After the leaves have dropped from your shrubs and trees, it is a great time to prune the branches into the shape you desire for the upcoming growing season.  With no leaves on the branches, you will be able to see the bones of your shrubs or trees and that makes it much easier to prune it into the shape you want.  When pruning your shrubs and trees, remove the dead branches first and then remove any branches that are overgrown or have a funny shape.  It is a good idea to have a variety of pruning tools handy for making the right cuts.  Here are some tools that are essential for pruning a variety of plantings:

• For trimming hedges, use a pair of shears like the Fiskars PowerLever Hedge Shears.  These hedge shears by Fiskars are easy to use and make smooth and easy cuts.  They are great for trimming your hedges into the shape your desire.
• For heavy-duty pruning of branches, use a lopper like the Fiskars PowerGear Bypass Lopper 31 inch.  These loppers make cutting small branches easy and quick.  Use these loppers on small trees, shrubs, and a variety of plants that have thick, tough branches or stems.
• To cut tree branches that are higher up and harder to reach, use a tree pruner, like the Nyglass 12 foot Tree Pruner, to get those hard to reach branches.  This pruner extends 12 feet for easy pruning without the use of a latter.   The fiberglass pole is easy to handle and lightweight, which makes holding it in the correct position easy.
• For smaller, more detailed cuts, use the Fiskars Power-Lever Anvil Pruner to delicately prune a variety of flowering bushes, including rose bushes, hydrangeas, and more.  You will find a variety of pruning uses around your garden with this handy pruner.  The blade has a non-stick coating that makes cutting easy and quick.