Advice for pruning/cutting back big shrubs?

Question:We have some large shrubs (boxwoods, maybe?) in front of our house and in the back yard. The plants are nice and healthy, and we keep them trimmed and neat, but they're getting really big. (I think that the people who lived there before us never pruned the shrubs.) I want to prune them down to a more reasonable size - probably even cut them completely back. The problem is that many of the branches are too thick to cut with my shrub-trimming shears or with my pruning shears. I need a tool that can cut through branches that are about an inch and a half in diameter. Do I need to use some type of saw, or is there a gardening tool that I should use? I've just taken up gardening, so I need all the help I can get!

Thanks :-)

Answers:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/print/0,...

---

I have used an ordinary household saw does the trick

---

There are pruning shears that easily cut branches that size , you just need to buy better pruning shears. Go to your local home improvement store and get acquainted with the yard tools aisle.

---

More Related Questions & Answers...

How big do willow trees grow? What are the full names of the big ones? How old do they get?

How do you replace a whole lawn and who do you call?

I need to move some sod to expand the garden. I need to reuse the sod. Any inexpenxive suggestions?

Cavity wall plants?

There's a tool used to help pick up leaves in the yard. it is used along with a rake. it holds open the bag...

Bird problem?

Mustard algae?

How can you kill weeds in established and newly planted iceplants without killing the plants?

Any suggestions on landscaping a backyard in a "pet-friendly" way?

Plants for dry gardens ?