The Best Pruning Shears to Guarantee a Gorgeous Garden

A reliable pair of pruning shears is one of the best gardening tools you can buy when it comes to keeping your plants and trees in good health. "Pruning shears are an essential piece of every gardener's kit," says Rose Ray Studio RoCo, a biophilic design studio in the U.K. "They come in handy for removing brown leaves or dying stems, for plant propagation and for shaping plants to encourage growth."

To help you find the right hand pruners for the type of pruning you need to tackle, we researched the best pruning shears on the market right now, speaking with plant experts and poring over reviews. We recommend these picks for trimming indoor and outdoor plants, based on their ease of use, design, safety features and durability.

Our top picks:

Keep reading for more about our highly rated picks from top garden brands like Fiskars and Gardena as well as popular retailers like Amazon, Home Depot and Lowes, and find more information from garden pros on how to shop for and maintain hand pruners at the bottom of this guide.