As is true of any undertaking, having the right tools for a job make successful outcomes that much more likely, and oftentimes, much less painful to achieve. For gardeners inclined toward a more formal look, a good pair of hedge shears is a must. These straight blade hedge shears are lightweight, easy to use, and easy to maintain. They'll make short work of cutting back overgrown grasses in the early spring, trimming hedges, or maintaining/shaping topiary specimens. We've even seen J-Dogg tidy up overgrown passion baskets in late summer using these shears with terrific results. The blades are easily re-sharpened for the next project using our multi-purpose tool sharpener, and these shears should last for years.