The lesson
01
Common hand tools and their uses
Most gardens rely on a small set of tools. Hand tools are for close work in beds and pots. Long-handled tools cover larger areas while you stand.
Many gardeners manage well with a few good tools rather than a shed full. Knowing what each tool is for helps you choose only what you need.
- Trowel: a small scoop for planting holes
- Hand fork: loosening soil and lifting weeds
- Secateurs: cutting thin stems and small branches
- Rake: gathering leaves and levelling soil
- Watering can: giving plants a gentle drink
02
Choosing tools to suit your body and needs
A tool should suit the person using it, not just the job. Think about its weight, handle length, grip size and how far you need to reach. Many people like to hold a tool before buying it to see how it feels.
Victoria’s Better Health Channel starts with fit: a tool should suit your size. Handles shaped for someone else’s hand can rub and strain — a grip that is too thin or too thick may lead to blisters, calluses or sore muscles. With hand tools, it suggests keeping your wrist straight, lined up with your hand.
- A weight you can hold comfortably
- A handle length that matches your reach
- A grip that fits your hand
- Whether you prefer to stand, sit or kneel
Source:Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health) — Gardening safety (opens in a new tab)
03
Accessible and adapted tools
Many tools come in versions designed for different bodies and abilities. Some have longer handles for extra reach. Others are lighter, have thicker or cushioned grips, or have handles set at an angle.
Gardens can be adapted too. Raised beds, tables for pots, seats and kneeling pads can bring the garden closer. For advice, Victoria’s Better Health Channel lists garden supply centres and gardening equipment manufacturers among the places to get help.
- Long-handled tools for extra reach
- Lightweight tools that are easier to hold
- Thick or cushioned grips
- Raised beds and seated work areas
Source:Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health) — Gardening safety (opens in a new tab)
04
Caring for and storing tools: an overview
Tools last longer when they are looked after. Many gardeners brush off soil after use and keep tools dry to slow rust. A set place for each tool makes it easy to find.
Victoria’s Better Health Channel suggests checking and cleaning equipment regularly so it stays in good working order. It also advises storing tools and equipment safely and securely, keeping garden chemicals on high shelves behind locked doors, and never leaving power tools plugged in and unattended.
- Clean off soil and keep tools dry
- Check equipment regularly for good working order
- Store tools safely and securely, especially around children
- Keep garden chemicals up high behind locked doors
Source:Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health) — Gardening safety (opens in a new tab)
05
Official gardening safety guidance
Victoria’s Better Health Channel, from the Department of Health, has a page on gardening safety. It covers sun protection, lawnmowers and other equipment, pacing yourself, hand safety, potting mix, children, older people and where to get help.
Many garden injuries, it says, come from skipping safety steps or reaching for a tool that isn’t right for the task. The full page has the details.
- Use equipment that meets Australian standards
- Never remove or tamper with safety guards
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Goggles for line trimmers; earmuffs or earplugs for noisy equipment
Source:Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health) — Gardening safety (opens in a new tab)