Tools and Equipment Used in Landscaping

Hand Tools Are just as important as power tools Should be used for their designed purposes Buy good quality hand tools

Hand Tools

Shovels, Spades & Scoops Versatile tools used for digging & scooping Shovels have long handles & are round- or square-pointed Spades have longer blades Scoops are flat with high sides

Shovels, Spades & Scoops

Hoes Garden hoe: Only the bottom edge of the blade is sharpened Weeding hoe: Has two sharp prongs on top of the blade

Hoes (cont’d.) Grubbing hoe: Has two narrow, sharpened, flat ends

Forks Pitchfork: Used to move coarse, lightweight materials Spading Fork: Effective in breaking up soil clods Pitchfork: Used to move coarse, lightweight materials

Rakes Lawn rake: Used for clippings, leaves, & other light debris Metal bow rake: Used for heavy duty raking

Pruners Anvil pruner: Top blade is sharp & cuts against an anvil-shaped bottom blade Bypass pruner: Cuts in a scissor-like manner with two cutting blades

Shears Lopping shears: Used to prune larger limbs, has 2 smaller blades with long handles Hedge shears: Used to prune & shape hedges; has 2 scissor-like blades

Knives Multi-purpose knife: Has a smooth but sharp cutting edge Pruning knife: Have a curved blade, used to remove small stems

Pruning Saws Bow saw: Prunes medium-sized branches Curved blade saw: Prunes large branches

Pole Pruner Used to remove tree branches that cannot safely be reached from the ground Operator pulls on a rope to cut Video

Seed/Fertilizer Spreaders Three types: Hand Crank Spreaders Broadcast Spreaders Drop Spreaders

Hand Crank Spreaders Used for small areas The hopper contains seed or fertilizer that is broadcast by turning the hand crank Video

Broadcast Spreaders Have wheel-driven gears that turn a propeller to spread seed or fertilizer

Drop Spreaders Have wheel-driven gears One wheel drives the roller than pushes the seeds or fertilizers through the hopper’s bottom Video

Sprayers Used to apply pesticides & fertilizer solutions Hand held sprayers use compressed air to spray solutions

Carts & Wheelbarrows Lawn/Utility Carts are ideal carriers for equipment & materials Wheelbarrows carry soil, mulch, or rocks

Specialty Tools Grass shears: Used to trip grass in areas inaccessible to a mower Weed cutter: Cuts weeds & grasses in uncultivated areas

Specialty Tools (cont’d.) Trowel: Used to dig & mix soil & plant bulbs Weeder: Cuts roots of weeds below the soil surface Cultivator: Has 3-4 tines used to break up hard soil around plants

Other Shop Tools Chisels Files Hammers Pliers Screwdrivers Wrenches

Maintaining & Storing Hand Tools Clean tools to remove soil & other debris Check tools for bent or dull blades Check tools for broken handles Replace broken equipment Store tools indoors

Small Power Tools Essential to increase work efficiency Two categories: Electric Motor Powered Tools Gasoline Engine Powered Tools

Electric Motor Powered Tools Power is supplied by an electric current Two types: Direct-drive powered Pulley-drive powered

Direct-drive Powered Power is applied directly to the power head Example: Hedge shears

Pulley-drive Powered Power is applied directly to a drive pulley which is connected to the power head by a belt or chain Examples: Edgers Mower decks

Gasoline Engine Powered Tools Power is supplied by an internal combustion engine Two types: 2-cycle engines 4-cycle engines Video

2-Cycle Engines The intake, compression, power, & exhaust cycles are completed in two strokes Equipment examples: Trimmer/Weeder Leaf Blower Chain Saw Two Stroke Animation

4-Cycle Engines Completes intake, compression, power, & exhaust cycles in four strokes Equipment examples: Lawn mowers Rototiller Grass edger Aerators Four Stroke Animation

Before Using Power Equipment: Inspect the equipment to see if it is mechanically safe to start Check the area in which the tool will be used for hazards Review steps to starting, using & stopping equipment Warn others around when you are about to begin work

Maintaining & Storing Small Power Tools Use basic maintenance & storage procedures See operation manual for each type of equipment

Maintaining & Storing Small Power Tools (cont’d.) Clean equipment of dirt & debris after each use Clean off any moisture on the exterior of the equipment Store in clean & dry cabinets Do not wrap power cords around equipment

Large Power Equipment Greatly increase the efficiency of work Examples: Cutting Equipment Soil Digging Equipment Soil Moving Equipment Tillage Equipment Tractors Transport Equipment

Cutting Equipment Used to cut materials into small pieces & maintain grasses Examples: Grinders Mowers Shredders

Soil Digging Equipment Examples: Backhoes Posthole Augers Trenchers

Soil Moving Equipment Dozers Dump Trucks Front-end loaders Graders

Tillage Equipment Used to prepare seedbeds, to aerate soils, & to free soil of weeds Examples: Cultivator & Rototiller

Tractors Often used to operate other types of equipment Uses: Mowing Towing Tilling Raking

Transport Equipment Used to move materials from one place to another Examples: Trucks Forklifts Trailers Tree spades

Maintaining & Storing Large Power Equipment Check equipment systems regularly to keep them in proper working order Should be stored in a safe & protected manner to prevent injury & malfunctioning

References: Biondo, Ronald J. and Charles B. Schroeder. Introduction to Landscaping Design, Construction, and Maintenance. (2003). Interstate Publishers, Inc.: Danville, IL. Ingels, Jack E. Ornamental Horticulture: Principles & Practices. (1985). Delmar Publishers Inc.: Albany, New York. Introduction to Ornamental Horticulture. (1986). Catalog No. 115B. Instructional Materials Service: College Station, Texas. Ornamental Horticulture. (1982). Department of Vocational Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources Education and Washington State Commission for Vocational Education: Olympia, Washington. Richardson, William B. and Gary E. Moore. Working in Horticulture. (1980). McGraw-Hill, Inc., Dallas, Texas.