The blade of the spade, also referred to as the head, tend to be made of either stainless steel or carbon steel. So, what’s the difference? There are a few construction features to look out for which are a mark of higher quality spades. These spades are likely to be longer lasting or easier to use:

The company provides you with a 10-year guarantee, so if you notice any defects in the unit, all you need to do is call up their customer service and get it sorted out!

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It’s quite simple really, if you are 6ft tall or above, you should be looking for a spade that is at least 100cm or more. Fiskars pointed spade that we reviewed above would be a good choice. Spades on the other hand have a flatter and sharper blade that makes them perfect for digging straight down into the ground and digging edges around your lawn. Spades usually have a larger ‘step’ on top of the blade so that you can use your foot to help break the surface you are digging into.

The overall length of the Elements garden spade is the same as its stainless steel sibling at around 102cm, so it is shorter than the Fiskars model we just reviewed and may suit shorter people better. Plastic shafts can be very strong too but only if they are good quality polypropylene, and they are usually lighter than the other materials. Plastic won’t rust but will degrade over time though. Blade/head materialWhy not? No matter what your garden spade is made of, it’s likely to be one of your most reliable and most versatile gardening solutions you have available. Most seasoned gardeners will tell you that a spade is a gardening tool that comes in handy for more garden tasks and jobs than most. Are there any other garden tools out there which are quite as iconic as the good old garden spade? Garden spades have many different purposes and will likely be one of the tools you’ll break out of the shed more often than any other. The best garden spade options have plenty of scope, are easy to use, and can really dig down deep. There are several small features that help boost the quality of the spade further, including the tread on the top of the head, and the extra bolts on the shaft and under the handle to make it stronger. There’s also a ‘dent’ whittled into the handle that will stop it from coming loose and twisting over time. Garden forks are great for lifting, loosening and turning over soil, as well as digging up plants and weeds. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or you’ve just discovered your green fingers, we have something for everyone with a range of sizes and styles, from traditional to professional and industrial quality forks.

If you suffer from poor had grip or arthritis, a thin metal handle may not be for you, and you may prefer a larger rubber overmould handle. Edge: The pointed blade is solid forged, sharp and strong enough to cut through garden roots. You can work for long hours with this spade because it is a good length and has strong footplates (treads), so you won’t get as many aches or pains. With the ergonomic handle, too, you can forget the pains of gardening.This carbon steel garden spade has a Suregrip handle that is engineered with a forward tilt. From research, this tilt has been found to be the ideal digging angle, so you will be less likely to experience pains in your wrists and hands.

That said, there are always going to be a few things you should consider and shop around for when looking for the best garden spades online. Shopping for garden spades is much like shopping for garden forks in a lot of ways – especially in the sense that they both do a lot of the same work! Therefore, let’s dig deep – pun intended – and consider what you’re going to need to compare between when looking for the best steel spade to really do the business. After all, your needs are going to differ to other people’s – beyond the fact that you’re going to need a spade that’s easy to use! Types of SpadeIn fact, this is a relatively petite spade overall, not just in terms of the handle but also in terms of length as it measures 96 cm long in total. If you’re digging below ground level, footplates can be a hindrance. However, their benefits greatly outweigh the costs. Style and Material When using a garden spade, it is important to use proper technique to avoid injury and to get the best results. This may include using your body weight to help push the spade into the soil and using your legs to lift and move the soil.. Bulldog have a good reputation for creating heavy-duty tools straight from their forge in Wigan. Their Evergreen Digging Spade is a durable tool with several design features that help make it particularly strong. This spade isn’t a budget item, but fits neatly into the ‘mid-range’ price category, bringing the quality you would expect as a result.