The terms pruning shears and hand pruners are used interchangeably. Hand-held pruning shears are best suited for cutting woody or semi-woody stems and branches less than ¾ an inch in diameter.

Almost every time I head out into the garden, the first tool I put in my back pocket is a well-worn Felco No. 2 hand pruner. I acquired it around 1978 when I started gardening in Spokane. I have ...