Its long, pointed shape and curved tip allow this tool to dig deeper than most, but the shape does limit the blade’s surface area for moving soil. Sharp serrated edges on both sides of the blade give this spade great sawing capabilities, though the atypical, pointed blade limits scooping potential. Overall, it’s designed to cut, dig, and pull roots out all at once so gardening tasks are completed faster. If you have a green thumb, one of the most useful tools you will need in your shed is a garden spade. Spades are useful for digging because they have a wide, flat blade. This makes it easy to move and turn soil. While digging spades are the most common kind of garden spade, there are also other types of spades available. The blade of the Great Dixter planting spade is forged and sharpened on both sides and is formed into a point making it very easy to drive into the ground. The Great Dixter planting spade has a V-shape in the length of the blade, making it more suited to digging holes and scooping up material compared to the regular perennial spade. The short size of the planting spade, measuring 57cm overall, makes it the perfect tool to work with precision in a kneeled position. The planting spade, a smaller version of the Sneeboer pointed spade, is equally suited to dividing shrubs, lifting bulbs, digging planting holes and working in areas where a full size spade would be too cumbersome. The Great Dixter planting spade is fitted with a 42cm ash T-handle.

Spade shafts can be made from a variety of materials like wood, plastic, fiberglass and metal. Wood is a popular option because it is sturdy and absorbs vibrations. However, it can sometimes splinter. Plastic and fiberglass are both lightweight, but they may snap under a lot of weight. Metal is a strong option, but it absorbs heat and can be uncomfortable to use. As passionate gardeners ourselves here at Creeper & Knotweed we are more than especially delighted to bring you the most comprehensive range of these fabulous Sneeboer tools, featuring FSC certified Ash and/or Cherry wood handles. Choose from our large range of Sneeboer hand tools, dig into our range of Sneeboer Spades & Forks and savour our Sneeboer hoes, cultivators, edgers and bulb planters… The best books I’ve read in the past year include Wild Flowers by Sarah Raven. I have about 20 books about wildflowers, but I’m not a botanist and most of them are either intimidating or incomprehensible. Sarah’s book is fabulous. I’m writing my own book about wildflowers at the moment so I re-read it. Then there’s Four Fields by Tim Dee, where he takes four fields in different countries and writes beautifully about them. The other is The Peregrine by JA Baker, a masterpiece of natural history writing. I would recommend that to anybody who loves the English language, let alone birds of prey. 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. “Spades with a foot pad on the top of the blade make it easier to dig in hard, compacted soil,” Hughes says. E. P. Barrus has a trade mark licence agreement with Wilkinson Sword Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Energizer Holdings Inc) to sell and market the Wilkinson Sword range of garden tools in the UK and Eire.With liberal step flanges on both sides of the serrated blade, this spade is efficient for dividing and transplanting perennials, cutting roots, or trenching. For extensive digging projects, however, this probably isn’t the best option. This spade features a high-carbon, heat-treated steel blade that tapers to a pointed, beveled cutting edge to slice through dirt and roots with ease. For extra secure footing and comfort during prolonged use, you can attach the included rubber foot pad to the extra-wide turned step on either side of the blade. You and the garden will simply love these Sneeboer tools, classic ‘Buy Less – Buy Better products’. This mid-handled perennial spade is simply perfect for the task of splitting perennial plants. The pointed tip slices easily through roots to divide into new plants, with minimal disturbance to the rest of the roots and plant. It’s also really handy for digging while kneeling, offering great grip and enhanced digging power if you like to get up close to your plants. And it’s perfect to use with raised beds, extending your reach to avoid working at an awkward height. These good-looking and exceptionally hardworking tools have been designed to make light work of digging and cultivating, and are manufactured to last for years. Burgon & Ball garden spades and forks are endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, one of the world’s foremost horticultural organisations and the UK's leading gardening charity. We are confident of the quality of our tools: each RHS-endorsed tool comes with a lifetime guarantee against manufacturing defects.

This weighty spade may be a little heavy for some users and rivets on the steel strap can catch on hands or garden gloves. I’m hopeful that the filming for a new series on European gardens which was shelved by the pandemic will still happen. I’ve got a couple of books being published this autumn – one about the wildlife in my garden and at the farm, the other about American gardens – and another one next year, as well as a memoir to write. I’m signed up to do two more years of Gardeners’ World after this one, plus I’ve got projects on the farm. So there’s a lot to do. We are especially pleased to be an official UK dealer for Sneeboer, one of the few remaining quality craftsman made tool makers that have been applying their trade for over 100 years.

I use my spade exclusively for digging holes and rooting out weeds,” says Hughes. “I always choose spades with a round point blade because I find a round blade sinks into the ground much easier than a flat-tipped blade.” Most important when choosing a garden spade, it must be well-made,” Hughes says. “I rely on my spade to do a lot of the tough work around my garden, so it must be well-made, preferably with a white oak handle and a forged, heavy metal blade.” Riveted securely in place, the strap strengthens stress points on the shaft to extend the life of the spade, but the rivets can catch on hands or garden gloves. The steel strap may also make this spade too heavy for some users, however, so keep that in mind.

Rigorously tested, our spades and forks outperform British Standard load tests by more than 50%. This is the weight a tool can hold without permanent deformation: our digging spade can take a load of over 100kg. Look for a spade with steel blades. Stainless steel and boron steel are strong, long-lasting, and rust-resistant. Carbon steel blades are super-durable and a little lighter weight but can be susceptible to moisture and rusting if not maintained properly.This well-balanced hybrid garden spade sports convenient no-slip grip sections on the reinforced fiberglass shaft. Air-cut holes lighten the ergonomic handle, which has two separate no-slip grip areas to accommodate different working techniques and minimize strain on hands and wrists. The large handle, however, may not be comfortable for smaller hands even when wearing garden gloves, and with various joints and grip sections this spade may be challenging to clean. Proudly owned and cherished by garden lovers, appreciated by those who seek quality and craftsmanship, revered by the most discerning gardeners all over the world, it’s little wonder then that Sneeboer have become synonymous with the best quality tools for gardeners.