Horticulture

Tool Identification,
Use, and Safety
 Horticulture Safety Rules

• Always wear eye protection if using power tools.

• Always work in a safe manner.
• Do not leave tools on the ground.
• Many tools are SHARP – be careful.
• NEVER swing a tool when others are standing near you.
• You CANNOT work in the greenhouses or in the hort. area
while wearing open toed shoes.
• Put tools away and clean up the last 10 minutes of class.
• ANY dangerous or unsafe behavior may result in removal
from this class and loss of credit.
 Loppers

Uses
Pruning
Cutting larger branches

Safety
Sharp edges
 Hand Pruner

Uses
Pruning
Cutting smaller branches
Wreath making

Safety
Sharp edges
Hedge Shears

Uses
Pruning shrubs, bushes
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Pointed
 Grass Shears

Uses
Clipping grass, small plants, shrubs

Safety
Sharp
 Pole Lopper

Uses
Pruning trees
Cutting or sawing branches
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Pointed
Sharp saw blade
Do not use with others nearby - pole can be dropped
 Pruning Saw

Uses
Pruning
Sawing larger branches
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
 Bow Saw

Uses
Pruning
Cutting larger branches
Safety Precautions
Sharp blade
 Hoedad

Uses
Digging
Removing large weeds
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Do not use with others nearby
Garden Hoe

Uses
Digging weeds
Cultivating garden soil
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Do not use with others nearby
Hula Hoe

Uses
Digging weeds
Cultivating garden soil
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Do not use with others nearby
 Leaf Rake

Uses
Raking leaves, grass
Safety Precautions
Do not leave on the ground
Garden Rake

Uses
Raking soil, rocks
Safety Precautions
Do not leave on the ground
 Landscape Rake

Uses
Raking large areas of soil
Preparing soil for lawn seeding
Safety
Do not leave on the ground
Thatching Rake

Uses
Raking dead grass out of a lawn

Safety
VERY sharp edges
 Garden Fork

Uses
Digging in the garden, flower beds

Safety
Sharp points
Pitch Fork

Uses
Picking up piles of leaves, grass, weeds

Safety
VERY sharp points
 Hand Fork

Uses
Raking in flower beds

Safety
Sharp points
 Round Shovel

Uses
Digging
Mixing potting soil

Safety
Sharp point, edge
 Square Point Shovel

Uses
Scooping soil, rocks, debris
Safety Precautions
Sharp edge
 Nursery Spade

Uses
Digging
Edging along lawn areas

Safety
Sharp edge
 Scoop Shovel

Uses
Scooping piles of leaves, debris
Shoveling bark
Shoveling potting soil
Safety Precautions
Sharp edge
 Trenching Shovel

Uses
Digging ditches

Safety
Sharp point
MY SHOVEL!
What the heck is this?
 Digging Bar

Uses
Digging packed soil, rocks.

Safety
Sharp point, heavy
Garden Trowel

Uses
Planting flowers
Digging weeds
Safety Precautions
Pointed
Sharp
Half Moon Edger

Uses
Cutting edge along flower beds
Safety Precautions
Sharp edge
Hand Weeder

Uses
Digging weeds
Safety Precautions
Pointed
Sharp
Pulaski

Uses
Chopping with axe side
Digging with hoe side
Safety Precautions
Sharp edges
Do not use with others nearby
 Mattock

Uses
Digging rocks, roots
Pick on one side
Hoe on the other side

Safety
Pick is sharp
Hoe is sharp
Never swing with others nearby
 Pick Axe

Uses
Digging rocks, breaking up hard ground

Safety
Both ends are sharp
Never swing with others nearby
 Brush Axe

Uses
Cutting brush, large weeds

Safety
Sharp blade
Do not use with others nearby
Post-hole Digger

Uses
Digging post holes for fences, etc.

Safety
Sharp edges
Be careful not to hit your foot
Peavy

Uses
Rolling logs
Prying small tree stumps out

Safety Precautions
Sharp point
Heavy
 Bulb Planter

Uses
Planting bulbs – Tulips, etc.

Safety
Fairly sharp edge
Weed Eater

Safety Precautions
High speed cutting strings
ALWAYS wear eye protection
Do not use with others nearby
Power Hedge Trimmer

Safety Precautions
Sharp cutting blade
ALWAYS wear eye protection
Leaf Blower

Safety Precautions
Debris blowing around
ALWAYS wear eye protection
Do not use with others nearby
Backpack Sprayer

Safety Precautions
ALWAYS wear eye protection
Wash hands after spraying.
Do not spray around others.
NOT FOR STUDENT USE.
 Hand Pump Sprayer

Safety Precautions
ALWAYS wear eye protection
Wash hands after spraying.
Do not spray around others.
NOT FOR STUDENT USE.
 Tripod Pruning Ladder

Safety Precautions
Always have a second person holding the ladder
Do not stand on top
 Painters Ladder

Safety Precautions
Always have a second person
holding the ladder.
Do not stand on top.
Nursery Cart

Safety Precautions
Do not sit or stand on these
Do not pull people around
Wheelbarrow

Safety Precautions
Do not sit in wheelbarrows
Do not give others rides
Do not give rides in the wheelbarrows or nursery carts
 Tamper

Uses
Packing soil or gravel

Safety
Heavy
Be careful not to hit you feet
Tree Cart
 Reel Mower

Safety
Keep hands and feet away from blades
Never use while wearing open toed shoes
 Riding Mower

Not for student use

 Drop Spreader

Uses
For spreading grass seed and
fertilizer.
 Rotary Spreader

Uses
For spreading grass seed and
fertilizer.
 Crank Seeder

Uses:
For spreading
grass seed.

Safety:
Don’t get your
head stuck in it.