Uses and maintenance of horticultural

Horticultural tools are equipment used for gardening and small-scale farming activities like planting, weeding, and harvesting. Common tools include hoes, cutlasses, spades, secateurs, and rakes. Each tool has a specific purpose that makes farm work easier and more efficient. For example, a Nigerian farmer growing vegetables in Ibadan would use a hoe for breaking soil and removing weeds, while secateurs help prune fruit trees properly.

Maintaining these tools is crucial for longevity and safety. You should clean tools after use to prevent rust, sharpen blunt edges regularly, store them in dry places, and replace damaged handles immediately. A rusty cutlass becomes dangerous and ineffective, so proper maintenance saves money and time.