It covers the following types of garden tools and equipment:
- Rakes: landscape, garden and lawn
- Spades: digging and border
- Forks: digging and border
- Hoes: Dutch, draw, push/pull
- Loppers, secateurs (bypass and anvil) and long reach pruners
- Saws: bow and pruning
- Shears: lawn edging, hedging and topiary
- Knives: pruning, garden and grafting/budding
The following aspects are covered:
Safe use - using tools safely and efficiently for a range of cultivations, planting, sowing, weeding and pruning
Care/maintenance - cleaning, sharpening and preservation
Repair - how to repair a broken spade/fork and other selected tools
Safe storage - sensible storage solutions
Please note: You are invited to bring some of your own tools and equipment which are in need of some expert care and attention, to work on during the course.
This course is delivered over day at our centres, there is no formal assessment. However your tutor will offer helpful hints and provide you with feedback on your techniques.
On completion of the course you will be given a course completion certificate from the B.E.S.T. in Horticulture Education Limited.
The course takes place at the Ryton Centre:
3rd December 2026
The cost of the course is £175.00
Click on the green 'Enrol for this course' button above and complete an enrolment form; please ensure that you provide ALL of the details requested. Payment options are: payment through the website using a credit/debit card or via PayPal.
Click on the green 'Enrol for this course' button above and complete an enrolment form; please ensure that you provide ALL of the details requested. Payment options are: payment through the website using a credit/debit card or via PayPal.
This is predominantly a practical course with a small amount of theory underpinning knowledge, therefore you need to wear comfortable casual clothing, which should include safety footwear (however, sensible footwear will be adequate). It is also advisable to be prepared for inclement weather by bringing waterproof clothing and sun protection. All necessary Personal Protective Equipment/clothing will be provided.
You would be welcome to attend any of the short courses or masterclasses that we offer. Perhaps Powered Garden Machinery and Equipment? Or perhaps (if not already studying one of them) one of the Royal Horticultural Society Courses at one of our centres. Alternatively you make like to gain a professional qualification by attending a City & Guilds NPTC Certificate of Competence Course, see our website for details.
3rd December 2026
09.30 pm
£175.00
£175.00
This is a one day short course ideal for amateur gardeners who want to learn a little bit about garden machinery. It covers the essential aspects for anyone who uses machinery in their garden.
16 seats available
Understanding how to care for, and use your garden tools correctly will not only keep you safe and healthy, but prolong the life of the tools too. Garden tools are expensive and if not cared for properly they will deteriorate and eventually fail.
This one-day course is aimed at amateur gardeners who want to know how best to maintain, repair and use a range of garden tools.
We have collected together some quick links to useful pages that you should find helpful.
B.E.S.T in Horticulture Education Limited, Registered in England No 14088275. (A not for profit organisation)
B.E.S.T. in Horticulture Ltd. Registered in England № 7739766.
