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 ...

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 ...

A few high-quality, well-maintained tools are all a gardener needs. A garden spade, used for cutting soil and roots, should be sharpened on the inside of the blade. Bypass pruning shears are versatile ...

Of all the tools in my shed, my hand pruners work the hardest. After a long season of pruning, deadheading, and shaping, culminating in an epic fall cleanup operation, they are ready for some ...