Which Three Japanese Garden Tools Should You Choose First?
When someone is just starting to take care of a garden independently, a simple question comes up: which garden tools are actually needed first?
There are a huge number of pruning shears, scissors, loppers, saws, knives, and other tools on the market. But for most everyday tasks involving trees and shrubs, you do not need to buy dozens of tools right away.
When it comes specifically to pruning and working with branches, a basic set can be built around just three tools:
pruning shears, loppers, and a garden saw.
Each of them has its own purpose.
Pruning shears are primarily intended for small and medium-sized branches and shoots.
Loppers are needed when the branch diameter becomes too large for comfortable work with pruning shears.
A garden saw is used for large branches that are no longer practical to cut with pruning shears or loppers.
Therefore, instead of asking “which single universal tool should I buy?”, it is better to think of the garden as a set of different tasks and choose one good tool for each level.
The First Basic Rule: Choose the Tool for the Branch
Branch thickness is the most obvious reference point, but it is not the only one.
Other factors also matter:
whether the branch is live or dry;
whether the wood is soft or hard;
whether the cutting point is easy to reach;
how often you need to make such cuts;
how much force is required;
how important precision is.
As a result, two tools with the same stated cutting diameter can feel completely different in use.
For a gardener, the comfortable working range of the tool is more important than the maximum figure in the specifications.
A good approach looks like this:
thin and medium-sized branches → pruning shears;
thicker branches → loppers;
large branches → garden saw.
These three tools are therefore worth considering as a basic set.
1. Pruning Shears: The Main Tool for Everyday Pruning
Pruning shears are the first tool a gardener should consider buying.
They are used most often and can handle many different tasks:
pruning young branches;
removing shoots;
shaping shrubs;
caring for roses;
pruning fruit trees;
removing small dry branches;
making precise corrections to the canopy.
The main advantage of pruning shears is their compact size. They are easy to hold in one hand, convenient to use inside a shrub, and allow you to make many precise cuts quickly.
At the same time, pruning shears should not be turned into a tool for dealing with branches that are too thick. If excessive force is required to close the handles, it is better to switch to loppers.
Which Pruning Shears Should You Choose First?
For a first universal pair of pruning shears, it makes sense to consider a medium-sized model.
In this case, ARS VS-8Z and Chikamasa PSA-G8 are particularly interesting.
ARS VS-8Z
ARS VS-8Z is 200 mm long and belongs to size M. The stated maximum cutting diameter is up to 20 mm. This is a versatile size suitable for a wide range of everyday garden work. Kenzan Kyev also notes this size as one of the most versatile options for most hands.
This pair of pruning shears can be considered a good basic tool for a gardener who needs a compact and maneuverable tool for regular pruning.
Chikamasa PSA-G8
Chikamasa PSA-G8 is 210 mm long, with 52 mm blades and a weight of about 255 g. The stated cutting capacity is up to 25 mm. The design includes cast aluminum handles, while the blades have protective coatings. The upper blade has a fluoroplastic coating, while the lower blade has hard chrome plating.
Compared with the ARS VS-8Z, this is a more powerful option, especially interesting for a gardener who regularly works with denser and thicker branches.
Why Pruning Shears Do Not Replace Loppers
Even powerful pruning shears remain a compact hand tool.
As the branch diameter approaches the upper limit of the tool's capabilities, the required force increases. If you constantly work at the limit, it becomes uncomfortable for the hand and creates additional stress on the mechanism.
That is why having loppers allows you to use pruning shears exactly where they are most effective: on small and medium-sized branches.
This is both faster and more convenient.
2. Loppers: The Next Level of Cutting Power
Loppers differ from pruning shears primarily because of their long handles.
Thanks to leverage, they provide greater cutting force when working with thicker branches.
This is especially useful when working with:
thick shrub branches;
fruit tree branches;
hard wood;
branches located deeper inside the canopy;
branches that are difficult to reach with short-handled pruning shears.
For a beginner gardener, the main advantage of loppers is that they do not require the same amount of hand force that would be needed to try to cut a thick branch with pruning shears.
Chikamasa LP-450: A Compact Pair of Loppers
Chikamasa LP-450 is a relatively compact option.
The model has an overall length of 400 mm, a blade length of 43 mm, and weighs about 400 g. The blade is made of high-quality carbon tool steel and has a fluoroplastic coating. The design uses leverage to increase cutting force, making it easier to work with thick branches.
LP-450 is particularly interesting for a small garden where you do not want to work with loppers that are too long and heavy.
It is easier to store, carry, and use in confined spaces.
Chikamasa LP-650: More Leverage and More Reach
If you regularly need to work with thicker branches or branches located higher up and deeper inside the canopy, it makes sense to consider a longer model.
Chikamasa LP-650 has an overall length of 610 mm, a 53 mm blade, and weighs about 600 g. The blade is made of high-quality carbon tool steel and has a fluoroplastic coating. The design is intended to increase cutting force through its leverage mechanism.
The main advantage of this model over shorter loppers is not only power but also additional reach.
The long handles allow you to work with branches that are farther away.
At the same time, length has a downside: long loppers take up more space and are less convenient inside a dense canopy.
Therefore, LP-450 may be more versatile for a small garden, while LP-650 is more interesting for regular work with thicker branches and at greater height.
When Should You Use Loppers Instead of Pruning Shears?
There is a simple practical guideline.
If the pruning shears cut the branch easily in one confident movement, use the pruning shears.
If you have to press hard on the handles, it is better to use loppers.
If the branch is difficult to reach with short handles, the additional length of the loppers is also an advantage.
There is no need to wait until the pruning shears physically stop closing. It is much more sensible to switch to loppers earlier, when the cut already requires noticeable effort.
3. Garden Saw: For Really Thick Branches
The third tool in the basic set is a garden saw.
It is needed when the diameter and hardness of a branch make working with pruning shears or loppers inefficient.
A saw is useful for removing:
large branches;
old wood;
thick fruit tree branches;
branches during significant canopy thinning;
sections of wood that cannot be safely cut with pruning shears.
Unlike pruning shears and loppers, a saw does not cut through a branch in one movement. Its advantage is that it gradually removes wood with its teeth.
Chikamasa SZ-21FL: A Lightweight Japanese Saw
Chikamasa SZ-21FL has a 210 mm blade, an overall length of 390 mm, and weighs about 140 g. The tooth pitch is 2.4 mm, and the blade thickness is 0.8 mm.
The manufacturer uses high-quality carbon tool steel, impulse-hardened teeth, and a Teflon coating that reduces plant sap buildup and lowers resistance during cutting.
The low weight is one of the interesting advantages of this model. The saw is well suited to extended work where it is important not to overload the hand.
ARS 210DX: A Folding Saw That Is Easy to Carry
ARS 210DX represents a different format.
This is a folding Japanese garden saw with a curved blade. The blade is about 165 mm long, the overall size in the working position is about 350 mm, and the saw weighs 140 g. The manufacturer states a cutting capacity of up to 60 mm and uses hardened steel with hard chrome plating.
The main advantage of the ARS 210DX is its compact size.
When folded, it takes up less space, making it convenient to keep in a garden bag or take with you to the site.
The folding design does not mean that the saw is intended only for small tasks. The model is designed for serious branch pruning and uses a Pull Saw design, in which the main work is performed on the pull stroke.
Chikamasa SZ-21FL or ARS 210DX?
This is less a matter of which model is “better or worse” and more a choice based on your working scenario.
Chikamasa SZ-21FL is interesting as a longer saw with a 210 mm blade and very low weight.
ARS 210DX is particularly interesting because of its folding design and compactness when carried.
Therefore, for someone who works in the garden regularly and wants a full-length blade, the SZ-21FL is a logical choice.
For a gardener who wants to keep a saw at hand and carry it together with pruning shears, the folding 210DX is very convenient.
Why These Three Tools?
The main advantage of this set is that each tool works within its own range.
Pruning shears provide precision and speed.
Loppers add leverage and increase cutting force.
A garden saw allows you to work with large pieces of wood.
As a result, you do not have to force one tool to do everything.
You do not need to struggle with pruning shears on a branch that is too thick.
A medium-sized branch does not necessarily need to be cut with a garden saw.
And there is no reason to use heavy loppers for a thin shoot.
Each tool is used where it is most effective.
Which of the Three Tools Should You Buy First?
If you are buying tools gradually, the following sequence makes sense.
First: Pruning Shears
Start with a good pair of pruning shears, because they are used for most everyday cuts.
For universal work, you can consider ARS VS-8Z or the more powerful Chikamasa PSA-G8.
Second: Loppers
When the garden contains branches that are no longer convenient to cut with pruning shears, the next step is loppers.
Chikamasa LP-450 is a more compact option.
Chikamasa LP-650 has significantly longer handles and provides additional leverage and reach.
Third: Garden Saw
A saw becomes necessary when large branches appear in the garden.
Chikamasa SZ-21FL is suitable for those who value a long, lightweight blade.
ARS 210DX is convenient for those who value a folding design and compactness.
What Does a Minimal Japanese Garden Tool Set Look Like?
As a result, you can put together a very simple set.
For small branches: Chikamasa PSA-G8 or ARS VS-8Z.
For thick branches: Chikamasa LP-450 or LP-650.
For large branches: Chikamasa SZ-21FL or ARS 210DX.
This set already allows you to perform most ordinary pruning work on shrubs and trees.
At the same time, expanding the set further makes sense only after you understand which tasks are still not covered.
For example, you may later need compact pruning shears, long-handled pruning shears, hedge shears, a telescopic tool, or specialized knives for working with plants.
But there is no need to start with a dozen tools.
What Matters Most Is Not the Number of Tools, but Choosing the Right Ones
A good garden tool should make the work easier.
Therefore, instead of one “universal” tool, it is better to have three tools, each designed for its own range of tasks.
Pruning shears allow you to work quickly and precisely with small branches.
Loppers help deal with thicker wood thanks to their long handles and increased leverage.
A garden saw allows you to remove large branches safely and efficiently.
That is why these three categories can be considered a good starting point for a gardener who wants to gradually build a quality set of Japanese tools.
Only after that does it make sense to choose additional tools according to the plants in your garden, seasonal work, and the specific characteristics of your garden.
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