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Whether youre digging, edging, or transplanting, these picks help you get the job done right.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Garden spades are used for a variety of outdoor tasks, explainsGary McCoy, Lowes store manager.
Spades are a specialized tool that have a flat rectangular blade attached to a long handle, he says.
They have a straight edge, which makes them ideal for cutting through turf and digging more precise holes.
Credit: Amazon
In addition to landscaping, spades are also useful for gardening.
Spades are best for digging specific shaped holes forplanting bulbs, seedlings, and smaller plants, McCoy says.
Its 5-pound weight might be too heavy for some users.
Credit: Amazon
This shovel is toughespecially when it comes to cutting through roots and rocks that other spades cant.
The 13-inch serrated blade also has a polypropylene-encased carbon steel shaft that wont bend or break under pressure.
The round handle is made from non-latex thermoplastic elastomer thats over-molded onto the polypropylene shaft.
Credit: Gardener’s Edge
At 5 pounds, the weight may be too heavy for some.
For those looking for a budget-friendly option, the Fiskars 46-Inch Garden Spade is the best option for you.
Made with alloy steel, this affordable spade comes with a lifetime warranty.
Credit: Fiskars
The garden spade is 46 inches long and has a sharp, precise blade that is perfect for landscaping.
With a large foot platform, this spade makes it easy to dig into compacted soil.
Thanks to its powder-coated steel design, the spade is resistant to rust and easy to clean.
Credit: Amazon
The shock-absorbing hardwood shaft reduces stress and fatigue during use and is reinforced by an impressive full steel strap.
The small T-handle may seem awkward or too small for some users.
The short shaft and handle are lightweight, shock-absorbing, and easy to maneuver in tight spaces.
Credit: Amazon
The boron steel blade is rust-resistant and curved to help minimize soil disturbance and damage to surrounding plants.
At just 2 pounds and 22 inches, this compact option is more lightweight than other picks.
Plus, taller users will love that this spade comes in a longer version.
Credit: Amazon
Its hard to overlook the ergonomic features of the Roamwild Multi-Digger Spade.
The durable coated blade features an arrowhead shape to penetrate rocky, compacted soil and clay.
This well-balanced hybrid garden spade sports convenient no-slip grip sections on the reinforced fiberglass shaft.
Credit: Amazon
Tall users may find this spade too short for comfortable use.
This Spear & Jackson pick is the best lightweight option for your collection.
The atypical, pointed blade limits scooping potential.
The long, steel shaft is designed for optimal balance and digging leverage.
Plus, the spade is reasonably priced and comes with a lifetime warranty.
There are a few different types of spades, but the most popular ones are garden and trenching spades.
A trenching spadeis valuable fordigging narrow trenches for irrigation pipesand water lines.
Look for a spade with steel blades.
Stainless steel and boron steel are strong, long-lasting, and rust-resistant.
A spades shaft should be fashioned from durable materials as well.
The top choices are hardwood, fiberglass, or metal.
Hardwood is the most traditional shaft material and is an excellent shock absorber.
Fiberglass shafts also absorb shock well and are lightweight and low maintenance.
Some variables to consider are weight, length, footplate, and handle grip.
Weightier spades can optimize leverage to make digging and lifting more efficient.
Using the right length shaft for your height can also reduce back strain by requiring less bending over.
So its critical that it fits my body," she says.
“Im small in stature and have found that a short spade is the best fit for me.
A footplate or step is an appealing feature at the top of the blade.
Here users can step with their foot to use body weight to push the blade down into the ground.
Most spades have a traditional D-grip or T-grip handle to help hold and manage the spade.
Both styles perform well, so the choice is mainly personal preference.
The most common types of spades are digging, transplanting, and border spades.
I use my spade exclusively for digging holes and rooting out weeds, says Hughes.
They work well in raised beds or confined areas.
Your Questions, Answered
How long does a garden spade last?
Never put a spade away dirty, Hughes says.
Keeping the blade sharpened can also extend the spades life.
Look for spades made of steel, hardwood, and fiberglass and use the tool for its intended purpose.
Using a small border spade to regularly scoop loads of heavy rocka job for a shovelcan shorten its lifespan.
How much does a good garden spade cost?
That said, consider how much wear and tear the spade will get.
Do I need a garden spade or a shovel?
Spades and shovels are both gardening essentials, but they have slightly different purposes.
A shovel has a more rounded blade, while a spade has a rectangular blade that is flat.
She also interviewed horticulturistMegan Hughesfrom Hughes Nursery and Landscaping.
