Identifying Specialized Hand Landscape Tools & Their

FunctionsCourse 01.463 – Landscape Design & Management

Unit 1: Defining The Landscape IndustryLesson 3: Identifying Landscape Tools & Equipment

By: Georgia Curriculum Resource & Reference CD & Adam Sconyers

June 26, 2002

Materials Needed

1.Examples of specialized hand tools.

2.Handout 1.3.1

3.Lab Handout Sheet

Objectives

• Identify specialized hand tools and their uses.

• Demonstrate proper safety procedure for landscape.

• Demonstrate proper maintenance and storage procedures for landscape tools and equipment.

Spade

• Performs obvious service in digging.

• It has a flat back and flat or pointed end.

• It has no sides and is not effective as a scoop.

• Never lay it on the ground for it can become broken or hurt someone by being step on.

Spading Fork

• Used for turning over soil when it is not too hard or compacted.

• Useful in preparing planting beds that need not to be too deep, as for flowers, bulbs, and groundcovers.

• Always make sure you keep from your body or others when in use.

Shovel

• Used for cleaning loose soil from planting holes for scooping uses.

• It has sides in which a spade does not.

• The blade may be rounded or squared with either a short or long handle.

• Always make sure you keep it from your body or others when in use.

Scoop

• Good for moving loose materials such as crushed stone, peat moss, and soil.

• It has high sides and is not used for digging.

• There are 2 major types: Aluminum and Steel.

• Never lay it on the ground for it can become broken or hurt someone.

Manure Fork

• The best tool for moving coarse, lightweight materials, such as straw and wood chips.

• Always make sure you keep it from your body or others when in use

Hand Trowel

• Used to install bedding plants, groundcovers, and bulbs.

• Make sure to keep away from your hands when in use.

Garden Hoe

• Widely used for breaking soil prior to planting.

• It is helpful in the installation of all types of landscape plants.

• Never lay it on the ground for it can become broken or hurt someone.

Scuffle Hoe

• Useful in weeding and cultivating in planted beds.

• It cuts off weeds and loosens surface soil.

• Make sure when in use that you keep you pay attention to your feet placement.

Wheelbarrow

• It can be used for a multitude of functions.

• It can haul materials to and from the planting site.

• It can also be used at the site to hold soil conditioners for mixing.

• Always be careful not to overload it when in use.

Toothed Rakes

• Used for heavy-duty raking that requires a strong tool.

• Commonly used in preparation of lawn seed beds and cultivation of planted beds.

• Never place in on the ground.

Broom Rake

• Very useful in places where a lightweight, spring rake is needed.

• Very good for collecting depris and clippings from lawn service.

• Pay special attention to not lay it on the ground for it can be easily broken by being stepped on.

Lawn Comb

• An excellent rake for collection of leaves and coarse debris from lawn service.

• Make sure this device is not put under a strain when in use.

Shrub Comb

• Used for raking depris from small areas between shrubs.

• Never use it for its unattended purpose.

Single-Bit & Double-Bit Axes

• Obvious chopping uses.• Especially useful in tree

removal and for cutting up fallen timber.

• Pay special attention when swinging and cutting.

Pruning Shears

• Used to trim tree and shrub twigs up to ½ inch in diameter.

• Never leave your free hand near the shear when in use.

Hedge Shears

• Prunes shrubs grown closely spaced as hedges.• These shears are only used on young, tender new

growth.• Never leave the shears open when not in use.

Lopping Shears

• Used to trim tree and shrub twigs from 1 inch to 1 ½ inch in diameter.

• Make sure you are in a proper cutting position when using this shear.

Pruning Saw

• Removes any tree or shrub part that cannot be easily cut with the lopping shears.

• Used to trim tree and shrub twigs 1 inch or more in diameter.

• Make sure you make the necessary relief cuts when using this saw.

Weed Cutter

• Removes annual weeds by cutting them off at ground level.

• Not very effective against biennial and perennial weeds.

• When swinging the device make sure others are not in your path.

Proper Maintenance & Storage Procedures

• When storing hand tools make sure they are put in a neat and orderly fashion.

• A rack designed for these tools is the best solution for storage of hand tools.

Lab Project

Divide into your designated groups and perform the following tasks.

• Go to the designated area and identify all of the specialized hand landscape tools by answering your lab worksheet.

• Once your group is completed of task 1 hand in the lab worksheet to the instructor and take a seat in your assigned area.

• When everyone completes task 1 and 2 each student will properly illustrate the safety procedures for each specialized hand landscape tool to the instructor.

Summary

• Identified special hand and landscape tools and their uses.

• Demonstrated proper safety procedure for landscape.• Demonstrated proper maintenance and storage

procedures for landscape tools and equipment.