NiwakiGR Pro Garden Snips

Hard-wearing, heavy-duty 'double yellow' snips from Niwaki for careful, detailed pruning and other jobs in the garden where secateurs are too large and clumsy. And if you've misplaced them after a long day in the garden, the yellow vinyl grip handles will stand out and show up so they can be safely put away.

Hand-forged in Sanjo, Japan from KA-70 carbon steel, these snips have a solid, chunky catch at the bottom and a robust spring. Use them for dead-heading, flowers and light pruning, but leave the heavy stuff to other tools.

Niwaki's GR Pro range is made by a small family business in Yamagata. Second generation Mr Kudo still puts in a full day’s work as he approaches 80, assisted by his wife and their two sons.

How to care for your new snips:

• Clean with a Crean Mate and Camellia oil and then sharpen with a Niwaki #1000 stone every few weeks. Your new tool won't need sharpening for some time, but after a while you'll notice it will gradually lose its edge
• Do not cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material. Even bamboo fibres and some very hard woods, especially knots and burrs, can damage steel edges
• Do not twist or apply uneven pressure
• Cut diagonally across branches rather than straight across so you cut along the fibres
• Pay attention to maximum cut dimensions, and don't overdo it
• Use the base of the blades, not the tips, for heavier cuts