Fiskars Solid Snip Pruning Micro-Tip SP13 Review: Precision Pruners for Deadheading and Cuttings

The Fiskars Solid Snip Pruning Micro-Tip SP13 is not your average pruner. This tool belongs to a category known as pruning snips. These tools are smaller than most bypass pruners or anvil pruners, and they have a specialized design that’s ideal for accurate, delicate work. For careful pruning tasks, the SP13 is one of the best pruning tools you can buy.

These snips are best described as pruning scissors, because of their symmetrical design. The blades are narrow, sharply pointed, and have a cutting edge along their entire length. This design equips the snips to cut soft plants cleanly and precisely. Although the snips are small, they have relatively long blades, which is useful when you’re pruning among dense or tangled stems and leaves.

Their size (and especially the size of the blade) makes this pruning tool ideal for reaching into dense plant clusters and slicing in an efficient, tidy manner. It's also great for comfort, allowing for accurate positioning without straining the fingers.

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Let's get this out of the way quickly, though. Pruning snips like the SP13 are not suitable for cutting tree branches. Even narrow twigs are a challenge for this type of pruning tool. This Fiskars model can work well as a go-to tool for the delicate cutting tasks. But using it to prune woody stems or branches will only result in failure (and likely degradation of the blades). For that work, you are better using a good pair of bypass shears.

What the SP13 can do well is cut tender plant parts. Because these snips cut so cleanly, they’re an ideal choice for pruning soft plant stems. The sort of clean cuts you can make with the SP13 tend to heal well. With plant-friendly cutting in mind, the SP13 is a great choice not only for pruning tasks like deadheading, but also for taking cuttings for propagation.

Overview

Finnish brand Fiskars is a leading name for affordable cutting tools. Founded in 1649, the company has a long history of designing scissors and shears for a range of tasks. For repetitive garden-based work like pruning, Fiskars has earned a solid reputation for thoughtful ergonomic designs. In this regard, the SP13 is no exception.

This snipping tool is designed to bridge the gap between heavy-duty yard tools (like PowerGear loppers and bypass pruners) and utility scissors. Its beauty lies in its size and control in narrow reaches and its comfortable spring action. You can find Fiskars Solid Snip SP13 online at Amazon for $21.44, as well as via the main Fiskars store, in their Snips & Scissors section.

If shopping at Walmart or hardware stores like The Home Depot or Lowe’s, you might see it listed as the Fiskars 6-inch Stainless Steel Micro-Tip Pruning Snips. You can currently buy the Titanium model of SP13 from Home Depot for $13.98.

Key Specs

Performance

Since these snips are purpose-built for cutting tender stems, I focused on delicate types of pruning work. I started by using the SP13 to cut the stems of tender bedding plants. The snips did a great job of cleanly pruning stems, without chewing the plant or leaving messy cuts. The SP13 turned out to be ideal for deadheading, too. Using the snips, I was able to remove dead flower heads accurately and with minimal effort.

After testing, strong winds knocked over a row of dahlias in my yard. The SP13 snips turned out to be the best and most convenient pruner for cutting the broken stems down to size, so the dahlia flowers could be displayed in a vase indoors.

During testing, the plastic locking button on the review sample of the SP13 snapped off after getting jammed. Thankfully, I experienced no such problem with the replacement sample I received from Fiskars. The SP13 is generally reviewed very well by customers. Just bear in mind that this is a budget-priced pruner. Don't expect stellar construction.

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How Does It Compare?

The precision pruning market is competitive, which is good news if you are looking for a reasonably priced set of pruning tools. But depending on your pruning needs, the density of your plants, and the thickness of your stems, you need a different blade style, length, or ergonomic tension system. These picks offer unique advantages for food-safe hygiene, adjustable handle spans, or professional-grade bypass power. Here is how they stack up against the Fiskars Solid Snip Micro-Tip SP13 when it comes to precision cutting, price points, and everyday garden reliability.

REVIEWED BY

REVIEWED BY

Pete Wise

Pete has reviewed hundreds of gardening products for titles including Ideal Home and the London Evening Standard – as well as writing articles on diverse topics for other publications such as The Guardian and BBC Good Food. A long-term contributor to the blog of leading scissors-maker Ernest Wright, Pete has in-depth understanding of the qualities and design features that go into a really good pair of shears.

How We Tested

Our reviewer tested the Fiskars Solid Snip Pruning Micro-Tip SP13 by using the snips to carry out light pruning tasks around the yard. He focused testing on slicing soft plant stems, deadheading flowering plants, and snipping stems to specific sizes for preparing cuttings and cutting flower arrangements.

First reviewed September 2023