Gardening Spades and Shovels.

On this page you will find Questions and Answers about spades and shovels. Also there is Care, Glossary, Specific Makes and Where to get you spades online

Questions On Spades and Shovels 

What is the main criteria in purchasing a new spade?

What size spade do I need for general usage?

I need a spade just for the borders what size do I want?

My back always hurts after digging, why?

If you have question you want answering on Spades then email me gardening@blueyonder.co.uk

Glossary

Carbon Steel.

Carbon steel or tool steel is used to produce the majority of spades on the market. As the hardness of the steel is obtained by heat treatment, it is advisable, not  to subject your spade to high heat sources. Fires etc.
Carbon steel will rust and also allow heavier soils to stick when wet.

Stainless Steel

Invented in Sheffield England it is a combination of differing metals. The combination is such that is offers strength with a rust free surface. The mirrored surface is such that heavy soils are less likely to become stuck.

Care and Maintenance

Clean the blade after use, a wipe down with an oily cloth will reduce the amount of rust on carbon steel blades. Never use a spade or shovel for other purposes other than that is was designed for.

General Use 

The length required is 25cm approx for a general use spade. The width is dependant upon the task to be undertaken but normally around 18cm.

A a really narrow width is generally called a trenching spade about 10cm. You will see these more often being used at road works for digging out trenches.

If you are well used to turning soil over and do not have heavy clay soil then a larger blade of 25cm x 20cm maybe to your liking.

Border Spade

This is much shorter and narrower blade than the general purpose spade. Typically around 23cm x 13 cm

Specific Makes

Bulldog, Draper, Spear & Jackson,

 spade  listed on this website

	Faithfull Digging Spade - F'Glass Shaft FAITHFULL DIGGING SPADE FIBREGLASS SHAFT Designed and manufactured to ensure ease of use with maximum efficiency, whilst satisfying the increasing demands of both professional and home gardeners. ... 11.21 GBP				Fai/full s/steel border spade - ash shaft yd Faithfull s/steel border spade 19.89 GBP
	Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Border Spade Promotion This top-of-the-range border spade is made from non-stick polished stainless steel which means efficient digging even in heavy soils. The beech woood shaft and polypropylene handle molded for maximum comformt means you'll get less blisters too... 24.99 GBP		Draper Stainless Steel Garden Spade Plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic "Y-dee" handle with soft hand grip. 26.95 GBP		Wilkinson Sword Stainless Steel Border Spade 224524 WSWORD SSTEEL BORDER SPADE... 26.09 GBP
	Draper S.S.Digging Spade Wood Handle STAINLESS STEEL GARDEN SPADE WITH WOODEN HANDLE Sanded and lacquered ash shaft with Ydee handle. Blade and socket fully hardened, tempered and mirror polished. Sold loose. ... 24.95 GBP		Spear & Jackson Neverbend Treaded Digging Spade 28 Supergrip Handle Mention craftmanship and one immediately thinks of tradition and history. At the same time, performance is associated with modern innovation. Neverbend is the first garden tool range to successfully... 23.79 GBP		S&J Neverbend Border Spade Ultra strong carbon steel heads and tines heat treated and tempered for strength. Weatherproofed ash shaft. 10 year guarantee. 13.99 GBP
	Bulldog 5600 Premier Wood Digging Spade BULLDOG 5600 PREMIER WOOD DIGGING SPADE A Digging Spade designed for the professional landscaper, contractor and gardener. The solid forged blade is made from a single piece of carbon steel for... 30.55 GBP		Bulldog 7102 Evergreen Border Spade BULLDOG BORDER SPADE The Evergreen range of garden tools are manufactured to the highest standards, offering a 10 year guarantee against faulty workmanship and materials. A solid forged border... 22.48 GBP		Wilkinson Sword Shock Absorber Border Spade 601594W WSWORD SHOCK ABSORBER BORDER SPADE 601594W A beech wood shaft border spade with a carbon steel head and extra wide foot tread for comfort. Plastic handle. 10 year... 17.39 GBP
	Draper Carbon Steel Border Spade CARBON STEEL BORDER SPADE Epoxy coated carbon steel, fully hardened and tempered with plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic Ydee handle. Sold loose. ... 10.12 GBP		Spear & Jackson Proactive Treaded Border Spade 28 Shock Absorbing Technology has improved almost every aspect of life. Now thanks to the Spear Jackson ProActive range, gardening has also been made much easier. Innovations like shock absorbing handles for spades... 25.49 GBP		Spear & Jackson Neverbend Treaded Irish Spade 32 T Handle Mention craftmanship and one immediately thinks of tradition and history. At the same time, performance is associated with modern innovation. Neverbend is the first garden tool range to successfully... 32.29 GBP
	Bulldog 7101 Evergreen Digging Spade BULLDOG EVERGREEN DIGGING SPADE The Evergreen range of garden tools are manufactured to the highest standards, offering a 10 year guarantee against faulty workmanship and materials. A solid forged... 25.9 GBP		Faithfull Border Spade Pyd Grip FAITHFULL BORDER SPADE Good quality carbon steel Border Spade with solid socket ash handle fitted with a plastic PYD grip. Designed for hard usage. The Head is finished in black. Size. 9 x 5... 17.01 GBP		S&J Neverbend Digging Spade Ultra strong carbon steel heads and tines heat treated and tempered for strength. Weatherproofed ash shaft. 10 year guarantee. 13.99 GBP
	Goldlyne 9152 Clay Spade Curved 19In GOLDLYNE CLAY SPADE CURVED 19IN A range from Goldlyne of steels, chisels and points for hammers and breakers. These are of high quality to meet the rigorous demands of the work expected from these... 29.84 GBP		Faithfull Digging Spade FAITHFULL DIGGING SPADE Economy range carbon steel construction digging spade with wooden shaft and plastic D grip handle. An ideal general purpose digging spade. Size. 260 x... 9.56 GBP		Draper Carbon Digging Spade Ext.Long EXTRA LONG CARBON STEEL GARDEN SPADE Epoxy coated carbon steel, fully hardened and tempered with plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic Ydee handle. The 1050mm extra long socket is especially... 13.18 GBP
	Spear & Jackson Neverbend Stainless Steel Border Spade 28 Supergrip Handle Function and form. Thats what great design is all about. Which is exactly what youll find with our Neverbend Stainless Steel range. The ergonomic design and eyecatching mirror polished heads make... 28.89 GBP		Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Spade 28 MYD Handle A professional gardener never blames his tools. Thats because the best use Spear Jackson Professional a super tough range of garden tools designed to meet the most demanding standards. With solid... 30.6 GBP		Draper Carbon Steel Border Spade Epoxy coated carbon steel fully hardened and tempered.. 10.79 GBP
	Draper Stainless Steel Garden Fork & Spade 53.92 GBP		Goldlyne 9113 Clay Spade Curved 20In GOLDLYNE CLAY SPADE CURVED 20IN A range from Goldlyne of steels, chisels and points for hammers and breakers. These are of high quality to meet the rigorous demands of the work expected from these... 29.2 GBP		Spear & Jackson Heritage Digging Spade 28 Wishbone Handle Meeting the needs of the most discerning customer is where Spear Jacksons proud 250year history clearly comes to the fore. The design of our heritage range is inspired by the tools of yesteryear,... 25.49 GBP
	Spear & Jackson Heritage Border Spade 28 Wishbone Handle Meeting the needs of the most discerning customer is where Spear Jacksons proud 250year history clearly comes to the fore. The design of our heritage range is inspired by the tools of yesteryear,... 25.49 GBP		Spear & Jackson Neverbend Treaded Border Spade 28 Supergrip Handle Mention craftmanship and one immediately thinks of tradition and history. At the same time, performance is associated with modern innovation. Neverbend is the first garden tool range to successfully... 23.79 GBP		Bosch Steel Sds Plus Spade Chisel 15.2 GBP
	Bulldog 8102 All Season Border Spade BULLDOG 8102 ALL SEASON BORDER... 20.12 GBP		Bulldog 7102 evergreen border spade Bulldog border spade 15.35 GBP		Draper Carbon Steel Digging Spade CARBON STEEL GARDEN SPADE Epoxy coated carbon steel, fully hardened and tempered with plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic Ydee handle. Sold loose. ... 9.99 GBP
	Bulldog 5609 Premier Wood Border Spade Yd PREMIER BORDER SPADE YD... 37.61 GBP		Bosch Sds-Max Digging Spade 50.42 GBP		Spear & Jackson Neverbend Treaded Digging Spade 32 Supergrip Handle Mention craftmanship and one immediately thinks of tradition and history. At the same time, performance is associated with modern innovation. Neverbend is the first garden tool range to successfully... 23.79 GBP
	Draper Stainless Steel Digging Spade STAINLESS STEEL GARDEN SPADE Plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic Ydee handle with soft hand grip. Blade and socket fully hardened, tempered and mirror polished. Sold loose. ... 24.95 GBP		Spear & Jackson Traditional Border Spade 28 Wishbone Handle Introducing garden tools for the style conscious. By combining old and new materials with traditional and modern technologies, the newly launched SJ traditional range is a garden tool range that... 27.2 GBP		Draper Stainless Steel Border Spade Plastic coated steel cored shaft and plastic "Y-dee" handle with soft hand grip. 26.95 GBP
	Fai/full border spade pyd grip Faithfull border spade 17.1 GBP		Fai/full digging spade pyd grip Faithfull digging spade 18.0 GBP		Draper Carbon Steel Garden Spade Epoxy coated carbon steel fully hardened and tempered.. 11.69 GBP