How to Buy a Garden Shovel

Some of the most basic garden work starts with a good shovel. From starting a garden to digging a koi pond, a good garden shovel can make your project easier to do.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide what you want to do with your garden shovel. If you need to dig through heavy clay soil, you will want a very sturdy shovel. If you need to dig irrigation ditches, you will want a thinner shovel.

2. Set a budget limit on your shovel. While you can get an inexpensive shovel very easily, you may want to splurge on a more expensive model for a sturdier shovel that will last a long time.

3. Pick a shovel size. If you want to do larger projects, you will want a heavier shovel with a larger spade. If you plan to do smaller projects, you should buy a shovel with a thinner spade.

4. Choose a shovel that is right for your height. A shovel that's too short or too long will cause back pain. Remember that the handle will add height to the shovel, so mimic using the shovel to determine which one is the most comfortable to use.

5. Buy a shovel with extra features. Stainless steel shovels are lighter, but cost more. Some shovels have flat parts on the top of the spade to make it easier to step on the shovel, which provides you with more leverage into the ground.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask a customer service representative in the garden center which shovel he would use. Often times, you will find out that the "best" shovel isn't really the best when used in the garden.
• If you recently broke your favorite shovel, bring it into the store to find a new shovel with similar characteristics. Even if the store doesn't make your model anymore, they might have something very close.
• Store your new shovel in a clean, dry place away from the elements to ensure it stays around for a long time. If you don't have a shed, try storing your shovel in your mudroom, laundry room or garage.
• Do not buy a shovel with any handle type other than plastic. While they may look sturdy, metal handles will twist and break, and wooden handles are liable to snap over time.
• Do not buy a shovel with any special coatings on the spade or handle. The coatings may make your job easier at first, but they will wear off long before your shovel is ready to retire.