spades

[lesleygl]

Has anyone heard of the american spade or a name something like that. My brother in law suggested to me to buy one as I find using a normal spade very difficult. I normally use a fork. He says it is sort of heart shaped - anyone?!

[Paulottie]

Yes.I have seen those shaped spades...bit like the ones on a deck of cards.....they normally have long rake like handles rather than the D type.

Don't know where to find one for sale!

[Jeanied]

Lesleygl - what kind of problem are you getting? Some people find it difficult to use regular spades because of the handle length. I hate using a spade because it chops the worms up. However when I get desperate to get through the digging I use an azada. If you look at these people they have a range of tools - you have to scroll down to get to the spades.
Get Digging - Tools for the Allotment and Garden

[geoff]

American style spades usually have a pointed blade and a long, plain handle; just watch a couple of cowboy or war films and you're bound to see one!. They are meant for serious digging, so as well as being strong they tend to be rather heavy. Homebase sometimes have them in their building section, not gardening; or try various ironmongers and builders merchants
I have a normal length spade and one with a D handle but a longer shaft, designed for tall people
If you find a spade awkward to use shop around garden centres and so on, and play around to try various types and weights; or perhaps you just need a border spade or fork

[Alison]

Don't know anything about them but if you get on well with a fork then carry on using that. I tend to do most of my digging with a spade whereas OH prefers a fork. Both work well and are right for us individually.

[Two_Sheds]

You don't say why a normal spade is difficult, but I use a smaller "border" spade, as a normal size one is just too heavy for me

[rustylady]

I use a spade (stainless steel) for digging serious holes, but a fork (also stainless steel) for general cultivation.

[Nicos]

I use a small narrow spade as I find a normal spadeful of heavy soil well...just too heavy!
As Jeanied says- I too hate chopping up worms, so tend to use a fork wherever possible.

I found this piccie of an American spade and shovel- but they have D handles

[Rixy]

Joseph Bentley Carbon Steel Long Handled Old English Spade :: Garden Centre Online

[Rixy]

http://web.tradekorea.com/upload_fil...07349_main.JPG

[phil the shed]

Joseph Bentley Carbon Steel Long Handled Old English Spade :: Garden Centre Online

spot on Rixy thats the one i was thinking of new i'd seen it some where

[Paulottie]

Ha...so like most good ideas it was an English not American all along.

[lesleygl]

Thanks all for your responses. I find a spade very heavy so it make digging tiring, I think I will stay with the fork, digging the allotment is a BIG JOB!
Thanks again
L

[HeyWayne]

I have the long handled spade and an Azada from the Get Digging website. If you find a normal spade too heavy I would suggest steering clear of the long handled variety.

It works for me, but I'm too tall for a 'normal' spade to be comfortable - you know that bit when you dig the spade in, and then kind of lever it to loosen the ground, well the long handled spade's perfect for me at my height, but not sure it'd benefit a 'standard sized' person.