get to temperature (400°F, 204°C) in just five minutes, with even heat distribution and slightly cooler edges. There’s enough space for up to 12 burgers, and all the food we tested was evenly cooked with good grill lines. The lid has a thermometer and a heat-proof handle, and the quality and design’s very good. It feels sturdy and long-lasting and has a five-year warranty. We awarded it BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for small gardens.

Buy the Weber Q2200N from BBQ World

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Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 smart gas barbecue

RRP: £1,769

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from BBQ World

Pros

Easy to load rotisserie arm
Double width warming rack
Side burner perfect for popping a skillet on

Cons

Short power cord
Expensive

Retailing at more than £2,000, the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Smart gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium gas barbecue. This three-burner barbecue is packed with features. Not only does it cater for a whopping 12 people, but it has a digital thermometer that lets you control the temperature to the exact degree. It also sends step-by-step temperature alerts to your phone to guide you through cooking. There’s a large sear zone, as well as a side burner that’s perfect for pans and skillets and doubles up as an additional work surface with its lid down. The warming rack is double-width, for extra snacks, and there’s even a rotisserie arm for cooking whole birds. We found even heat distribution across the whole barbecue.

The combination of the sear zone and the side burner allowed us to sear steaks on the right whilst cooking kebabs on the left, while at the same time keeping extras piping hot on the double-width warming rack. The steaks we cooked had well-defined char lines and a delicious flavour while remaining pink, tender and juicy in the middle. The rotisserie arm is easy to use and turned out two succulent roast chickens. There was no sticking with any of the ingredients and recipes on test, and everything we cooked was delicious.

However, we can’t get around the cost. There’s a lot of functionality crammed into this barbecue, but almost £2,000 is a very hefty price tag, especially in the current climate. It also has a large footprint on a patio, so in small gardens it will dominate your space. You need to place it near a power socket too, as it has a short power cord to run the digital temperature gauge. We also can’t comment on how easy this barbecue is to assemble, because it was delivered to us fully built.

Buy the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World

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Cadac Citi Chef 40

RRP: £280

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Very little assembly
Easy to use and carry
Light but stable
Cooks evenly with good char lines
Carry bag and pot stand included
Lots of accessories available

Cons

Lid a little hard to fit
Lacks carry handles
Regulator not included

This super simple barbecue is well thought out and was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for design. There’s very little assembly needed, just slot in the pot stand and put the lid together with the Allen key supplied, and you’re ready. However, this barbecue doesn’t come with a regulator, so you do need to purchase this separately and set it up before you can get cooking. It's very light at just over 6kg, and easy to pick and carry onto a tabletop or the grass, but it does lack handles, which might have made it easier to move about for some people. A great carry bag is included, though, which zips up with the lid strapped in to the top so it's easy to pack away and transport to wherever you’re cooking.

It has an attractive circular design that sits on low, sturdy legs with rubber non-slip feet, and a domed lid with a temperature gauge, a cool-touch handle and a handy hook on the inside to rest it on the back of the barbecue while you add and turn your food.

At 33cm, the circular ceramic-coated grill is big enough for a family of four, and the auto ignition is easy to light. It takes just a few minutes to get this barbecue up to temperature. It cooked our range of barbecue staples well, with clearly defined char lines, and there were no evident cool spots. Beneath the grill is a removable porcelain enamelled fat pan that runs like a moat around the burner to catch dripping fat. It's easy to take out and clean, and the grill itself is simple to lift out and run under the tap or wash in the dishwasher.

This is a well-designed barbecue that’s easy to use and take with you to the allotment or on holiday, and it's also ideal for use on a balcony or small patio. It’s available in a choice of three colours and, as the Cadac is part of a modular system, there’s a whole host of interchangeable cooking surfaces available, including a griddle, paella pan, pizza stone and more to increase your cooking repertoire. It comes with a five-year warranty.

Buy the Cadac Citi Chef 40 from Amazon and BBQ World

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Weber Traveler gas barbecue

RRP: £490

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from BBQ World

Pros:

Easy set-up and transportability
Solid and sturdy
Side table, tool hooks and drip tray
Large cooking area
Cooks evenly and well
Powerful burner
Easy to store

Cons:

Small gas canister doesn’t last long
Large and heavy to lift if needed
Expensive

This well-designed barbecue is great for small gardens and taking camping or down to the beach for instant barbecuing. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for convenience as it’s one of the easiest to use of all the barbecues we've tested. Almost ready to go straight out of the box, it just needs the wheels slotted on, the grill plates and drip tray inserted, and you have a table-top barbecue, complete with work surface no matter where you are.

Easy to lift up into position, it has a good-sized cooking area with two cast iron grill plates with a porcelain enamel coating above a single burner. The domed lid has a temperature gauge, and the grill plates heat up quickly within just a few minutes. The control dial is easy to adjust, there’s ample space to feed a family or larger gathering, and in our test everything cooked well and evenly, and nothing stuck to the grill plates. Next to the burner are handy plastic tool hooks, and the side table is easily big enough for plates, sauces and more.

As a travel barbecue, it uses small, screw-in canisters of propane and butane, which won’t last long. We used about two-thirds of a bottle in our test, but if you plan to use this barbecue regularly at home, it’s worth investing in a regulator and adaptor hose so you can hook it up to a bigger propane canister.

With its trolley design, the barbecue collapses down flat with the flick of a button (and the lid and legs lock automatically), and it’s then simple to lift and move around on its wheels. It’s also very easy to store as, once flat, it stands up vertically and can be tucked away flat against a wall. Compared to other portable barbecues, it's quite pricey, but given its quality, ease and cooking results, we think it’s well worth it. It comes with a five-year warranty.

Buy the Weber Traveler gas barbecue from Amazon and BBQ World

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Weber Q1200 gas barbecue

RRP: £305

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Easy to use
Cooks well
Portable and compact to store

Cons

Non-stick coating disappointing

The Q1200 portable gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best portable gas barbecue. It’s easy to use and cooks well, albeit without the bells and whistles of larger models. Fuelled by a C500 gas cartridge, it heats efficiently, but the temperature does drop if the lid is opened for any length of time, and it takes several minutes to regain heat, especially once the grill is covered with food. The compact grill makes this barbecue ideal for cooking a few steaks for a cosy gathering of four, rather than a prolonged burger-flipping session catering for a larger party. It cooks well and creates good char lines, but sections of the grill are solid, which reduces the areas where you can achieve this authentic barbecue texture. The non-stick coating isn’t always effective.

Clear instructions mean it’s easy to assemble, just make sure the plastic side tables don’t accidentally touch the hot grill, as they are likely to scorch. This is a versatile barbecue that’s completely portable, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach, and it’s easy to store. It's also available with a stand.

Buy the Weber Q1200 Gas Barbecue from Amazon

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Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue

RRP: £695

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Large cooking area
Quick to preheat
Easy to control temperature
Attractive, intuitive design

Cons

Lengthy, fiddly assembly
Some cold spots across grill
No warming rack

Winner of a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for crowds this simple-to-use barbecue impressed us with its good looks and quick, ferocious cooking. It comes with three die-cast grills, each of which slots above a burner that works independently – so you can fire up all three at once or just use one at a time. It reaches grilling temperature in a matter of minutes and reacts well to temperature change, with three hob-like knobs to adjust the heat that sit on the right-hand side of the grill and bring an element of familiarity if you’re used to cooking on gas indoors.

Putting this barbecue together is quite fiddly and time-consuming, especially as some of the screws don’t thread through properly, but the instructions are mostly clear and, although no tools are provided, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Once built, it can stay assembled and has two small wheels to help you push it in and out of storage. Alternatively, there’s a (somewhat pricey) cover to protect it from the elements available to buy from BBQ World.

It's robust and a good size, with a wide grill able to handle a large amount of food. There's space for up to 28 burgers or three roast chickens at one time, and almost everything we cooked was well charred and succulent. However, we did find the occasional cold spot on the grill, which line up with the positioning of the burners underneath, that made some results inconsistent.

It has a sturdy hood with a temperature gauge and a side table on the left-hand side, plus a shelf below for storing accessories and utensils. It's expensive, which no doubt reflects the attached celebrity name, but it's a high-performing barbecue with plenty of user-friendly features, and we think it's good value for money. It also comes with a five-year warranty.

Buy the Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue from BBQ World and B&Q

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Napoleon Rogue 425 gas barbecue

RRP: £674.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from BBQ World

Pros

Good temperature control
Excellent cooking results
Thoughtful design
Easy to move around and lock

Cons

Non-stick coating disappointing

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, the Napoleon Rogue 425 is the best all-round gas barbecue. It’s quick to set up and simple to use, and thanks to its slick, lockable wheels, it's easy to move around the garden. It ignites easily and reaches temperature in 10 minutes, hitting a powerful 700°F (371°C) and has a large grill area at 46cm x 59.5cm, with Napoleon’s iconic wavy grill lines. The grills are at the perfect distance from the burners to prevent burning and ensure even heat transfer, which also massively reduces hot and cool spots on this barbecue. All our test recipes turned out to be delicious, with golden caramelisation and crisp grill lines, and we love the temperature gauge, which is clear to read in both Fahrenheit and Celsius and offers precise control.

We also appreciate that your gas tucks away neatly on its own inbuilt shelf, so this sleek barbecue looks fantastic on a patio. However, the warming rack gets so hot that it can continue to cook your food, and we also found the non-stick grill disappointing, as marinades often stuck to the grill. This is an expensive barbecue, but it’s well thought out, with excellent cooking results, and it comes with a 15-year warranty.

Buy the Napoleon Rogue 425 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World

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Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue

RRP: £229.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Robert Dyas

Pros

Easy to set up and use
Compact and lightweight
Cooks well
Includes scraper

Cons

Some flare-ups and cool spots

The Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue is designed for use at home and on the move, and won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for small families and couples. A simple, single-burner gas barbecue, it’s almost ready to go from the box. You just need to plug in the regulator and add your gas. However, unless you shell out for a specialised propane gas regulator, it only runs on threaded EN417 gas bottles with a mix of butane and propane.

It gets to temperature in under five minutes and has a handy thermometer in the lid. When cooking, the most notable feature of this barbecue is its well-defined grill lines. Burgers will come off this barbecue looking picture-perfect, with precise grill lines. The Grill2Go is also excellent at retaining moisture, which can be tricky on a barbecue. Vegetable kebabs come off the grill with crisp, charred outsides and succulent insides. It’s small and lightweight, so though it has a relatively large 44 x 28cm cooking area, it’s easy to move around the garden and would be a great companion while camping. It also comes with a useful scraper for cleaning after use.

However, this barbecue suffers from the success of its char-lines, which can quickly blacken food even at lower temperatures, making it difficult to cook through larger ingredients. This is particularly tricky because of its temperature control, which is simple to use but doesn’t always react quickly. We spotted a few flare-ups, and the right half of the grill is also much hotter than the left, with a noticeable cool spot along the front of the barbecue. Nevertheless, we think this grill is excellent for couples and small families. Because it heats up so quickly, it’s just the thing for everyday grilling too.

Buy the Char-Broil Grill2Go Gas Barbecue from Amazon, Robert Dyas and Wayfair

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Boss Grill Deluxe portable gas barbecue

RRP: £249.97

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from Appliances Direct

Pros

Stylish, keep-cool handle
Intuitive controls
Generous cooking area
Easy to move around

Cons

Hose for gas is a little short
Quite low and a little wobbly

This barbecue is a brilliant option if you’re after something that gets the basics of barbecuing right, so it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best basic barbecue. It’s worth noting that while the majority of the build could be done by just one person, the quality of the manual is seriously lacking. On test, it left the builder to work out a considerable amount on their own, owing to the poor-quality images and the lack of text. It’s a little wobbly, and we also think the overall height of the barbecue is a little short – on our 5'5" tester, the grill sits just below the hips. This isn’t a barbecue for experts; rather, it's geared toward someone who wants a simple barbecue for basic dishes, but it’s all you need to get grilling.

It features a large, generous grilling area with a double burner and enough space to comfortably cook for four people. This model takes just five minutes to heat up and provides an even and consistent heat, right to the edges. It’s also particularly responsive to changes in temperature, and overall, it cooks well, with wonderfully defined grill lines and excellent sealing. The faux-leather handle is a particular hit, keeping the handle cool in style. It's lightweight and easily moves around thanks to the chunky wheels.

Buy the Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue from Amazon and Appliances Direct

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Campingaz Attitude 2go Table Top gas barbecue

RRP: £229.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from B&Q

Pros

Ready to go
Sleek and simple to use
Good char lines
Sturdy carry handles

Cons

Slow to heat up
Heavy for portability
Regulator bought separately
Lacks accessories

This neat, tabletop barbecue needs no assembly: just add the grill and the drip tray, and it’s ready to go. However, it doesn’t come with the gas regulator included, so you do have to purchase this separately and attach it yourself, which can be tricky. We found that soaking the end of the hose in warm water to soften it before attaching it definitely helped. It’s compact with carry handles built in to the legs, so it’s easy to carry and lift onto your table or patio, but at 13kg it’s heavier than other portable BBQs such as the Cadac.

The enamelled cast iron grill sits above a single gas burner, which is easy to adjust by a chunky dial on the side, and the lid has a handy temperature gauge. But, we found this barbecue slow to heat up, taking 10 minutes to reach temperature, although once there, it maintains an even, constant heat and cooks food well with good char lines and no sticking. The chunky handle on the front of the lid stays cool to the touch and feels sturdy and safe, and the front-loading drip tray is easy to clean. Once cool, the barbecue is simple to pick up and store away.

Overall, this is a simple tabletop barbecue, but it lacks accessories, so the range of what and how you can cook with it is limited. The lid has a 10-year warranty, and the cooking grill has a five-year warranty.

Buy the Campingaz 2go table top gas barbecue from Amazon and B&Q

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Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue

RRP: £559

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Argos

Pros

Great cooking results
Versatile

Cons

Long assembly time
Bulky and hard to move around

This intuitive barbecue from Weber makes gas grilling a breeze. It’s easy to connect to your gas, and it ignites on the first click every time, reaching cooking temperature in 15 minutes. With responsive temperature knobs, this barbecue is easy to control, too. However, you’ll need a rubber mallet, 7/16-inch spanner, and a Phillips head screwdriver to assemble this barbecue, and it’s tricky to move around. Though the side burner and side table are great additions, they get in the way when manoeuvring, and lack handles for you to push or drag the barbecue. Despite being a two-burner barbecue, it has quite a large patio footprint, so you might struggle to store it in a shed or a greenhouse.

On test, chicken wings and burgers cooked well thanks to excellent heat retention, and it gives sausages and halloumi wonderful grill lines. We especially like the versatile grill. The circular panel in the grill can be replaced with Weber accessories, like a wok and pizza stone. The included thermometer is quick to respond and easy to read, and there are very few cool spots. Suiting both serious grill masters and casual barbecuers, it looks impressive, is simple to use, and turns out great dishes.

Buy the Weber Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue from Argos and BBQ World

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George Foreman GFSBBQ1 single burner gas barbecue

RRP: £149.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Amazon

Pros

Clear instructions
Cooks well with even heat coverage
Low price

Cons

Basic - no extra features or functions
Regulator assembly fiddly
Some cold spots

The George Foreman GFSBBQ1 is a single-burner barbecue for three people, but we think you could easily stretch this to four. It’s easy to assemble, but it needs a screwdriver for the lid, and you have to screw in the thermometer, too. Its biggest weakness is that you have to put together the regulator yourself, which is very fiddly as you need water to lubricate the hose in order to fit it, and you need to use small hose clamps to tighten everything. However, the instructions are simple and clear. Once you’re set up, it’s a dream to use.

It gets to temperature in just five minutes, and its temperature control is smooth and reacts quickly to any change. It has a couple of cool spots in the corners, but otherwise has even coverage, so you can cook everything at exactly the same rate, no matter where it is on the grill. It produces good char-lines, but other barbecues on test have better definition. Though everything tastes delicious, the food isn’t as quick to cook or as well-cooked as with some of the other barbecues on test.

Above all, what you see is what you get. There are no extra functions or hidden storage, just a simple grill. It also feels a little flimsy, but that isn’t a surprise at this price. We also found that the 70cm width of this barbecue slightly defeats the point of a tabletop barbecue, as it’s too big to comfortably sit on most patio or garden tables. We think this barbecue would best suit an unfussy family of four. You might not make gourmet grub on this grill, but it’s all you need for a few burgers on a sunny afternoon.

Buy the George Foreman GFSBBQ1 Single Burner Gas Barbecue from Amazon and Tesco

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Napoleon Freestyle 365 gas barbecue

RRP: £469.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from BBQ World

Pros

Quick to heat
Cooks precisely and easy to control
Effective side burner
Generous warranty

Cons

Long assembly
Noisy

The Napoleon Freestyle 365 comes with a handy side burner, and our Good Food Magazine colleagues love how well it cooks. However, before you get started, it’s worth noting that this barbecue is difficult to put together. You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver, as well as a set of spanners. Frustratingly, the diagrams are all over the place and demonstrate the assembly from odd angles, so it takes a little figuring out. All told, it takes at least two hours to get everything together, so if you’re planning a big bank holiday barbecue, you don’t want to be building this on the day. That said, we like the inclusion of spare parts, so there’s no panic if you lose a screw.

Once it’s assembled, it’s easy to ignite and quick to heat, offering remarkable evenness across the whole grill. The 51cm by 45cm grilling area is a good size, offering lots of space for cooking without taking up the entire patio. However, the grates are wide, so smaller items like prawn skewers might struggle to cook or char evenly. That said, more substantial ingredients like chicken ended up with beautifully defined grill lines. We found the three burners and thermometer responsive, letting you precisely control the temperature of whatever you’re cooking, and the warming rack is suspended in just the right spot to keep kebabs and corn on the cob at the perfect temperature. Unfortunately, it’s surprisingly noisy when it gets going.

The side burner is a hit, grilling an astonishing steak, and the bottle opener on this side burner is a lovely extra touch, making this barbecue a social focal point on a patio. All of its parts are robust, high-quality steel and aluminium, neatly stamped with Napoleon’s logo. This quality extends to the warranty, which covers you for an impressive ten years.

Buy the Napoleon Freestyle 365 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World

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Outback Magnum 3 burner hybrid barbecue

RRP: £529.99

Our rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from Direct Stoves

Pros

Well thought-out instructions
Good features
Includes charcoal basket

Cons

Some cool spots
Grease tray requires sand layer
Side burner close to ignition

The Magnum 3 is a well-thought-out gas barbecue with a lot of features for the price. It has a large cooking area, with a removable grill that can be swapped with a griddle or pizza stone for an additional cost and it also comes with a charcoal basket to fill with charcoal briquettes to get that traditional smoky charcoal flavour from the ease of a gas grill. There’s a detailed thermometer in the hood, with helpful markings for types of cooking, and it has a side burner for sauces or charring aubergine, tool hooks, or even a bottle opener.

It took around an hour to assemble this barbecue, but the instructions were clear, and it was a slow, methodical build that required two people towards the end. On the whole, it cooked well in our test. There were some cool spots around the edges of the burners, and it didn’t char or sear as well as others, but it heated up quickly, and, for those new to gas barbecuing, it’s versatile, quick and easy to cook on.

It’s also light with two wheels that make it easy to move around and in and out of storage, but it is quite large with no folding tables, so it will take up a fair bit of room on the patio or in the shed over winter. It's best for medium-sized gardens.

Buy the Outback Magnum 3 Gas Charcoal Barbecue from Calor, Charlies and Direct Stoves

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Boss Grill Georgia classic gas barbecue

RRP: £299.97

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from Appliances Direct

Pros

Useful accessories included
Features side burner and two plate styles on the grill

Cons

Poor instructions and assembly is hard
Flimsy materials
Side burner hard to light

The Boss Grill Georgia Classic is a decent choice for a starter barbecue. This model comes with two different grilling plates to suit a range of meals and will fit easily into most mid/large-sized gardens. With four burners for the main BBQ area and an additional side hob, it offers a lot of room to cook multiple foods at once. Although large, it’s lightweight and features wheels on the back, so you can move it around your garden with ease. It also comes with some handy accessories.

Some food cooked well on the barbecue, like skewers, aubergine and potato. Our potato slices were particularly great thanks to a griddle plate, which is great for flat, thin items like halloumi. However, this barbecue leaves courgette slices with poorly defined grill lines and unevenly toasted burger buns. The side burner was tricky to get going, and the build is tricky thanks to poor instructions.

Buy the Boss Grill Georgia Classic Gas Barbecue from Amazon and Appliances Direct

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If a gas grill isn’t for you, check out our tests of the best charcoal BBQs, we've also reviewed the best pizza ovens, in collaboration with Good Food magazine. For accessories, check out our guides to the best BBQ accessories and BBQ shelters.

For extra help with barbecuing, take a look at Good Food Magazine’s guide to barbecuing safely, their range of BBQ recipes, with delicious ideas for burgers, BBQ ribs, hot wings, and drinks, as well as vegetarian and vegan treats.

Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?

The main considerations are how much and how often you want to barbecue. Gas barbecues tend to be better for feeding a crowd, as they often have a larger cooking area and a uniform temperature across the grill, so you can be sure of a consistent cooking time wherever you’re cooking. They also heat up and get to cooking temperature fast: depending on the model, they can be ready to cook in just five minutes, compared to thirty or forty for a charcoal barbecue. This means you won’t be stuck at the grill and left out of the party. You can also get everyone’s portion to the table at once or, if you have guests coming and going throughout the day, cook as and when you need to. This speed also makes a gas BBQ great for everyday cooking. If you fancy a quick burger in the garden after work, there’s no need to bother with a messy bag of charcoal as if you’re getting ready for a big family get-together. Just switch on the gas and get grilling.

Gas barbecues are also ideal if you’re new to barbecuing. With a gas grill, there won’t be any panic on the day as you light charcoal for the first time, which can take a few attempts. They’re easier to control, too. With charcoal, achieving the right temperature requires playing around with vents and learning the difference between direct and indirect heat so you don’t sear everything you’re trying to cook. On a gas barbecue, you can precisely control the temperature by simply turning the knob. They’re also safe, as you can just turn the barbecue out when you’re done, rather than having to keep an eye on hot coals as they cool.

They’re a neighbourly way to cook, as they don’t produce smoke. The strong smell of a charcoal barbecue can be antisocial, especially if next door has washing out and, because they don’t smoke, gas barbecues are also cleaner to use, with no chance of getting charcoal dust on your hands and clothes. This in turn makes gas barbecues easier to clean, because there’s less charring on the grill.

However, a gas barbecue can’t quite match the smoky flavour of a charcoal barbecue, or at least not as much as manufacturers claim they can. On a charcoal barbecue, fats and oils from the food drip between the grill and vaporise on the hot coals, to create that unmistakable smoky flavour. This happens a little on a gas grill too, if oils drip onto the flames, but not to the same extent. Your food will still have that distinctive char-grilled caramelisation, but it won’t be as smoky. If you want the best of both worlds, there are also a few combination charcoal and gas barbecues on the market, such as the Outback Magnum 3 hybrid barbecue we tested.

Are gas BBQs safe?

Used correctly, a gas barbecue is perfectly safe. Make sure you use the right gas for your barbecue and that the gas hose, regulator and canister are in good working order and connected correctly and securely. Don’t stand the canister in the storage area beneath the grill, but well away from the cooking area and high temperatures. Always cook in an open area away from fire hazards like wooden fences, sheds, hedges and trees. Once finished, be sure to turn the barbecue off and disconnect the gas.

How to choose a gas BBQ

Size. Bigger isn’t always better. A small gas barbecue with one or two burners is all you need for entertaining a family of four. This is especially true with gas barbecues, which need somewhere to store propane, too. If you’ll be entertaining a larger gathering of upwards of six people, opt for a gas barbecue with at least four burners. Height is also crucial here. You don’t want a barbecue that’s too high or low for you to use comfortably. Bigger barbecues also need more assembly time, so factor that in if you’re planning to build a barbecue on the same day you’re cooking
Special features. Some of the best gas barbecues come with extras as standard. Look out for warming racks to keep food hot until you’re all ready to eat, thermometers to gauge heat, and side burners for cooking extra bits like caramelised onions or homemade BBQ sauce. Side tables and tool racks to keep spatulas, sauces and serving dishes to hand are also useful, as is built-in storage for the gas bottle. Make sure you have a drip tray for collecting waste fat and oils

Which gas do I need?

Gas barbecues are fuelled by a gas canister, which you need to buy separately. Most use propane (in a green canister and also sold as patio gas) or butane (in a blue canister), but some smaller, tabletop and portable barbecues use small bottles of camping gas. Make sure to check which type you need in the manual before you buy.

With current events affecting gas prices and availability, it’s important not to spend too much on fuel. For one- to three-burner gas barbecues, a 5kg bottle is all you need and should give you about ten barbecues’ worth of fuel. You need at least a 10kg bottle for bigger appliances with five or more burners, though 13kg is a common unit.

Gas is available through homeware and DIY shops like Homebase and B&Q, or directly from manufacturers like FloGas and Calor. You'll pay a deposit the first time you buy one, plus the cost of the gas. After this, you just pay to refill the canister, and once you’ve finished with a canister, it can be returned for a refund of the original deposit.

The gas is connected with a hose and regulator, and although most barbecues come with these connected, you may have to attach them yourself or even buy them separately.

How we tested

Together with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine, we tested a range of gas barbecues. Each barbecue was unpacked, assembled, used to cook a variety of dishes, and then assessed according to our specific criteria. Good Food Magazine put particular emphasis on how well each barbecue cooked but, at Gardeners' World Magazine, we assessed the barbecues with emphasis on their garden context, including how easy they are to assemble, move around and store.
They were assessed according to the following points, with equal marks attributed to each:

Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly, clarity of instructions, warm-up time and how easy the barbecue is to store
Ease of use. Focused on ease of use, how simple it is to move around the garden and how easy it is to control the temperature and cook
Cooking results. We cooked a variety of common barbecue dishes to assess the non-stick ability of each grill, its grid-cooking capabilities, and how well it chars, softens, and seals food. We also checked for defined lines, even cooking, sticking and hot spots. Above all, we tested how long it took to cook each dish and how good each dish tasted
Value for money. Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price

For more information on our testing process see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

This review was last updated in January 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

This weekend’s cold snap is tough on wildlife - here are 25 ways you can help - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2026-01-02T16:30:51.000Z

1. Give them fatty treats

When the ground is too frozen for birds to find food and winter seedheads are in short supply, we can help them survive. The British Trust for Ornithology says that small birds must eat more during a cold snap because they can't store fat as we do.

Use high-energy, fatty foods, such as suet balls, sunflower hearts and quality unsalted peanuts (labelled as aflatoxin-free and from a reputable supplier) in a proper feeder. Avoid salty fat.

2. Grow flowers with winter nectar

As our climate warms, buff-tailed bumblebees are increasingly seen foraging in winter, rather than hibernating.

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has observed the plants bees prefer for winter food, and three of them are easy to grow: heather (Erica carnea) in sun-baked pots of ericaceous compost; fragrant mahonia in part shade; and winter honeysuckle (Lonicera x purpusii) in sun.

3. Build a log pile

This easy trick takes ten minutes and provides habitat for lots of wildlife, from insects to frogs.

Stack a heap of logs in a wild, shady part of the garden. To attract stag beetles, begin by digging a trench, place a few old logs in it, and partially cover with soil, then stack the visible log pile on top.

4. Leave seedheads be

As well as looking beautiful, dusted with frost and hung with spiders' webs, the spent seedheads of flowers provide habitat for insects, which birds feed on as well as the seeds.

Grasses (such as miscanthus), teasel, phlomis, stonecrop and sea holly look superb in skeletal form. Rosehips are also particularly useful to many birds, so leave rose pruning until January or even February if possible.

5. Grow the holly and the ivy

These festive evergreens provide a wealth of benefits for wildlife over winter. Holly's prickly leaves provide birds with useful cover against predators, and the berries serve as a food source for them. Ivy provides nectar-rich flowers for pollinators, nutritious berries for birds, and its dense, leafy growth is excellent shelter.

6. Don’t forget bats

Bats are the popular branded yeast extract spread of the animal world: we either love or fear them. Bat appreciators can help them by increasing the garden's insect population – for instance, by installing a pond and avoiding the use of pesticides.

To provide roosting sites, purchase bat boxes and secure them to buildings, walls or trees that face south or west, in quiet areas.

7. Let leaves lie

Leave the leaves in borders because they act as a mulch and harbour lots of insects for birds to eat all year round. If they are on your lawn, either bag them to make leaf mould or collect them the easy way, conveniently shredded, by running over them with a lawnmower fitted with a grassbox.

Although some leaves rot down more quickly than others, in general, it’s best to get leaves off your lawn if they are there in large numbers, as they could cause fungal problems and inhibit spring growth.

8. Don't be a neat freak

Letting the garden get a little overgrown in places helps wildlife. Don't cut things back as much until spring, and leave one or two areas of long grass and nettles.

9. Build a toad hall

A dark, empty terracotta pot, or a slate laid down over a comfy void, is the equivalent of a detached dream house for a toad, and they will thank you by eating slugs later in the year.

Install your own Toad Hall in a damp, quiet corner, atop moss or leaves. Either use a pot with a section broken off at the top (which makes a doorway when turned upside down) or sit one side of your upturned pot on a stone to allow access. Alternatively, use discarded tiles or slats, as above.

10. Be berry nice

Trees and large shrubs dramatically boost biodiversity in general, and if they have berries in winter, they’ll help birds, too.

Hollies morph into a larder for birds during autumn and winter when they're covered in berries, and some crab apples carry fruit over a particularly long period into winter, including 'Comtesse de Paris' and Jelly King. Plant them as bare roots in winter, but not when the ground is either sodden or frozen solid.

11. Make a stumpery

Enchanting and easy to build, a stumpery is a garden area where plants grow over old tree stumps (easily available from your local friendly tree surgeon), and they support a huge range of wildlife. Stumperies are traditionally placed in shade, with ferns and shade-loving flowers (such as foxgloves) growing on and around the stumps.

12. Give them your windfalls

Don't collect all the apples on the ground, as they feed wildlife, from song thrushes to winter-foraging red admiral butterflies.

13. Build a wonder wildlife wall

Dry-stone walling is superb habitat for lizards, slow worms, toads, newts, voles and insects. The easiest way to do this is with a simple, low wall to divide garden areas. Dig a trench; place large stones along either side and small stones in the centre; continue this way to a height of 50-90cm. Have a wider base, then taper to the top; cap with wide, flat stones.

14. Leave your compost heap till spring

Many animals (including grass snakes and toads) spend winter cosseted by the warmth of a compost heap, so don’t disturb them when they need this shelter the most. Instead, wait until spring – most smaller heaps won’t be rotting down that fast in winter, anyway.

15. Feed birds at different heights

Birds feed in different ways, so offer food at various levels to help a wider range of them. Blue tits love hanging wire peanut feeders; woodpeckers enjoy suet-cake feeders on trees, while robins prefer bird tables.

Many birds – including blackbirds – feed on the ground, which can be as simple as suet pellets. Feed only in the morning (and clean up very regularly) to avoid problems with rats. Also, ensure that you’re not inadvertently creating a hunting haven for local cats.

16. Make a hedgehog house

Give hedgehogs a cosy hideaway for their winter hibernation, and they will repay you by gobbling slugs later in the year. Leave a dense pile of leaves in a tucked-away corner throughout autumn and winter. Alternatively, build this simple hedgehog house and put it in a quiet place, such as under an evergreen shrub.

17. Remember that they’re thirsty, too

It may not seem that way to us, but cold snaps can make it harder for wildlife to access drinking water, so provide water at drinking stations and in the bird bath. Keep both very clean to avoid disease.

Like bird feeders, water stations should be in a sheltered, quiet place. Position them so birds have a 360° view, with a tree or shrub not too far away – but not too close, otherwise it may make them vulnerable to predators.

18. Fashion a frog palace

A fun weekend project, a hibernaculum is an underground hide that shields amphibians and reptiles from the cold.

Dig a hole 50cm deep and line it with sand or gravel, topped with leaves. Next, install a jumble of logs, air bricks, stones and sections of pipe (scratched on the inside for snakes to grip and not wide enough for rats) that reach the surface for air and entry; press everything in firmly, so it doesn't move; pack with leaves or straw. Finally, cover with long logs laid horizontally, topped with earth and leaves.

19. Plant evergreen shelter for birds

As well as protecting them from harsh weather, evergreen plants provide birds with insects to eat and nesting sites. Pyracantha keeps predators out and is laden with berries in autumn, and evergreen cotoneasters carry berries well into winter.

20. Float a football (or anything that floats)

Frozen ponds look nice, but animals cannot drink from them, and the ice prevents aeration for creatures at the bottom of the pond, such as dragonfly larvae. You can stop the ice from forming completely, however, by floating a ball on the surface. In a big freeze, the ball trick doesn't always work, so melt a patch of pond ice daily with warm water.

21. Keep bird feeders clean

Feeding from dirty feeders can be worse than not feeding at all, because they’re a hotspot for the spreading of fatal avian diseases such as trichomonosis. Whilst they investigate this, the RSPB has even halted sales of its feeders.

To clean your feeders, wash them once a week in hot, soapy water, rinse thoroughly, spray with disinfectant, rinse again, then let them dry. Animal-safe disinfectant spray is available from the RSPB and pet shops.

22. Make a bee hotel

Solitary bees love to overwinter in the hollow stems of a bamboo hotel. Use strong secateurs to cut sections of bamboo cane and place these amongst a frame of bricks or pieces of wood (the latter should be screwed together). To help ladybirds and beetles, too, add pine cones and small logs.

23. Put up bird boxes

Roosting in nest boxes helps small birds survive winter. Place open-fronted boxes, no more than 2m above the ground, to attract robins and wrens. Boxes with a small entrance hole, 2 to 4m high, bring tits. Ensure boxes don’t face south into the sun.

24. Rethink bonfires

Hedgehogs and toads love the shelter of stacked dry wood in winter, but if you have plans to set fire to that wood, they could easily be harmed or killed. If you must have a fire, keep material to burn in covered skip sacks or burn clippings the day you've gathered them, rather than letting a pile build up over time. The RHS advises recycling or reusing garden waste (for instance, by composting) instead of burning it.

25. Plant a mixed hedge

A hedge composed of different wildlife plants provides shelter, habitat, and food throughout the year. The best time to plant bare-root hedging (such as hawthorn, blackthorn, and dog rose) is between November and February.

Turn your old Christmas tree into garden gold with these clever hacks - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-31T15:38:02.000Z

When the celebrations are over and decorations have been packed away, it's time to think about how to reuse your cut Christmas tree, instead of sending it to landfill. From shredding it to make mulch to using it as a frame for climbing plants, there are many ways to put the wood and needles to good use.

Discover seven ways to recycle your Christmas tree, below. Plus, find out what to do with your living, containerised (pot-grown) Christmas tree.

Looking for inspiration for fabulously festive plants for your home or to gift loved ones? We share our favourite Christmas plants. For alternatives to a traditional Christmas tree, browse these festive suggestions.

Create woodchip mulch

Convert your old Christmas tree into useful woodchip mulch by putting it through a shredder. Stack the chips at the back of a border for a few months to rot down before using them to mulch around trees and shrubs. If you don't own a shredder, you can rent one, ask a neighbour, or contact your local gardening club. Find out which areas to mulch in your garden.

Make mulch from the needles

Keep the Christmas tree on the patio until the needles fall off, then collect the needles to use as a mulch for acid-loving plants such as blueberries. Discover acid-loving plants in our Plant Finder.

Use it as a frame for climbers

Plant the bare tree in a garden border, then grow climbers such as sweet peas over it. You can also use twiggy branches as plant supports – keep them somewhere dry and use them in the summer. Take inspiration from these 10 scented climbers.

Create a wildlife shelter

Trim twigs to short lengths, tie them in a bundle, then hang in a bush for bugs to hide in. Or, chop the trunk into pieces and stack to create a mini refuge for wildlife. Learn three ways to build a deadwood habitat.

Use as insulation for tender plants

Chop large branches from the tree, and lay them over plants on the soil surface to protect them from frost. These 10 common garden plants need winter protection.

Give it to your local council, garden centre or nature reserve

Give the tree to your local council’s green waste scheme. Most councils collect festive conifers in the new year and chip them to make municipal compost or mulch. You can also contact your local garden centre, or donate your tree to a coastal nature reserve, where it may be used to stabilise sand dunes.

Make a bug hotel

Use the branches of your Christmas tree to create a bug hotel, perfect to help creatures through the colder months.

More ways to recycle Christmas

Natural decorations

Hang out holly and other berried greenery for birds to eat
Stuff foliage inside a large flower pot, turned on its side for bees and other insects to nest in
Chop up and compost

Peelings and leftovers

Mix raw veg and fruit remains with a little paper and add to the compost heap or bin
Use leftover fat or oil mixed with unsalted nuts and dried fruit to make a high-energy bird food

Get more advice on composting Christmas in our video guide.

Is yours a living, pot-grown tree?

Most Christmas trees sold in pots like to be kept cool. Providing you've kept your tree in a cool indoor position for a couple of weeks at most, it should survive. You could plant it out in the garden after Christmas, or repot it into a larger pot until next year.

The surprising reason your Christmas cactus isn’t flowering (and how to fix it) - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-26T11:12:37.000Z

Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera) flower over the Christmas period, from late November to January – hence their name. They make good Christmas gifts – their bright, trumpet-shaped flowers in shades of red, white, pink, purple and even yellow bring a welcome splash of colour to any room. Their flat, segmented and trailing stems look attractive all year round.

You'll find Christmas cactus plants in garden centres or supermarkets during the holiday period, but for the widest range of varieties, its best to buy from specialist retailers online.

Schlumbergera are forest cacti – in the wild, they grow in tropical rainforests, where they grow attached to trees. This means that need different growing conditions to desert cacti. They need to be kept away from bright sunlight and do best in a humid environment.

Christmas cacti will flower every year given the right treatment – the main thing to remember is that they need two periods of rest (in a cool room, with less watering): one after flowering and another in autumn. The plants can last for years and are often handed down through generations.

How to grow Christmas cactus

Grow your Christmas cactus in a warm, bright spot out of direct sunshine, and mist a few times a week. In order to flower every year, Schlumbergera need two periods of 'rest' – lower temperatures and less watering – after flowering in late winter and again in September.

Christmas cactus: jump links

Where to grow Christmas cactus
How to care for Christmas cactus
How to get a Christmas cactus to reflower
How to propagate Christmas cactus
Christmas cactus problem-solving
Types of Christmas cactus to grow

Where to grow a Christmas cactus

Give your plant a bright spot away from direct sunshine, which can scorch the leaves, and a steady temperature of 18-24°C. Try not to move the plant when it's in bud – it can cause the buds to drop. Schlumbergera need two periods of 'rest' in order to flower: after flowering and again in September. Pop them in a cooler room (around 12°C) and reduce watering. This encourages flower buds to form.

How to plant a Christmas cactus

Repot your Christmas cactus every 1-2 years, when the rootball has filled the pot. The best time to do this is in March, when it has come out of its period of rest. Repot into a slightly larger pot – the roots like to be snug. Use a cactus compost or John Innes No. 2 compost with a little grit mixed in for drainage. Christmas cacti grow quite wide, so a wider pot is better than a deep one, for stability.

How to care for a Christmas cactus

In spring and summer, water only when the top 2-3cm of compost is dry, and let any excess water drain away – Christmas cacti suffer if they sit in cold, wet compost. Water more sparingly during winter and during the two rest periods.

As Schlumbergera are native to from rainforests, they do best in a humid atmosphere. Mist your plant a few times a week, or place on a pebble-filled tray of water. Feed monthly in spring or summer with a general fertiliser.

Schlumbergera don't need pruning, but the stems can get leggy or too long. Make the plant more bushy by removing the tips after the plant has flowered. You can also remove some of the older stems at the base at the same time.

How to get a Christmas cactus to flower again

Christmas cacti will reflower every year with the right care. After flowering, move to a cool room (around 12°C) for two months, and reduce watering. Then bring it back into its usual spot (you can put it outside, on a patio or balcony, in summer). From mid-September, give your plant another period of rest in a cool room and reduce watering again, until you see buds appear. Move back into its flowering position and take care not to move it around – this can cause the plant to drop its buds.

How to propagate a Christmas cactus

It's easy to take Christmas cactus cuttings to propagate new plants to give as Christmas gifts. Just follow our step-by-step guide:

Step 1
In May, remove parts of the stem that has two or three leaf sections. Allow the cutting to dry out indoors for a day or two.

Step 2
Insert the cuttings into a 50:50 mix of seed or cutting compost and sharp sand. Push the bottom of the cuttings into the compost about 1cm deep, so that they stand upright. Water in well and let any excess water drain away.

Step 3
Keep the cuttings in a bright spot, out of direct sunshine – a north facing windowsill is ideal. Water very sparingly and mist occasionally.

Step 4
After a month or two, the cuttings should have rooted – give the cutting a gentle pull to check. If it doesn't budge, it has rooted. Pot the cuttings on into small individual pots and grow on in a warm room or greenhouse.

Pests and diseases

The most common problem is lack of Christmas cactus flowers. This is due to lack of the two rest periods and can be resolved by following the care suggestions above.

Bud drop can be caused by moving your plant around when it's in bud, over watering, or fluctuating temperatures between night and day. Once you've found the right spot for your Christmas cactus, don't move it and water only when the top few centimetres of compost have dried out.

Red leaves are a sign that your plant is getting too much sunlight. Move it to a spot that has bright light but no direct sun.

Mealybugs can be found on the stems, especially the undersides – look out for insects that look like white, fluffy blobs. Wipe them off with a damp cloth or cotton bud that has been soaked in an insecticide that contains fatty acids or plant oils. Keep checking the leaves, as mealybugs can be hard to eradicate.

Advice on buying Christmas cactus

Most Christmas cacti are simply sold by colour – eg. Schlumbergera 'Red'. Some, such as the 'Tricolour Cactus' above, have three flower colours on one plant.
It's always better to choose a plant with unopened flower buds than lots of already open flowers, as this means your display will last longer when you get it home
Always check plants for signs of pests or disease before buying

Where to buy Christmas cactus

Varieties of Christmas cactus

Christmas cactus 'Tricolour' – bearing three flower colours on one plant, red white and pink

Buy Christmas Cactus 'Tricolour' from Thompson & Morgan

Christmas cactus 'White' – beautiful fresh white flowers with pink anthers make for a striking Christmas display

Buy Christmas Cactus 'White' from Thompson & Morgan

Crossword number 4 - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-19T20:32:58.000Z

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Crossword number 3

Crossword number 5

Crossword number 3 - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-19T20:28:21.000Z

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Crossword number 2

Crossword number 4

Crossword number 2 - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-19T20:22:53.000Z

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Crossword number 1

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Win a Fothergill’s seed-sowing starter bundle - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-18T17:54:23.000Z

As the growing season approaches, it’s the perfect time to start planning ahead, so you can enjoy the satisfaction of raising plants from seed once the season begins. Whether you have a balcony, garden or allotment, Fothergill’s is on-hand to help with its wide range of high-quality seeds, plants and expert advice. And now, the brand is offering you the chance to win a seed-sowing starter bundle to kickstart your growing journey.

For more than 40 years, Fothergill’s has been providing top-quality fruit, vegetable and flower seeds and plants to gardeners of all abilities. With its belief in the power of gardening to enhance wellbeing, the brand is committed to helping growers unlock the full potential of their outdoor space and reconnect with nature – while enjoying delicious home-grown food and beautiful blooms at great prices.

From assorted flower seeds to compost and plant pots, Fothergill’s prize bundle has everything you need to kickstart your seed-sowing journey with confidence, no matter your space or experience.

Make this season your most fruitful yet and explore the full range at mr-fothergills.co.uk

Prize details

Ten lucky winners will each receive a Fothergill’s seed-sowing starter bundle, worth £36.94, including:

1 x 10L Peat Free Seed Compost
1 x Plantable Pots Greenhouse Kit (for 16 plants)
1 x 12 x 6cm Plantable Pots (coconut fibre)
1 x Echinacea Large Flowered Purple Coneflower Seeds (50 seeds)
1 x Cosmos Apricotta Flower Seeds (30 seeds)
1 x Dahlia Pompon Mixed Seeds (50 seeds)

How to enter

To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the question below correctly by 23:59 on 2 March 2026. The winners will be notified, and the prizes arranged for delivery after this date.

Please read our competition rules before you enter. Entrants must be UK residents, aged 18 or over.

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Terms and conditions

The Promoter is Immediate Media Company London Limited (company number 06189487).
The BBC Code of Conduct for competitions can be found at https://www.bbc.com/editorialguidelines/guidance/code-of-conduct and all BBC magazines comply with the Code.
The promotion is open to all residents of the UK, including the Channel Islands, aged 18 years or older, except the Promoter’s employees or contractors and anyone connected with the promotion or their direct family members.
The closing date for entries is 23:59 on 2 March 2026.
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Entrants should enter by answering the question on the Gardener’s World website. Entries received after the closing date of the promotion will not be considered.
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Only one entry will be permitted per person, regardless of method of entry. Bulk entries made by third parties will not be permitted.
Ten winners will each receive the following package worth £36.94 (Fothergill’s seed-sowing starter bundle):
· 1 x 10L Peat Free Sand Compost
· 1 x Plantable Pots Greenhouse Kit
· 1 x Plantable Pots 12 x 6cm
· 1 x Echinacea Large Flowered Purple Coneflower Seeds
· 1 x Cosmos Apricotta Flower Seeds
· 1 x Dahlia Pompon Mixed Seeds
The winning entrants will be the first ten correct entries drawn at random from all the correct entries after the closing date. The Promoter’s decision as to the winners is final and no correspondence relating to the promotion will be entered into. The Promoter may share the details of the winners with the prize provider for the purposes of fulfilling/delivering the prizes.
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These 5 Christmas plant care tips will save you time and stress - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-12-03T12:31:00.000Z

My favourite thing about growing Christmas plants is that when the festive period arrives, you can take cuttings and create your own beautiful decorations and wreaths for your home or as gifts for friends and family. I do this every year and love the aroma and scents that infuse my house at Christmas time. I find that plants with berries and bright colours, like holly and mistletoe, dressed up with a simple ribbon, work really well with pine cones, dried fruit and other evergreen plants.

Shilpa's five favourite Christmas plants
Make a Handmade Christmas wreath with Shilpa Redddy
Listen to Shilpa make a wreath on the BBC Gardeners' World Podcast.

Dry plants for decorations

Use plants that dry out well or are already dried, like pine cones, to make a long-lasting wreath. There’s nothing worse than creating a beautiful wreath to impress your guests, only to see the plants wither and die before the big day. I recommend drying the plants two to three weeks before you make the wreath.

Keep your wreath hydrated

If you are using fresh plants on your Christmas wreath or indoor decorations, keep them looking in tip-top condition and make sure you spray them with some fresh water once a week, ensuring you don’t spray too much. A gentle spray will make it look hydrated; overwatering it could harm the plants and result in an unattractive wreath.

Keep your poinsettia healthy

To keep your poinsettia looking healthy and vibrant throughout the Christmas period, make sure you keep it away from draughts. Otherwise, its leaves will wither, and it will shut down. Ideally, keep it at a temperature between 13 and 15°C with 6 to 8 hours of indirect sunlight a day.

How to care for poinsettias

Keep humidity high for Norfolk Island Pine

If you decorate your home with a Norfolk Island Pine as a miniature Christmas tree, remember that it’s a plant that likes high humidity. When it’s indoors, keep the humidity high by misting every week, using a pebble water tray or having a humidifier in the room.

Caring for holly

If you’re growing holly as a Christmas decoration staple in your garden, feed with a granular plant feed in spring and preferably cover with thick mulch. Holly doesn’t need much care, but I recommend removing any misplaced or diseased branches in the spring and pruning in late summer.

How to grow holly

10 weird ways that plants kill other plants, outwit insects and even EAT rodents - BBC Gardeners World Magazine

2025-11-27T12:21:37.000Z

1. The plant that eats birds and rats

Popular among collectors, pitcher plants produce relatively cute-looking hanging vessels which attract flies and drown them in digestive fluids (less cute). But unfortunately for birds, frogs or small mammals living in Borneo, Nepenthes rajah is big enough to swallow much bigger prey, even if this is not its precise intention.

With pitchers up to 41cm tall and holding 3.5l of fluid, the sweet nectar within them tempts creatures to drink, where they slip on the slick surfaces of the plant and fall to their doom.

2. The flower that pretends to be dead meat

The succulent carrion plant, Stapelia gigantea, has large, star-shaped flowers with reddish-brown patterns that look – and smell – like rotting flesh. They evolved specifically to attract a particular type of native southern African blowfly. Thinking the flower is a carcass, the flies land to lay eggs and, in the process, pollinate the plant.

3. The parasite that can sniff out the tastiest victim

The dodder vine or Cuscuta is a parasitic plant which grows worldwide and is seeded via bird droppings directly onto host plants, where its roots cut into branches and extract food and water.

Intriguingly, the dodder vine has very specific tastes and, once established, will grow deliberately towards the most nutritious victims. A key 2006 study found that seedlings of Cuscuta pentagona grew directly toward the scent of tomato plants, ignoring less apparently tasty plants nearby.

4. The orchid that uses sex to attract bees

Ophrys sphegodes, commonly known as the early spider-orchid, mimics the shape and scent of the female solitary mining bee to pull in randy male pollinators. In fact, the flower's labellum (lip petal) resembles the size, colour and hairy texture of a female bee's abdomen.

When the male mining bee inevitably falls for the orchid’s charms, it pollinates the flower in the process. This means the plant, which grows across Europe, can achieve pollination without having to go to the effort of producing nectar. It’s a very different kind of honey trap.

5. The deadly carnivorous plant that weaponises maths

How does the Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, know the difference between a raindrop and a tasty meal? Incredibly, it uses maths. Inside each of its infamous traps are tiny trigger hairs, which tell the plant when to snap its jaws shut and again when to release digestive fluids.

It will only shut when there are two touches within 20 seconds, and after that, it waits for five more touches before releasing digestive fluid. This allows the plant, which is native to the coastal plains of North and South Carolina in the USA, to be sure it has captured a juicy insect rather than, for example, a drop of rain.

6. The ghost that steals sugar

All plants use sunlight to create the sugars they need to grow through a process called photosynthesis. But the spookily white ghost pipe plant, Monotropa uniflora, doesn’t have chlorophyll, the green pigment that makes the process work. Instead, its short, stubby roots tap into the mycorrhizal network surrounding the roots of trees in shady, moist forests across North and Central America and Asia, where they steal the sugar they need to grow.

7. The fruit that’s full of dead, decaying wasps

The poor fig wasp is so eager to reach the flowers of figs that it often gets swallowed up in the process. The fruit of the fig is actually a syconium – a closed structure containing multiple tiny flowers, which the wasp pollinates by crawling inside a tiny hole.

Unfortunately, once there, the wasp (Blastophaga psenes in the case of the common fig, Ficus carica) often finds itself unable to get out again, and is broken down by the enzymes inside the fruit. But don’t let this put you off your figgy pudding – most edible figs grown for human consumption are parthenocarpic, which means they develop without fertilisation (or bonus insects inside the fruit).

8. The vine that strangles its host

Pity any tree that falls victim to the strangler fig, Ficus aurea, commonly found in tropical forests across Florida, the West Indies and Central America. Its powerful roots thicken and wrap around its host plant, competing fiercely for water, nutrients and light until the host loses the fight and dies. Eventually, the fig becomes a self-supporting tree, hollow at the core where its host once stood.

9. The shape-shifting vine that imitates its neighbours

Boquila trifoliolata, a shape-shifting vine found in temperate rainforests of Southern Chile and Argentina, can mimic the size, shape, orientation and leaf-stalk length of host plants as it grows through the jungle. In fact, it mimics not only the plant it is growing on but also those that are just nearby. This allows it to blend in with its neighbours and reduce the risk of being eaten by passing animals – but scientists are still debating how it manages to do this without being able to see.

10. The flower that watches the sun

Think plants stay still? Think again. The common sunflower, Helianthus annuus, found in domestic gardens across the world, can move its young, developing flowers up to 180 degrees through the course of the day to follow the sun – then move them back at night, ready to face the sunrise.