Horticultural Tools, Equipment and Structures
Core concepts
Know the purpose and safe use of common tools: spade, fork, hoe, rake, trowel, secateurs, loppers, pruning saw, wheelbarrow, hose and watering can. Understand the difference between digging tools (spade, fork) and cultivating tools (hoe, rake). Learn the maintenance of tools: clean after use, dry, sharpen blades, oil moving parts, and store safely.
Understand equipment such as mowers, strimmers, rotavators and sprayers, including pre-use checks and safety. Know structures: greenhouses, polytunnels, cold frames, cloches, sheds and compost bins, and their functions in extending the season and protecting plants. Learn about ventilation, shading and frost protection.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is using a spade where a fork is better, or vice versa; a fork is preferred for breaking up compacted soil. Another is neglecting hygiene; dirty tools spread disease. Candidates also forget that structures need ventilation to prevent condensation and disease.
Worked example
After pruning a diseased shrub, clean and disinfect secateurs before use on healthy plants. Rule of thumb: clean tools after every use, sharpen regularly, and never carry blades towards the body.