Pruners That Make the Cut

For any gardener, quality tools are worth the investment. They'll help you make cleaner cuts and shape your plants correctly, and you'll always get optimal results when you pick the right tool for the task. Remember that pruning tools are very sharp, so follow manufacturers' directions for proper use and consider wearing protective eye gear and gloves. Clean your tools after every use to keep them sharp and to extend their use over a lifetime. These are some of our favorites. Ask for them at your local nursery or hardware store, or order them online.

Best For: Shearing coarse-leaved hedges, such as ligustrum, holly, cleyera, bougainvillea, or photinia

Buy It: Garden Tool Company, $64.95; gardentoolcompany.com

Best For: Cutting branches and stems throughout your garden (also available in other sizes to fit your hands); good all-purpose pruner

Buy It: Wood Avenue, Inc., $56.07; wood-avenue.com

Best For: Trimming fine-leaved hedges, such as boxwood, lavender, rosemary, podocarpus, or loropetalum

Buy It: A.M. Leonard, Inc., $72.99; amleo.com

Best For: Clipping flowers (from roses to zinnias) for arrangements

Buy It: Corona Tools Store, $10.67; coronatools.com

Best For: Snipping herbs, such as basil and thyme

Buy It: Chefs Catalog, $25.95; chefscatalog.com

Best For: Pruning branches no larger than 1.4 inches in diameter

Buy It: The Felco Store, $74.57; felcostore.com