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Get A Handle On The Right Shovel

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

As blazing summer segues into fall, some parts of the country head back outside to plant.

It's time to buy a shovel.

There's no one perfect shovel. The blade and handle style you choose will depend on the task, your body, your strength and your taste. Some shopping tips:

1. Digging: For tree planting and other hole-digging, look for a round-point shovel with a shield-shaped dished blade about 9 inches wide. A long handle, up to 48 inches, can reach down into a big hole and provide leverage. But a shorter handle with a D-shaped grip may be easier to lift with and provide more control when tossing the dirt. It also fits shorter people better.

2. Edging: To make a crisp edge on turf, look for a garden or border spade, which has a rectangular, relatively flat blade with a straight bottom edge. It's useful for dividing tough-rooted perennials. For edging, a D-handle style gives the best control.

3. Transplanting: To avoid damaging too many roots when digging among established perennials, use a narrow shovel. Many gardeners use a transplant spade or drain spade - a D-handled shovel with a narrow, round-tipped blade that is 14 or 16 inches long. A floral shovel is like a round-point shovel with a blade about 6 inches wide.

4. Scooping: For digging compost or mulch, use your round-point shovel or a garden fork. But for scraping it up from a sidewalk or driveway, try a wide, deep scoop with a straight edge.

5. Shopping: For a good-quality shovel that will last a lifetime, expect to pay $20 to $25. Look for a heavy tempered-steel blade with a long socket where the handle fits in. Ash wood handles are strong and flexible but heavy; fiberglass is lighter, but more expensive and rigid. Both kinds can splinter. Look for a wide step at the top of the blade for better footing when you push the shovel into the dirt. All shovels last longer if you wash them off after each use and are easier to use if you keep them sharp with a file.

Chicago Tribune.

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