A superior protective seal for pruned, grafted or damaged trees, roses or shrubs is called Pruning Sealer by Bonide. It contains an antiseptic and a sealant to kill and keep out infections and insects. It won’t burn your trees or run.

Choosing the right tools

Always check the cutting capacities of your pruning tools and don’t use them on stems thicker than recommended. It can cause a twisting action that may damage your tools.

Keeping your tools clean and sharp will extend their life, and they will make cleaner cuts as well. Simply dry your tools after each use and apply a few drops of oil to the blades and joints. Pruning tools that are gummed up with stubborn sap and dirt can be cleaned with an emery cloth.

• Tree pruners - Use on hard to reach branches.
• Loppers – Extended reach and leverage. For larger branches up to 2 inch diameter.
• Hedge shears – All hedges except larger woody branches. Pictured above are Wallace Hedge Shears – an excellent choice.
• Hand pruners – Use on stems up to 3/4 inch diameter

What should you prune off?
Any dead or diseased twigs or branches should be cut off as soon as they are noticed.
If you wish to do further tidying up, cut out thin weak twigs which can be seen not to have borne flowers or fruit. These occur mainly in shaded parts of the plant, at the base and in the center. Their removal will encourage growth in the rest of the plant.
Any crossing branches which will rub against and damage one another should be pruned off to leave a good, strong framework for the structure of the plant. This is particularly important with trees and especially apples.

• 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.

• For small plants, use a pruner. A pruner, either bypass or anvil, is designed for trimming a large variety of annuals and perrenials in your garden and works great for prunning plants in your home. The Fiskars Power-Lever Anvil Pruner has sharp blades and a comfortable handle to make any small pruning job easy and quick. You will find a variety of prunning jobs to use this pruner. If you take care of plants in your home, keep one handy inside your home and one in your shed or garage.
• For shrubs and hedges, use a lopper. A lopper, like the PowerGear 2 Bypass Lopper by Fiskars, is designed especially for cutting small tree branches or pruning shrubs and hedges. These loppers make pruning branches in tight spaces much easier because of the long handles and small blade. The blades are strong and durable and can make 1.5 inch cuts. This lopper may be used for any small job that an anvil pruner can’t do.
• For trees, use a tree pruner. A tree pruner is ideal for reaching small tree branches that need to be removed. The Nyglass 12 foot Tree Pruner makes trimming your tree easy and convenient. This 12 foot long pruner may be used on any small, young tree or lower, small branches on very tall trees and allows you to trim your trees safely without the use of a latter. It has a sharp, non-stick blade that makes smooth, easy cuts. When trimming your smaller tree branches, make sure that the cuts are close to the branch collar. By regularly maintaining your trees, your trees will be healthier and more attractive.