Tools and Procedures

HAND TOOLS

WeederDescription: Metal shaft with handle that forks

Use: Removes weeds

Operation: Jab into ground, pry up weed

Safety: careful-Sharp

Spade • Description: mini shovel

• Use: digging small holes to plant/scoop

• Operation: jab into ground, pry up soil

• Safety: careful-Sharp

Hand Cultivator• Description: metal shaft

with 3-5 prongs

• Use: loosening soil/scraping up mulch

• Operation: Extend arm, drag

• Safety: careful;-sharp

Pruner• Description: Scissor like tool

• Use: dead heading/cutting small branches

• Operation: unlock, squeeze to cut, re-lock

• Safety: watch fingers

Bucket• Description: Plastic

container and handle

• Use: Hold weeds, waste, or water

• Operation: Fill container

• Safety: Do NOT stack or store in front of greenhouse door• put completely in tool

shed

Mallet• Description: large heavy

hammer

• Use: drive in stake

• Operation: raise with both hands, strike down

• Safety: use safety glasses, watch fingers

Wire Brush Description: handle, wire bristles

Use: Scrubbing rock and metal

Operation: rub back and forth

Safety: Sharp bristles, wear safety glasses

Work Gloves• Description: leather or

cloth

• Use: protects hands

• Operation: put hand inside

• Safety: keep with you, can easily be lost, store properly

Hose • Description: Long rubber tube with metal ends

• Use: Water gardens

• Operation: Attach to spigot. Turn on water

• Safety: Tripping hazard. Wind up when finished.

Pruning Saw Description: Handle with saw blade. Fixed or foldable.

Use: Trimming branches

Operation: Hold saw securely, move the saw back and forth

Safety: Sharp! Use care when carrying near others

LARGE TOOLS

Round Shovel• Description: long handled

spade, rounded with a point

• Use: digging and scooping

• Operation: set spade perpendicular (90°) to ground, step, pull back

• Safety: may be sharp

Square Shovel Description: Long handled square scooper

Use: scooping

Operation: Slide under pile, lift

Safety: watch weight of load

Sharpshooter•Description: medium

length spade

•Use: digging deep holes

•Operation: step on top of blade, pull back

• Safety: sharp

Spading ForkDescription: Medium handle tool ending with 4 prongs

Use: Loosening soil before weeding

Operation: jab into the ground, one step, lean back, remove

Safety: sharp

Pitchfork• Description: Long handled

tool with several slim tines

• Use: scooping materials (compost, straw)

• Operation: Slide under pile, lift

• Safety: tines are sharp

Gardening Hoe

Description: Long handled tool triangular end or prongs

Use: removing weeds/loosening soil

Operation: extend arms, lightly chop, don’t lift higher than knees

Safety: Store properly, sharp

Bow Rake

Description: Long tool with wide metal end and many tines

Use: Removes debris/Sharp & smoothing beds

Operation: Extend arm, drag toward body

Safety: store properly

Leaf RakeDescription: Long tool fan shaped metal or plastic tines

Use: gathering leaves

Operation: Extend arm, drag towards body

Safety: Tines can scratch

Loppers•

Description: Double handled tool with blades

Use: Cutting twigs & Small branches

Operation: open, put branch in blades, close

Safety: sharp. Closing together watch fingers

Pickaxe• Description: med.

Handled tool with heavy metal head

• Use: busting rock & soil, cutting roots

• Operation: Lift hip high, slam down

• Safety: heavy, sharp end

Wheelbarrow• Description: Large bucket atop of

one wheel w/ handles• • Use: moving bulky or heavy

materials/mixing concrete

• Operation: fill with material centered over wheel, lift with a straight back

• Safety: Heavy, tips easily