In addition to our keen interest in construction and home repair, we brothers have a real fondness for gardening. We like to putter around in the yard and marvel at the sight of a well-manicured garden.

Fertilizing, watering, mowing, trimming, pruning and keeping pests in check are a few of the things that make for an attractive garden.

Each of us has at one time or another run the mower over turf, scattered fertilizer and sprinkled water here and there. The one area that gives most of us trouble is pruning. The two big questions about pruning are where to begin and where to stop. More than one beautiful ornamental shrub or stately tree have fallen prey to a shear-wielding zealot with good intentions. Perhaps you've seen what happened in the movie, Edward Scissorhands.

As is the case with many other household tasks, pruning requires a bit of skill and proper tools. Many people believe that a rose, ornamental shrub, hedge and tree all can be trimmed or pruned with the same tool. Not so. Enough can't be said for the importance of having the proper trimming and pruning tools. These can range from a small pair of hand shears to an unusual looking saw mounted on the end of a pole. Having the right equipment will make the job easier, safer and will yield more professional results.

Once you have the proper tools, it is imperative that you keep them sharp. A dull tool can cause significant damage, is much more difficult to work with and can be more dangerous to use. Moreover, a clean-cut tree limb will heal much quicker than one which is cut haphazardly.

Most seasonal pruning projects require only three or four tools, and these are usually affordable. Remember, you get what you pay for. At the top of the list, and probably the most frequently used, is the simple hand pruner. This tool works well on branches up to three quarters of an inch in diameter. If you have hedges that need frequent shaping, manual or electric hedge shears are a must. For branches up to 2 inches in diameter, use lopping shears. For larger branches, there are a variety of saws from which to choose. They can make pruning and tree trimming easier.

A limb saw has a long, curved and narrow blade. The blade is rough and works much like a crosscut saw. The limb saw often comes anchored to an extension pole which makes accessing tall branches easy.

The grandsaw is ideal for trimming trees and bushes with large or thick limbs. It resembles a hacksaw, although it is considerably larger and has a bigger bow to accommodate large branches. Like the ripsaw, the limb saw and the grandsaw frequently are designed to cut in one direction. Pulling appears to be the most popular.

A saw is only as good as its teeth and their sharpness. The edge of the cut will be cleaner and your arm less sore when sharp teeth are employed. Store the saw in a location where the blade will not be damaged by other tools. If the saw must be stored in a tool box among other tools it's a good idea to invest in a blade guard to protect the blade from damage. When blades are slightly dull you can do a touch-up with a triangular file. However, we recommend that you bring your saws to your local saw-sharpening professional who has the proper equipment to give the saw a thorough sharpening including setting the teeth. It's well worth the small investment and will keep your saws finely tuned to give you the best job for the least amount of energy.

Pruning serves many purposes, not just the visual improvement of a plant or tree. For example, heading back the scattered branches of a tree increases its density and makes it more sturdy.

Unwanted branches should be cut in such a way as to leave the shortest possible stub. Prune dead, broken and diseased portions of a plant any time of the year. Left untreated, these problem areas can lead to the early demise of an otherwise healthy plant or tree. Cuts of one inch or more in diameter should be covered with a protective wood compound which will assist in healing.

While these are a few of the general rules of pruning, different plants and different parts of the country require different techniques. We suggest that you pick up a good book on pruning for a healthy garden.