London


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Ladder-2.jpg" alt="niwaki ladder" class="wp-image-116518" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tripod ladder</figcaption></figure>



<p>Spring, as even the most inexperienced gardener will tell you, is a busy time. Everywhere you look, plants are waking up – and that includes the weeds. In fact, there’s so much to get started on it can feel overwhelming, especially after the cold, soggy months spent plotting and dreaming of summer. Once you get in the swing of it, these fears usually drop away: all the more so with the right tools for digging, weeding and planting. Japanese tools, in particular, are renowned for their simple efficiency, and this selection from Shaftesbury-based <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Niwaki</a>, sets the standard. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-planting-weeding-grubbing">Planting, weeding, grubbing </h2>



<p><strong>The job: </strong>While the ground is still relatively clear, it’s a good time to identify any persistent offenders in the borders, like brambles and ivy, and remove as much of their sneaky subterranean networks as possible. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Hori-Hori-Pro-.jpg" alt="Hori Hori Pro Niwaki dorset" class="wp-image-116508" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Hori Hori Pro</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> The traditional Japanese foraging tool <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/hori-hori-pro?#P00747-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hori Hori Pro</a> is especially adept at getting to the root of all weedy problems. Handmade from durable SK-5 carbon steel, it sits somewhere between a knife and a gardening trowel, and its versatility explains why almost every pro gardener keeps on one their hip at all times. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cutting-back-perennials">Cutting back perennials</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> Removing herbaceous plants and grasses to allow new growth to flourish.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Herbaceous-Sickle-2-.jpeg" alt="Niwaki Herbaceous Sickle" class="wp-image-116509" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Herbaceous Sickle</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> Grab a <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/herbaceous-sickle/#P00114" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Herbaceous Sickle</a> in one hand and a handful of old, dry stalks in the other and rip/cut through them with a swift sawing motion. Traditionally used in Japan for rice harvesting, their serrated carbon-steel blade makes them a time saver in the garden and great fun to boot.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prune-and-preen">Prune and preen</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> Pruning to encourage flowers later on, harvesting cut flowers even later and other everyday garden tasks.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Niwaki-Higurashi-GR-Secateurs-.jpg" alt="Niwaki Higurashi GR Secateurs" class="wp-image-116511" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Higurashi GR Secateurs</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> The <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/higurashi-gr-secateurs/?sku=P00705-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Higurashi GR Secateurs</a> are a drop-forged delight, with chunky KA-70 carbon steel blades that can prune woody stems up to 10mm thick. The chunky catch and vinyl handles make them a pleasure to use, plus the yellow handles are easy to spot if you accidentally leave them on the compost heap. Monty Don uses <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/kurumi-secateurs/?sku=P00463-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kurumi Secateurs</a>, with the same super sharp steel, polished to a high sheen and paired with walnut inlaid handles. And if they&#8217;re good enough for Monty&#8230;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-came-you-saw-you-conquered">You came, you saw, you conquered</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> Removing dead or damaged growth from shrubs and small trees to encourage new shoots, especially if you forgot to do so over winter!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Moku-Saw.jpg" alt="Niwaki Moku Saw gardening" class="wp-image-116513" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Moku Saw</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> The lightweight and compact <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/moku-folding-saw/#P00451-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Moku Folding Saw</a> fits in a Niwaki Double Holster, just behind your secateurs and cuts on the pull stroke, making pruning easier and less tiring. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-legs-wide-base-no-wobble">Three legs, wide base, no wobble</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> Shaping trees and hedges, training climbing plants and cleaning roof gutters. If you can’t reach it how are you supposed to trim it? For a truly thorough spring clean in the garden, a little extra height you get with a ladder goes a long way.  Best of all, they offer a wonderful vantage point to admire your garden (or spy on the neighbours) to plan exactly where your new flower bed will go.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Ladder-1-.jpg" alt="Niwaki Ladder" class="wp-image-116514" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Tripod Ladder</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/tripod-ladders/#P00325-39" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tripod Ladders</a> are surprisingly lightweight (they&#8217;re made from welded aluminium) so they&#8217;re easy to move and store. Their three-legged design, wide base and double-rung steps provide reassuring stability, while the adjustable back leg allows you to work precisely where you want to – even on uneven ground. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shape-like-a-pro">Shape like a pro</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> All the new growth bursting out of hedges and box balls is going to need shaping and cleaning up pretty soon. Hedge-trimmers are great for industrial scale jobs, but they’re crude, noisy and offer little to no joy. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Niwaki-Topiary-Shears-6.jpg" alt="Niwaki Topiary Shears " class="wp-image-116516" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Topiary Shears </figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The tool:</strong> Mastering a pair of <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/topiary-shears/?sku=P00038-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Topiary Shears</a>, on the other hand, is a pleasure that has to be experienced to be believed. Ideal for box clipping, topiary, and other delicate jobs, the ‘blue paper steel’ blades are razor sharp (so keep them for the new growth –&nbsp;nothing woody) and they&#8217;ll reward you with crisp lines and sinuous curves that a clanking machine could never imagine. Finished with shapely Japanese white oak handles, they provide a delightful balance and make clipping and shaping a sensory delight.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-roll-up-your-sleeves">Roll up your sleeves</h2>



<p><strong>The job:</strong> Dressing for spring can be a daunting prospect – especially when you’re a style-conscious gardener keen to avoid looking like a wilderness explorer. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2026/03/Niwaki-Shigoto-Shirt-3-.jpg" alt="Niwaki Shigoto Shirt niwaki" class="wp-image-116543" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Shigoto Shirt</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>The clothes:</strong> A good denim shirt or jacket will see you through most days. A <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/shigoto-shirt/#P00692-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shigoto Work Shirt</a> doubles up as both. Handmade in Okayama, the 8oz denim softens with wear, offering a relaxed fit that slips easily over a t-shirt when things get chilly. Of course, no workwear is complete without somewhere to stash gloves and spare bits of string. Use the left chest pocket to store a gardening notebook, next to the designated pencil holder, and the reinforced left hip pocket for tools and seed packets. There’s even an internal right breast pocket should you need somewhere to keep more secretive scribblings.</p>



<p><em>Discover Niwaki&#8217;s full range <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online</a> or at their <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/chiltern/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">London </a> and <a href="https://www.niwaki.com/showroom/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dorset</a> showrooms.</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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The best tools for your spring gardening jobs

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