Grass shears are a gardening tool that is used for trimming. Grass shears look like a large pair of scissor blades, with the handle attached to the blades at a right angle. This peculiar design makes it easy to differentiate between grass shears and pruning shears. The blades of pruning shears are in a straight line with the handle.
The reason for the placement of the blades at right angles with the handle is to make the trimming that is commonly done with this type of garden shear easier. Grass shears are often used to trim grass along a walkway or flower bed. For the gardener, this job is much easier if they can sit upright and use the handle while the blades are parallel to the ground.
For the avid gardener, a nice pair of gardening scissors can make trimming duties much simpler. The investment in a well constructed pair of gardening shears can last a lifetime if properly cared for. Before buying a pair of grass shears it is important to know what to look for.
A nice pair of grass shears does not have to be expensive, and just because a gardening tool is expensive does not mean that it is of a high quality. When looking at the shears, open and shut the blades several times. Do the blades open and shut easily and firmly? Do they get caught at a certain point and refuse to open or shut any further? Look at the screw where the blades join together. Is it sturdy?
How does the handle feel in your hand? Are they comfortable or do you have to stretch fingers or hand to hold and use the grass shears? Remember, while the grass shears may feel comfortable for a few minutes, if you are using them to trim the grass around your walk, moving along on your knees, the job can get more taxing.
Once you have found a comfortable and sturdy pair of grass shears, you must take care of them so that they last as long as possible. Because the blades, and possibly the handles, of your shears are metal, they will be susceptible to rust. After each use, take a soft cloth and wipe down all the areas of the shears that may have touched grass or been in contact with your skin. The moisture in the grass can lead to rust, and the combination of sweat and body oils can also be detrimental to the life of your gardening tools. Once you have cleaned the grass shears thoroughly, store them in a clean dry place, or stick them, blades first, in a bucket of clean sand.