Thwarting Thorns

Despite that, James has a few roses and barberries--plus, some junipers, cedars and spruces, which may be thornless but their stiff needles certainly feel like thorns. "I don't mean to give plants with thorns a bad rap," he says. "After all, some of the most beautiful plants in the world have them. It's just that you won't find too many of them growing at my place."

So what can you do to make growing plants with thorns a painless process? Here are a few items that can help:

Better yet, this long-reach pruner enables you to prune plants with prickly appendages a good deal easier (figure B).

This clever tool also features a swivel cutting head, which not only cuts but also grabs and holds on to stems (figure C).

And finally this thorn stripper (figure D) comes in handy after you've cut a dozen roses for a loved one. "You know, heck hath no fury like a woman scorned by thorns which is why it's best to strip the thorns before handing out the roses," James says. "And this clever little gizmo does the job quicker than you can say 'I'm sorry, I'll get a bandage.'"

Long-reach rose pruners (LA-15006) - GrowTech, Inc.
Thorn stripper (ACG-280) - GrowTech, Inc.