Shovels & Spades with Short Handles
Shovels and spades are common garden tools that are used for digging, as well as general groundwork.
Short-handle shovels and spades are easily stored away and transported in the boot of car for metal detecting or camping outings. They are generally really useful for smaller tasks around the gardenand they have several different types and uses.
- Square-point shovels - These are most commonly used for digging, as they are better at penetrating heavy-duty and hard-packed soils. Square-point shovels allow you to execute greater force into the soil. They can also be used for other tasks associated with hand shovels, such as lawn edging, planting small bushes, cutting sod or small roots, trenching and dividing perennials. Square-point shovels are available in aluminium or steel, and can be found with handles composed of wood, metal or composite like carbon fibre
- Round-point shovels - Predominantly used for digging. Ideal for digging softer ground that isn’t hard-packed. It is characterised and identified by its round, pointed tip that can easily penetrate soils, sand, clay and other composites
- Scoop shovels - Scoop shovels have a wide-flared, broad scoop with square tips. These shovels are not traditionally used for digging as they are not very good at it. Instead they are designed and used for moving loose gardening materials such as snow, coal, stones, grain or loose sand
- Soil scoops and trowels - These are used for tasks that do not require a full size shovel, such as digging a small hole to plant seedlings. Soil scoops can be used when only a small amount of soil is needed for planting in small plant pots.
You should always make sure that you have the right equipment to hand when undertaking any gardening tasks. Not only will this make the task easier for you, it may also reduce strain on your back.