Choosing the Correct Shovel

Whether you call it a spade, a trowel, a scraper, or a scoop, a wide variety of shovels and related gardening tools exist. Choosing the correct shovel for your need will help your project go smoother and quicker. 

While you could accomplish most any job with one of the two basic shovel types – a sharp bladed shovel or a flat bladed shovel – a different blade style might simplify your work. Here are a few differences.

Digging Shovel
When selecting a shovel for digging, make sure the handle comes straight up and is not offset from the blade. This style will provide the needed leverage when prying up or digging materials. Most digging shovels have a pointed tip blade to help with cutting into the soil.

Trenching Shovel
These long and narrow-bladed, pointed tip shovels are usually no wider than 4-6 inches. They are designed to make narrow trenches and are often used when laying irrigation pipes. Some versions have box sides to help remove the material that is being excavated without disrupting the trench.

Drain Spades
Drain spades vary slightly in shape from the trenching shovel. The drain spade usually has a rounded tip and curved edges and is used for transplanting or clearing out debris from trenches. They are often referred to as transplanting spades.

Scoop Shovels
Designed to move material that is already dug out, a scoop shovel is commonly used for moving or spreading mulch, compost, snow, grain, gravel, or similar materials. Lightweight and heavier options are available depending on the materials you are attempting to move.

In selecting a specific shovel, you must choose from sharp or flat blades, different handles made of wood or fiberglass, and even the weight of the tool itself.

Generally, handle options consist of a regular length straight handle or a shorter length D-shaped handle. Handle material varies from wood to fiberglass to even aluminum or steel. Each material has its own set of pros and cons. Today, most shovel blades are made of steel. Some scoops and trowels are made of plastic or polyurethane, which made become brittle over time. In selecting the proper tool, you should look for one that will be durable and of an appropriate weight. If you are a professional, using a heavier shovel every day will be easy. Occasional users, however, might want a lighter weight version. Decide what is right for you, your project, and your long-term needs and get to digging.