Pruning can be used to stimulate flowering on some plants like wisteria and lilac. Selectively removing some flowers will result in others being larger or producing larger fruit. The basic tools every landscape gardener should own are hand pruners, lopping shears and a pruning saw. Scissor types with two sharpened blades that overlap when making the cut are recommended. The anvil pruners have one sharpened blade that cuts against a flat plate.
Anvil pruners tend to crush the bark of the stem being cut.
Ratchet or geared pruners add leverage and should be used to reduce the muscular effort required to make a cut, not to cut larger stems. They are useful in rejuvenating shrubs. A pruning saw can fit into tight spots and make clean cuts. Larger cuts should be made with coarse-toothed saws or chain saws. If the effort to cut any stem is so much that the person resorts to twisting, the next larger tool is recommended.