Garden Spades

What can a garden spade be used for?

Digging: A gardening spade’s wide blade makes it perfect for digging – whether you’re creating a cosy new home for your latest garden centre find or carving out a whole new flower bed, a spade gets the job done.

Turning the soil: This is great for growing healthy, thriving plants. It lets the air flow, boosts drainage and makes the soil a perfect home for roots. Also, a gardening spade is your go-to when adding fresh compost or mulch. Dig it, flip it and let your soil breathe easy!

For sharp edges: Nothing makes a garden look more polished than crisp, clean borders. Whether it’s outlining plant beds or adding definition around features, a spade gardening tool's straight edge is perfect for the job. Just dig about 3-4 inches into the ground, lever back and loosen the soil, and voila! You’ve got sharp, stunning lines to show off your plants.

Transferring plants: Whether you're moving flowers or relocating a sapling, a gardening spade helps you dig out the plant with its roots intact. Small garden spades are perfect for moving delicate flowers.

FAQs about gardening spades

What's the difference between a garden spade and a shovel?

Although they can be interchangeable, ideally, you need both for gardening. Design-wise, a garden spade has a flat tip, while a shovel has a pointed tip with raised sides. In terms of getting down and dirty with them, a shovel is great for scooping – hence the raised sides – and moving loose dirt, or for levelling garden areas and digging shallow holes. A spade is your big hitter for digging and cutting through compacted soil. Equally, you can use one to create precise edges to lawns or flower beds.

Browse shovels

How do I sharpen a gardening spade?

Cleaning and sharpening your gardening tools is the best way to ensure they stand the test of time.
1. Start by cleaning off any excess mud.
2. Then use a firm brush to give a more thorough clean, working it into the blade.
3. Next, use sandpaper on the blade's edge and across the whole spade head.
4. Use a rag to lubricate the spade head with a quality oil to prevent rusting.
5. Finally, file all around the blade's edge to sharpen. Wear gloves, watch your fingers!

How do I use a garden spade properly?

1. Hold the handle and line up the spade with where you'd like to break ground.
2. Push down on the gardening spade's handle and push the top of the blade with your foot; keep the other foot on the ground.
3. Once lowered a few inches, lower the handle backwards while keeping your back straight.
4. Once the handle is almost parallel with the ground and the soil is on the spade, bend your knees and adjust your hand placement (one on the handle and one lower down by the spade head) and lift.
5. Move the soil to where you'd like it to go.

Why choose us for your new gardening spade?

Run by gardeners for gardeners: Hey, we have something in common – our love of gardening. And this shines through in our resources, like our Beginners' Guide to Gardening and Growing Guides. We'd love to help you grow your skills (literally!).

A trusted name: Our 'Great' Trustpilot rating and Best Online retailer recognition at the Great British Growing Awards are testament to our trusted reputation.

Peace of mind: We're confident in the quality of our products, which is why we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee – so if you aren't happy, we'll replace, refund or rectify.

Ever-changing offers: We believe gardening should be accessible to all, so we requently run promotions and bundles, often relating to the season.