Every homeowner seems to have a pair of pruning shears in their tool shed. Garden shears have fallen out of favor because shearing leave ragged edges when they cut and that's not good for plants. But when you have a lot of shrubs to trim, nothing beats a gardening shear. Shears are also excellent for cutting back perennials and grasses after their initial bloom period, to remove the ragged old foliage.
Look for shears with strong carbon-steel blades and some type of bumper between the handles to cushion the shock when closing the blades. There's more on choosing and using garden shears here.
1. Ace Corona® Hedge Shear
2. Fiskars 10'' Power-Lever Hedge Shears (Fiberglass)
The cutting blade is serrated to increase the cutting surface. The lower blade is carbon steel with a non-stick coating. Fiberglass handles lighten the load and there are dual layer comfort grips for your hands and a bumper shock absorber. Lifetime warranty. $31.25 - $31.90
3. Black & Decker 16" Hedge Trimmers TR1600
Of course, there's always the electric hedge trimmer. They are quick. And this model from Balck & Decker is priced right. It's your basic slide along trimmer. Theres a handle on top, to help you stabilize and control the trimmer as you move. It can take awhile to get your bearings, but your shrubs should recover fine. $28.90 - $39.994. Black & Decker 24 Inch Hedge Hog Hedge Trimmer
For a bit more power, the Hedge Hog will cut through branches up to 3/4" thick. The 24" blade helps you cover quite a bit of distance quickly. And the blades cut in both directions, making it even faster, with less jerking and vibration. It sounds intimidating, but it's pretty easy to use. $69.97 - $83.695. Makita 17-3/4" Electric Hedge Trimmer
Now we're talking power. This little Makita weighs only 7.1 lbs. and has an ergonomic grip design, so it's not too hard to contorl. A nice feature is the 2-hand operation switch-motor; the trimmer will only run when both hands are on the grips. It's relatively low noise and vibration and the hand guard is large enough to offer protection. Well thought out, all in all. $135.99 - $151.206. Poulan 19, 25cc Weed Eater Gas Hedge Trimmer - GHT195
Electiric may beat manual, but gas trimmers get big points for not having a cord dragging behind them to get tripped up in or disconnect. The trade-off is that gas trimmers are heavier than electric trimmers. Both the engine and the addition of a fuel tank add weight. And weight matters when you're trying to hold a vibrating blade level. Still, many gardeners love them. This model by Poulan has a 25cc High Output Engine, 19" stainless steel blades and a primer bulb for fast, easy starts. It's low vibration and EPA & C.A.R.B. Compliant. $129.99 - $149.92