Buying guide

Pruning, Grafting or Budding Knife: Which Blade for Which Job

A pruning knife has a hooked blade that pulls through a stem. A grafting knife has a straight blade, usually flat on one side and bevelled on the other, for the smooth flat cuts that make a graft take. A budding knife adds a blunt bark lifter for opening the flap of a T-bud. A mushroom knife pairs a stem blade with a brush.

Updated 5 November 2026. Written by Pakistan Knives Factory, a knife manufacturer in Sialkot since 1982: we make pruning, grafting and mushroom knives, and the horticultural facts come from university sources.

The four blades

Pruning knife (serpette): a hooked blade that draws through stems when pulled towards you, for vines, roses and orchard work.
Grafting knife: a straight blade for clean, flat cuts. The University of Florida's plant propagation course describes it as flat on one side and bevelled on the other, hence the right- and left-handed versions.
Budding knife: a rounded tip and a blunt quill that opens the bark flap of a T-bud without damaging it.
Mushroom knife: a blade for the stem plus a bristle brush for cleaning the cap, for foragers.

All our garden knives: pruning knives, grafting knives and mushroom knives.

Which grafting method needs what

In every graft, the cambium layers of the two parts must line up, and a clean cut is what makes that possible.

Whip-and-tongue: done on dormant wood, with scion and rootstock of the same diameter, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. It needs two long, flat cuts: a straight grafting knife.
Cleft graft: the stock is split with a heavy tool or hatchet, and the knife shapes the wedge on the scion.
T-budding: a vertical slit of 1 to 1 1/2 inches, in bark that is slipping. A budding knife or a grafting knife with a bark lifter.
Chip budding: works even when the bark is not slipping. A straight knife with a clean edge.

Single or double bevel, right or left hand

Most grafters prefer a single bevel, for a smooth, clean cut, though the UN Food and Agriculture Organization notes that some prefer a double bevel. To check a blade: hold the handle in your right hand, with the blade pointing left and the edge down. On a right-handed knife, the side facing you is the bevelled one. A left-hander needs the opposite.

If you sell to professional nurseries, it is worth stocking both versions or asking your customers which they use. Ask us about the bevel of any reference.

Keeping blades clean

Blades carry plant diseases from one cut to the next, so pass this advice on with the knife. From Iowa State University Extension:

Clean off sap and dirt first.
70% isopropyl or ethanol: wipe or dip, no soaking needed. Not recommended for fire blight.
10% bleach (1 part to 9 parts water): at least 10 minutes, then rinse. Use the mix within two hours.
Dry the blade and put a little oil on it to prevent rust.

Mushroom knives and foraging

Foragers often ask whether to cut or to pull. A 27-year field study found no difference in later yields between cutting and plucking. For identification, a mushroom should be dug up whole, with its base intact, so a knife does not replace care: pass that on to beginners.

What to stock

Garden centre: a few pruning knives in a wood handle, one grafting knife, and sharpening accessories.
Nursery or orchard supplier: grafting and budding knives first, with right- and left-handed options if your customers ask.
Wine-growing regions: pruning knives in several blade shapes and handle woods.
Foraging or outdoor shops: mushroom knives with a brush, in season.

With no minimum order, you can start with a few pieces of each and let your customers tell you what sells. Your logo can be laser-engraved on the blade for a nursery's own brand.

Questions buyers ask

What is the difference between a pruning knife and a grafting knife?

A pruning knife has a hooked blade that pulls through stems. A grafting knife has a straight blade, usually with a single bevel, for the flat, clean cuts that a graft needs.

Do grafting knives come in left-handed versions?

Yes. Because a grafting knife is commonly flat on one side and bevelled on the other, right- and left-handed versions exist.

How do I sterilise a grafting knife?

Clean it, then wipe or dip it in 70% isopropyl or ethanol, or use 10% bleach for at least 10 minutes and rinse. Iowa State University Extension does not recommend alcohol for fire blight.

Buying knives in quantity? Send us your references and quantities: wholesale price from 50 pieces, no minimum order, your logo laser-engraved on the blade, about one month lead time on average.

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