For many years, shears have been the popular choice for trimming shrubs. Whether performed by a homeowner, a landscaper or an arborist, shearing is faster and easier, and it seems like the logical choice. The problem with electric shears is, if they are used too often or too aggressively, they can harm plants.

Although shears are good for shaping plants, they can cause damage, because they cut indiscriminately, damaging leaves and stems. These jagged wounds are difficult for the plant to close. Further, shearing over the course of several years creates a thin layer of live growth on the exterior, which then causes the interior of the plant to die due to lack of sun.

Most people don’t realize that shearing, although common and easy, is not the best way to prune plants. In a perfect world, shrubs should be pruned in a way similar to how we prune trees. This type of pruning, or hand snipping, is slower and more deliberate, but, if done properly, uses the same principles as tree pruning.

Using bypass pruners gives you the ability to make accurate pruning cuts. By making proper pruning cuts, the plant is able to close the wounds over time. This is much better for the plant’s long-term health. Hand snipping also allows pruning cuts to be made at varying depths, which encourages interior growth. This type of pruning leaves the plant with a controlled but more natural texture.

Shearing of plants is very common, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing. It allows you to create a more formal shape. It also helps you trim plants quickly and easily. Proper hand pruning is a utopian way to prune shrubs. This type of pruning is not an easy concept to master, and it takes more time and, by extension, patience. Nevertheless, it is better for the long-term health and aesthetic of the shrub.

Many landscape and tree services prune shrubs both ways. Like most things we do, it depends on the client and the plant material. However, proper hand snipping is closer to proper arboricultural standards. Further, it is an underutilized service that arborists should use to expand their sales and market share.

David M. Anderson, CTSP and Massachusetts certified arborist, is a manager with Mayer Tree Service Inc., a 33-year TCIA member company based in Essex, Mass. He also is a member of the TCI Magazine Editorial Advisory Committee.