Whether you call them garden pruners, pruning shears, or secateurs, you probably own a pair of these sharp-edged cutters. They can cut string and even fairly stout rope. The same goes for wire ties, although for thicker wire, you should use pliers so that you don't damage the pruner's blades. Perhaps surprisingly, garden pruners can also help maintain your garden power tools. If you need to replace a fuel pipe on a gas-powered mower, pruners can trim the plastic tube to the correct length.