Ask any gardener around the world, and he or she will tell you how VERY MUCH they depend on the humble old best garden spades. They are super essential, as these handy tools can help make effortless, light work of digging, edging, and cultivating your precious garden, keeping them in ideal form for the plants to grow. Clearly, whether you’re a gardening newbie or full-on expert, having the right garden spade is vital.
Again, it matters having the best garden spades. If it is too heavy for your frame or just has the wrong height or blade, it can worsen your garden. It’s key you find the right spade. As recommended by our experts, here is a closer look at 5 of the best garden spades to buy this season – full reviews, pros, cons, etc.
So yeah, let’s not waste time; let’s get into it;
Best Garden Spades – The “Essential” Gardening Tool!
It’s hard to believe how the best garden spades have evolved over time. Today, there is a dedicated spade type for every gardening task. First, there is the common “gardening spade”, which is generally used for digging, edging, cutting & lifting soil. There is also the drain spade that allows you to work in tighter spaces with ease. Finally, there is the roofing spade, which is designed totally exclusive to rip & clean weeds.
In other words, the humble best garden spades can make the perfect impact in almost all facets of gardening with ease.
Being of such importance, it’s important you find the perfect garden spade best for YOUR requirements. Get the right one for the job that needs to be done; you will be able to complete all of them in a flash – with time to spare.
Here are some of OUR favorite best gardening spades to buy this season;
Best Garden Spades Review –5 Spades To Help Upgrade Your Gardening Game
The best garden spades are a dime a dozen. But alas, not all are built alike. Here are some of the best ones to buy in 2022;
#1. Bond LH015
Mini D Handle Shovel
A compact, well-built spade that’s enough for most gardening needs, the Bond LH015 has a standard round point design that digs deep into the soil with minimal effort. Made from heat-treated/hardened steel, the tool feels premium in hand, the handle but is plastic and has powder-coated paint on it, which offers excellent grip while protecting it from the harsh weather and humidity.
The rest is fiberglass, which helps to keep the weight down. An important feat considering the tool has a 27-inch frame.
At just 1.89 pounds, the tool is easy to maneuver. The sharper edges make it easy to cut through all hard terrains. The D shaped handle enables one-handed use, and there’s even a kick plate on the blades for easy digging.
Pros
- Compact design
- Tempered steel and fibre glass construction – very durable yet quite lightweight
- Powder-coated, sleek paint job
- Non-slip handle
- 5-year long warranty
Cons
- The handle is made from plastic
- Too small for some
#2. Fiskars
46 Inch Steel D-handle Transplanting Spade
Transplanting plants, as tough as it is, is an important part of gardening. Thankfully, the “Fiskars” 46-inch spade is built perfectly for it. With a long thin shaft and thinner blade, the spade helps dig around the plant sans, damaging the roots effortlessly.
The D-handle and sharp edges mean it can easily help dig planting holes. Both the blade and the handle enjoy tough steel-based construction, which ensures no flex like fiberglass models. Pair that with the thick paint job, and you know it will last you for decades.
The large D-handle & non-slip paint job means that 2-handed use is possible, even when using gloves. The sharp blades cut through the ground like its butter, and since it comes with a lifetime warranty, longevity is a non-issue.
Pros
- All steel, 46-inch shaft and blade build – tough, non-flexing yet lightweight
- Large D-handle and non-slip shaft for 2-handed use
- Weather and rust-resistant
- 14 gauge sharp blade for easy digging
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- The plastic handles durability is questionable
- Welded blade
#3. Radius Garden
22011 Root Slayer Shovel
Okay, this is more of a shovel than a spade. Still, it’s very worth considering the value for money it offers overall. Armed with a “V” shaped design with serrated edges, this shovel can pretty effortlessly dig deep into the ground with minimal pressure. Coupling that with the wider footplate and there is very little stress for your back and arms. The powder-coated design helps massively with weather resistance.
The serrated edges further mean that it can work as an excellent transplanting tool. The very sharp blade cuts through roots without damaging them. In fact, the V focus design helps to make very precise cuts, averting plant damage.
Pros
- Super sharp, serrated blade for easy digging
- All metal construction & powder-coated paint job for far superior longevity
- Wider footplate for easy digging
- V-shaped blade for precise, non-root damaging cutting
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- All might not like the rounded handle
- Warranty valid in the US only
#4. Spear Head Spade
Reinforced Fiberglass Gardening Shovel
The fourth entry in our best garden spades review, we got the SHDF3 spade by spearhead – a hybrid spade/shovel combo built for experts and newbies alike. Available in a mighty gorgeous lavender/black shade, the tool has a complete fiberglass build, which cuts down on weight and helps dig easier – thanks to the integrated footplate.
The handle is a D-type on with padding on the inside. The “V” shaped blade is razor-sharp, and we observed that it has the perfect width to divide soil & replanting easily.
Despite the carbon fiber construction, there’s absolutely no flex whatsoever. We even tried it on the packed ground areas & it performed really well. Finally, the tool is available in a bunch of very exciting colors, if you want that.
Pros
- Hybrid shovel cum spade design
- Fully carbon fiber made body – very lightweight yet 60% stronger than competing spades
- Padded D-handle for easy, far less stressful digging
- Great color options
- Wider footplate for easy digging
Cons
- More of a shovel than a reliable spade
- Quite expensive
#5. Spear & Jackson
4454BS Traditional English Spade
When it comes to gardening, the English really knows their stuff – the Spear & Jackson 445454 best gardening spades are clear proof of that. Boasting the traditional “squire” shaped blade, performance is the highlight here.
The one-piece hardwood shaft, which is weatherproof BTW, comes with a D-style handle. It’s comfortable to hold, even with gloves and at first glance, seems top-notch & sturdy enough for long use.
The blade has a mirror-polish that offers very minimal dirt adhesion, and thanks to the sharper edge and footplates, the tool can make quick work of any and all gardening duties like cultivating, digging, edging, etc.
Pros
- English, retro-inspired wooden steel design
- Mirror finish, squire type blade offers fast digging with minimal effort and cleaning needs
- Larger D-style handle for excellent control and precision
- Excellent brand value
- Class-leading 10-year guarantee
Cons
- The wooden design inspires less confidence in the long run
- Very Pricey
Yes, spades are simple tools. But hey, that doesn’t mean they’re any easy to pick and choose. To find the right one, here’s a tiny guide;
1) Ergonomics & Comfort
The whole point of spades is to help make digging in your garden as easier as possible. To ensure the same, make sure to go for a slight, ergonomic, and easy-to-use model with a pretty comfortable handle.
To avoid putting a strain on your back, the shaft of the spade should be appropriately long. The blade ought to sharp too for easy digging.
2) Digging Power & Blade Support
While most spades have a pretty standard design, you’ll find that certain blades have an inverted “V” at the end or have a more pointy tip to help with digging & cutting. It’s up to you to pick a blade styling that best suits your needs.
Some come with teeth on them for easier cutting, while others allow swapping the blade themselves.
3) Durability And Easy Maintenance
A typical gardener will use his spade for about 5 years. To ensure YOUR spade will last as much, get a model with either steel or carbon fiber blade as they can last for years under the weather sans problems, and are easy to clean.
If you are getting a spade with a wooden shaft, make sure to keep it clean and dry to avoid rotting or termite attacks better.
While using it is quite forward, picking the right spade is anything but. Here is a quick Q & A on these handy garden tools;
1)Shovels vs Spades – What’s The Difference?
For starters, a shovel is more suited for lifting and shifting soil than other garden uses. It can be used to dig into the ground, but only on softer, looser terrains. Spades, on the other hand, feature signature flat, sharper blades, and is perfect for digging straight into the ground and making edging around gardens.
Spades typically have a “step” on their blade, where you can kick your foot to help the tool break into the soil surface.
2) How To Maintain The Best Garden Spades?
Make sure to clean them after every use. Hose them thoroughly and wipe using a clean, dried rag without fail. Store them in a dry, less-humidity area, preferably hanging atop a wall or standing against it – it’s important for wood spades,
Pro-tip, keep them well-oiled and stick them in a sand bucket. The sand will keep the blade sharp while the oil prevents rust.
3) Okay, But How Long Can I Use Them Before Needing A Replacement?
It depends – If you clean them, store them neatly and maintain them (like oiling the shaft, sharpening the blades, etc.), a spade can easily last 5+ years.
Best Garden Spades Review – The Conclusion
Did you know that the first “ever” spade was made from a large animal’s shoulder bone? We’ve come a long way since then. Even now, the best garden spades are still the best way to cultivate better, edge & weed your garden.
As an avid gardener myself, I had a lot of fun reviewing the above best garden spades. They’re some of the best I’ve ever used. They offer great versatility on the green & have great overall value. Experience-wise, you can’t go wrong with any of them. However, to get the top results, use the built-in best garden spades buying guide to find the RIGHT one for you. Make sure to keep safe near them. They have blades, you know.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. If you’ve any queries, worries, or opinions, please reach out in the comment section
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