Bulldog have a good reputation for creating heavy-duty tools straight from their forge in Wigan. Their Evergreen Digging Spade is a durable tool with several design features that help make it particularly strong. One further note on handles, which is less about the material and more about the shape; make sure that the handle’s D-grip is wide enough for your hands. Some spades have wider handles than others, and if you have to squish your hands into too small a grip, it’s going to be uncomfortable. Garden spades typically have a long, straight handle made of wood or metal, and a flat, rectangular blade made of steel. The blade is usually about 6-8 inches wide and 12-16 inches long, and is designed to be sharp enough to cut through soil and roots. The blade may also be slightly curved to help with digging and scooping. One thing I will say though, is that the D-shaped handle was a little small for my liking and people with larger than normal hands might find it uncomfortable to use. Conversely, it would be great for gardeners with smaller mitts.

The shaft of the Elements garden spade is made out of ash wood, which has been coated with a clear lacquer to make it resistant to the elements. It not only gives this spade a beautiful, traditional look, but also ensures that this is a very durable tool. There are a few construction features to look out for which are a mark of higher quality spades. These spades are likely to be longer lasting or easier to use:This digging spade measures 102cm long and weighs 2.18kg. A big reason the weight is on the lower side for garden spades is that the shaft and handle are made out of polypropylene, a very hard wearing and strong plastic, which is lighter than both steel and wood. Weight it worth buying special attention to because it can be especially hard to bear in mind when shopping online. The mirror polished stainless steel blade measures 23cm long and just 14.5cm wide, the narrow blade making it perfect for its designed purpose. The shafts of gardening spades can be made from various materials. The most common materials are wood, polypropylene, fibreglass and aluminium. So, there you have it, our top tips for finding that top garden spade that will have you digging away for many years to come.

The Fiskars Gardener’s pointed spade is the perfect tool for breaking tough ground thanks to the unique blade shape. I used this to dig out some medium sized roots and it really did make the task much easier than I expected. Wilkinson Sword are confident in the build quality of their products and this garden spade comes with a 10 year guarantee. While the quality didn’t jump out at me as vastly superior to any other of our reviewed garden spades, it certainly wasn’t inferior in any way, and I would be happy to have it sitting in my tool shed.This Wilkinson Sword Digging Spade isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, even though the traditional wooden handle does make it a visually-appealing addition to the shed.

Stainless steel is rust resistant. It contains chromium which doesn’t oxidise. This layer of chromium in stainless steel is therefore what keeps it from rusting or corroding. Spades with a stainless steel blade are unlikely to need any maintenance at all. It is also much lighter, weighing in at just over a kilo, so it’s a great tool for getting your kids to help you around the garden and away from their mobile phones or tablets for 30 minutes. At only a kilogram, they have no excuses not to give you a hand. The overall look of this garden spade is quite eye catching, with a modern colour scheme, curved shaft, and large round handle contrasting nicely with the shiny, mirror polished, stainless steel head. The overall length of the Elements garden spade is the same as its stainless steel sibling at around 102cm, so it is shorter than the Fiskars model we just reviewed and may suit shorter people better.Certain handles have been designed to be more ergonomic than others. This can help with comfort; however, be careful if the handle is overly moulded – whilst this might look comfortable, if the moulding doesn’t line up well with your hands it could be anything but. Stainless steel brings with it the benefits of being resistant to corrosion and rust, and also reducing soil adhesion, as well as giving the garden spade a striking overall appearance.

One thing that isn’t small or compact is the tread on top of the blade. This is actually comparatively large and makes using your foot for extra leverage or power much easier. This particular model is without a doubt one of the best out there in its price range, currently on sale for under 30 pounds, offering great quality and some innovative ideas. The blade is sharp and slices into the ground with ease and the reduced weight of the tool had me digging at a faster pace for longer than usual, although I did have to stoop down a little more due to the reduced length. Regardless of the handle material you go for, you should wear gardening gloves to avoid blisters. Features That Indicate QualityGarden spades come in a variety of sizes and styles, depending on the specific needs of the gardener. Some spades are designed for general digging and planting, while others are specialised for tasks such as edging, trenching, or transplanting. Some spades also have features such as serrated edges or pointed tips to make them more versatile and effective. On the other hand, shorter folks would benefit from a more compact tool like the Kent & Stowe stainless steel garden spade. Weight The main materials used for garden spade shafts are wood (commonly ash wood, although hardwood is used sometimes too), steel, and plastic (usually polypropylene). Plastic shafts can be very strong too but only if they are good quality polypropylene, and they are usually lighter than the other materials. Plastic won’t rust but will degrade over time though. Blade/head material With a head made from carbon steel, instead of the standard stainless-steel construction, this Kent and Stowe Digging Spade is a particularly strong tool to use in the garden.