Digging with a spade

[greenishfing]

I find the azada is invaluable when planting potatoes. I dig my trench with it and also earth up.

[DannyK]

All initial digging done with a fork due to large flints and compaction.

A tool I have found useful is a drainage spade


It's narrow and very heavy and excellent for chopping through roots and hacking through clay.

I was introduced to it by builders who dug footings for my extension.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-All-...-Tool/p/167425

[greenishfing]

All initial digging done with a fork due to large flints and compaction.

A tool I have found useful is a drainage spade
http://https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wick...-Tool/p/167425

It's narrow and very heavy and excellent for chopping through roots and hacking through clay.

I was introduced to it by builders who dug footings for my extension.

Sorry link doesn't work for me!

[Penellype]

I only use a spade in circumstances where a fork doesn't work, which usually means straightening edges, or occasionally digging out large stones. I find a fork vastly easier for just about everything else.

[Snadger]

I have quite a bit of spade work to do in my garden stripping a thin layer of turf off the surface of newly formed hebaceous perennial beds which were once lawn.
I used to have a crook necked heart shaped turf lifting iron which I foolishly gave away thinking my turfing days were over, hence the need for a sharp spade.

[DannyK]

Oops, one too many http

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-All-...-Tool/p/167425

Sorry, I usually check links!

[Sweet savory]

Since The Don said he dug up parsnips with a spade I have done so too and found it doesn’t damage the roots as a fork can. Also spade used for chopping stems etc for the compost bin - very satisfying

[quanglewangle]

I use a Cornish shovel (actually a spade, and mine is American). The blade is the shape of a playing card spade and it has a long handle. It takes a while to get the knack of using one "economically" as it were - standing upright with the knee as a kind of fulcrum - but now I can turn over our light soil very quickly.

I literally turn the sods over so as to bury the weeds facing downwards, the same way a plough works - don't really bother to weed first (or after)*. Just run a rake over the resulting clean soil and it's good to go.

*except if I spot any of the awful invasive Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)

[Snadger]

I use a Cornish shovel (actually a spade, and mine is American). The blade is the shape of a playing card spade and it has a long handle. It takes a while to get the knack of using one "economically" as it were - standing upright with the knee as a kind of fulcrum - but now I can turn over our light soil very quickly.

I literally turn the sods over so as to bury the weeds facing downwards, the same way a plough works - don't really bother to weed first (or after)*. Just run a rake over the resulting clean soil and it's good to go.

*except if I spot any of the awful invasive Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora)

Strangely, I've just brought mine back to my new plot from where it was hiding on my old plot. I wholeheartedly agree about its ease of use and will get back to using it if need be. Its a lot easier on the back