A one-piece garden tool, and process for manufacturing a one-piece garden tool such as a shovel, in which the head of the garden tool and its rod are made from two pieces of plastic. The head further contains a joint portion into which the rod is inserted and axial force and rotational speed are applied with sufficient force to create friction that melts a layer of the rod and joint so the plastic of each mixes. The rod and head are then cooled, and the plastics merge into a single one-piece plastic garden tool. Alternately, ultrasonic waves may be used to melt the rod and joint layers.