Here are tools for shearing hedges. Keep hand tools clean and sharpen every season.

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Long-handled shears: These make cleaner, healthier cuts than power trimmers. For tall hedges, you'll need a ladder and it's safer to trim with hand tools rather than power tools when you're up on a ladder.•

Hand pruners: Look for bypass blades, which pass each other, rather than anvil blades, which crush a branch between them. Use for thinning and removing deadwood, selective pruning of most shrubs and clipping topiary and low boxwood hedges.•

Power trimmers: Available with gas engines (most powerful but loud and polluting), corded electric (quieter, cleaner, less powerful) and cordless electric (even less powerful). Trimmers are a blunt instrument that tear branches, thereby opening wounds to disease. They are available with poles and with articulating heads for pruning the tops of tall hedges. Always wear ear and eye protection. Keep your eye on extension cords and don't use power trimmers with children nearby.