1. Identifying Specialized Hand Landscape Tools & Their Functions
Course – Landscape Design & Management
Unit 1: Defining The Landscape Industry
Lesson 3: Identifying Landscape Tools & Equipment
By: Georgia Curriculum Resource & Reference CD & Adam Sconyers
June 26, 2002

2. Specialized Hand Tools
Materials Needed
Examples of specialized hand tools.
Handout 1.3.1
Lab Handout Sheet
Specialized Hand Tools
Make sure you have 2 sets of tools needed for one will be used with this presentation and the other will be used for the lab.
Handout 1.3.1
Hand out now for the students to complete as you go along with the PowerPoint. This can be found in the Georgia Curriculm Resource Guide under the following lesson plan: Course – Landscape Design & Management, Unit1: Defining The Landscape Industry, Lesson 3: Identifying Landscape Tools & Equipment. This will be included in their master notebook so this does not happen to be taken up but it is up to you.
Lab Handout Sheet
Design your own Lab and Lab Handout Sheet but hand it to them at the end of the presentation.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Garden (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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Manure Fork – Pitch 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

9. Trowel Used to install bedding plants, groundcovers, and bulbs.
Make sure to keep away from your hands when in use.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. Bow Rake 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.

14. Leave 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.

15. Leave Rake
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.

16. Leave Rake Used for raking depris from small areas between shrubs.
Never use it for its unattended purpose.

17. Double-Bit Axe Obvious chopping uses.
Especially useful in tree removal and for cutting up fallen timber.
Pay special attention when swinging and cutting.

18. Hook-and-Blade Pruners
Used to trim tree and shrub twigs up to ½ inch in diameter.
Never leave your free hand near the shear when in use.

19. 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.

20. Loppers or 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.

21. 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.

22. Sling Blade 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.

23. 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.

24. Divide into your designated groups and perform the following tasks.
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.
Lab Project
1. Pass the Lab Handout Sheet to every student.
2. If groups are not assigned you need to assign them now.
Make sure everyone completes the handout and they illustrate they the safety procedures for each specialized hand landscape tool.

25. 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.