In this blog we’re going to give you some idea of what to look out for when buying a shovel. Some people confuse them with spades. There is an easy way to remember-

• Spades cut through the soil and are primarily used for digging.

• Shovels move soil and other garden material around.

Here are some things you should look out for when buying a shovel.

Blade Size

The size of the blade (or scoop) will define the amount of material you can move in one go. To be honest, it depends on how strong you are. I would be wary of shovels with overly large blades because they can be unwieldy and off balanced. Also if you regularly lift more than you can handle you will hurt your back, guaranteed. And that’s no fun, take it from me.

Balance

A well balanced shovel is really important because it makes lifting easier. If your shovel is off balance you’ll spend all your time and energy trying to compensate for it. 

Shaft Length

Normally shovels have a shaft length of about 680mm but there are some that are larger, nearer 1000mm.  The longer shafts are so that you don’t have to strain your back bending over and there is more leverage, however it does put more pressure on your lower back. Most gardeners tend towards the shorter one to preserve their backs.

Best Spades

Here is Gardenwilds top 5 best spade.

No. 5 |

This shovel, with its plastic shaft and handle, is the lightweight option. That doesn’t make it any less of a shovel!. This shovel is perfect for moving soil and gravel around and without the extra pound it’s really easy and fast. “Light-work” you could say.

You wouldn’t however use this shovel for digging or levering because it will snap!

For these reasons this is No. 5 on Gardenwilds best shovel for gardening.

No. 4 |

The tapered edge on this Spear & Jackson cuts in more like a spade. This makes this a good shovel for working with materials like gravel or slate. it’s not as robust as the Bulldog but still a very durable shovel.

It’s 2.5kg in weight, which is a bit on the heavy side, however it is really nicely balanced. It is clearly designed with cutting through material in mind.

For these reasons this is No. 4 on Gardenwilds best shovels for gardening.

No. 3 |

This shovel is the best value for money out of any mentioned in this blog. It has a 980mm long shaft so it’s one of the longer ones. However because of the wooden handle it’s only 1.5kg in weight, as you can imagine this makes a big difference when lifting.

If you’re looking to dig with it, think again. This shovel is strictly for moving and mixing.

For these reasons this is No. 3 on Gardenwilds best shovels for gardening.

No. 2 |

This is another relatively light weight model from Draper. It’s a good shove for moving gravel, soil or sand. It isn't as robust as the solid steel models but what it lacks in metal it makes up for with how easy it is to work with.

I wouldn’t use it for levering or digging because you will really struggle.

For these reasons this is No. 2 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.

No. 1 |

Here’s our number 1! This shovel is ridiculously hard wearing. We’ve been using it to lever out fence posts, bounce it off boulders in borders and move tons and tons of gravel and soil. There is no sign of it giving in at all. It’s solid steel so it can take a hammering and keep going no problem.

This shovel is 2.5kg so it’s pretty heavy duty and not really recommended for someone without a strong back. However if you get this one you’ll have a tool that will last you at least 10 years if not more.

For these reasons this is No. 1 on Gardenwilds best spades for gardening.