Best of the Best

The shovel is the workhorse in the garden. While most people think the words shovel and spade are interchangeable, there is a difference. Spades are typically short handled with a square blade. They are meant for edging and dividing plants. The traditional garden shovel is an all-purpose, long or short-handled tool with a pointy-tipped blade that’s meant for digging holes and moving soil and materials.

When buying a garden shovel consider the usage. Long handled shovels have good leverage. They are best for digging large holes for trees and shrubs or throwing piles of topsoil or sand long distances. Short handled shovels, usually with a D-shaped grip, are best for working in tight places, digging smaller holes and moving soil short distances.

Handles are a matter of personal preference. Most wooden shovels are made from a hardwood such as northern ash. If cared for properly, they can last for years. Newer designs use stronger fiberglass handles that are less likely to snap under pressure.

Most professional-grade shovels have a solid shank construction. Solid-shank tools have both blade and socket forged from a single piece of metal with a crimped piece of metal wrapped around the handle. The solid-shank construction is stronger at precisely the point where the greatest forces are exerted on the tool - the fulcrum. They also prevent soil from building up behind the blade. Many of these shovels are more expensive but pack a lifetime warranty.

Most consumer-grade shovels have either closed or open back construction. Open back shovels are usually stamped from a metal sheet that's rolled over to create a depression called a frog. Though less durable than the solid-shank tools, open-back construction produces a lighter, less fatiguing and less expensive tool. Closed back shovels are similar to open backed version but have a piece of metal on the back for extra strength and to prevent soil buildup.

Finally, there are ergonomically designed shovels that exert less pressure on your back when digging. These long handled tools also come with comfort grips for easier holding, an oversized step for easier pushing of the shovel into the soil and are lighter weight.

The bottom line is if you’re doing a lot of digging in heavy soil, moving stones and cutting roots, get a long-handled, solid shank tool. If you’re working mostly in tight quarters, choose a short handled shovel. For general, all-purpose use digging the occasional hole, moving small piles of soil and sod and forming garden beds, choose an open or closed back tool.