Garden tool
A garden tool is any one of many tools made for gardens and gardening and overlaps with the range of tools made for agriculture and horticulture. Garden tools can also be hand tools and power tools.
Contents
Hand tools
The hand tools still used by gardeners originated with the earliest agricultural implements used by man.[citation needed] Examples include
In some places the machete may be used as a garden tool as well.
The earliest tools were made of wood, flint, metal, tin, and bone. However, the development of metal working, first in copper and later in iron and steel, enabled the manufacture of more durable tools. Industrial metalworking enabled the manufacture of efficient cutting tools, including pruning shears (secateurs – for example anvil pruning shears) and grass shears and larger, more efficient powered tools such as the trencher.
Ergonomics
Modern tool design includes ergonomics considerations. Tools are being designed that induce ever less stress on the human body when used. The most efficient tools keep the body in a neutral position while being used. This helps to lessen the stress on joints and muscles. An advantage of this approach is that it requires gardeners to exert less energy whilst using the tools.[1] Some modern patents such as US 7,832,125 show a example without hand stop provisions.
Power tools
The first power tool to become popular with gardeners was the lawn mower. This has been followed by a very wide range of power tools, including
- cultivators,
- string trimmer,
- Irrigation sprinklers,
- hedge trimmers,
- lawn aerators,
- leaf sweepers,
- trenchers,
- leaf blowers,
- chainsaws, and
- mini-tractors.
Environmental impact
The exhaust fumes from gas-powered equipment is a significant source of air pollution.[2] US emission standards specifically limit emissions from these small engines.
See also
- Agricultural machinery
- Antique tool
- Cutting tool
- Diamond tool
- Groundskeeping equipment
- Hand tool
- Landscape products
- Mechanised agriculture
- Power tool
- Tool
