Frequent, minimal sharpening keeps tools working their best. • Hoes, shovels: Use a 12-inch mill bastard file, preferably with a handle on it, and make a smooth, sharp edge by filing in forward ...

Unlike garden shears, which are similar to scissors in design, loppers are designed for use with both hands, which allows the user to exert greater force for cutting large branches. “Loppers are ...

I could not live without my hand pruners. My favorite brands are Fiskars and Felco, and I use only the bypass style, which cut clean and easy, like a pair of scissors. After each time I use my pruners ...

It's February, and you may be itching to get out in the garden. But you know it's too soon to plant a lot of the things you're thinking of. What to do? Spend some time getting ready for spring by ...

Dull pruning tools are like dull kitchen knives: they'll do the job, but not very well. For years I've wanted to learn how to sharpen my shears, clippers, scissors and pruners, but it's largely a lost ...

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Once the leaves have dropped, you can see the form – and the clutter – and decide what to take ...