When I first started gardening in my teens, I made the classic rookie mistake of thinking any old spade or fork would do the job. Mainly because I had zero funds and was working with whatever I had in my shed. How wrong I was! After years of designing gardens on BBC1’s Garden Rescue and countless hours working with every type of tool imaginable, I can tell you that your spade and fork are the absolute foundation of your gardening toolkit. Get these right, and everything else becomes easier. Get them wrong, and you’ll be fighting an uphill battle every time you step into the garden.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best garden spades and forks available in the UK, covering everything from budget-friendly options to professional-grade tools that’ll last a lifetime. I’ll share which brands consistently deliver and, most importantly, how to choose the perfect tools for your gardening style and physical needs.
This page contains affiliate links (see full details here). If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Before we dive into specific products, let me explain why investing in quality digging tools is one of the most intelligent decisions you’ll make as a gardener. Having used everything from bargain basement tools to premium handcrafted implements, the difference is night and day.
The key benefits of quality tools include:
Better performance means you’ll get more done with less effort. A sharp, well-balanced spade cuts through soil like butter, whilst a flimsy one will have you hacking away like you’re trying to dig through concrete. The difference is efficiency, which, as you garden more, is a huge benefit. Less effort: more results.
Reduced strain on your body is also crucial for long-term enjoyment of gardening. Proper ergonomics, balanced weight distribution, and comfortable grips can help prevent back pain and fatigue that often deter people from gardening. It also prevents annoying, red, blistered, or sore palms from awkward, cheap handles that can scratch or cut into you. I’ve seen too many keen gardeners give up simply because they were using tools that worked against them rather than with them.
Longevity makes quality tools an investment rather than an expense. A well-made spade or fork can last for decades with proper care, while cheap alternatives may need replacing every few seasons. When you calculate the cost per year of use, quality tools often prove to be more affordable in the long run.
Professional results come from professional tools. Whether you’re creating planting holes, turning over beds, or lifting plants, quality tools help you work more precisely and achieve better results.
The material your tool is made from affects everything from durability to weight to performance. You may think all spades and forks are made from stainless steel or some form of ‘metal’ but each option will be made from varying quality metals and alloys, so it’s worthwhile knowing what your potential tool is made of before splashing the cash. Having tested tools made from various materials over the years, here’s what you need to know.
Carbon steel has been used for garden tools for centuries, and for good reason. It’s incredibly strong, holds a sharp edge well, and can be resharpened when needed. However, you do need to keep them clean, or they will rust quickly and become prone to flaking and damage. They do weigh more, so that needs to be taken into consideration for shorter or smaller gardeners like myself who don’t want to burn their arms out when digging plant holes!
Advantages of carbon steel tools:
Disadvantages to consider:
Stainless steel tools have become increasingly popular, offering excellent resistance to rust and easier maintenance. However, the can quickly blunt and need sharpening if you’re using your spade to dig through hard ground, roots or turf. If you hit large stones, roots or rocks, they can chip more easily compared to carbon steel.
Advantages of stainless steel tools:
Disadvantages to consider:
The handle material affects comfort, durability, and the overall feel of your tool. It’s your first point of contact, and trust me when I say that a cheap plastic handle with a slight scratch line from where it’s been heat-sealed together will soon start to grate when it catches your fingers or hands each time you use it. In contrast, a beautiful wooden handle is smooth and a pleasure to work with, even if it stains far quicker!
Ash wood handles are the traditional choice and remain popular for good reasons. They’re strong, flexible enough to absorb shock, and feel warm in your hands. Quality ash handles can last decades if properly maintained.
Fibreglass and aluminium handles offer lighter weight and complete weather resistance. They’re excellent for people who struggle with heavier tools or who leave tools outside occasionally.
Steel handles are virtually indestructible but can be cold to the touch and may vibrate more than wood or composite materials. It’s key that there are no obvious seams or joins on this handle type, which can make them uncomfortable.
Plastic handles are cheap and cheerful and often coated with a rubber grip around them. They also come in bright colours to help you find your spade or fork. However, the big issue is friction and snags where the rubber and plastic meet, often causing a nip or a pinch on the skin unless you wear gardening gloves all the time.
Let’s start with spades, which are the workhorses of any garden toolkit. In fact, I would argue that if I could only have one garden tool, a sharp spade would be my preference (apart from pruning tools that is, given how infamous my pruning guides are!) A good spade should feel like an extension of your arm, making even heavy digging feel manageable.
Spear & Jackson has been making quality tools since 1760, and their Traditional range combines modern materials with time-tested design principles. These are the excellent all-rounder tools that I’ve used over the years. Not so expensive that losing them makes you cry, but not so cheapo that you abuse them or feel like they are not worth looking after, they are! Their flat-edge spade with a wooden handle found here is a joy to use. These tools consistently receive excellent reviews for good reason.
They also offer a curved spade tip version, which is better suited for harder ground or planting trees. I prefer a curved spade head. I find it easier for the copious amounts if planting I do, vs the straight head, but every gardener is different!
Key Features:
What customers say: Reviews consistently praise these spades as “well-made,” “comfortable to use,” and “excellent for cutting through ground.” Many customers note the razor-sharp blade and appreciate the traditional craftsmanship.
Best for: Gardeners who want traditional quality with modern materials. Ideal for those who appreciate classic design and are willing to invest a bit more in long-term durability.
Kent & Stowe tools are designed with today’s gardener in mind, combining traditional British design with modern manufacturing techniques. I think of them as the high-quality classics, where the materials are well-constructed and they are super durable. This spade has the traditional sharp rectangular head and is slightly longer than the others. Making digging larger holes much easier, or if you need to lift and shift a lot of soil in your garden or allotment.
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users appreciate the “comfortable” design and “excellent quality,” though some note occasional quality control issues with welding on certain batches.
Best for: Gardeners seeking a balance of traditional design with modern ergonomic features.
For those who find standard spades too heavy or cumbersome, the Garden Life range offers 40% lighter tools without compromising on quality. This is the lightweight version of the Kent and Stowe spade above and is excellent for us smaller gardeners. You won’t believe how much easier it is to use a smaller spade when you’re under 5ft 7! It has a nice balance, even though it’s slightly smaller, and I’ve found that using this spade for emptying tonne bags of top soil or compost is super easy, as the handle doesn’t get stuck in the bag like larger spades.
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users describe these as “perfect for smaller people,” “lightweight,” and “easy to use.” Particularly popular with senior gardeners and those with mobility issues.
Best for: Senior gardeners, those with mobility issues, or anyone who prefers lighter tools for extended use, especially shorter gardeners like me!
I have to share my personal favourite here – the Niwaki Golden Spade has been my go-to tool for over ten years, and it’s absolutely transformed how I approach digging work. This Japanese-crafted beauty isn’t just gorgeous to look at (though that golden finish certainly turns heads in the garden); it’s incredibly functional and built to last. The best part is it’s like a feather to lift and cuts through nearly everything. They arrive with a gold coloured plating (not real, unfortunately) and are unmistakable in the garden.
I’ve had mine for over a decade, and until a recent respray, it has kept its gold sheen. It’s also remained razor sharp for digging through roots. I sprayed mine blue, as someone else on Garden Rescue bought one, and mine was very well-worn, so I thought it needed a quick glow-up with some blue spray paint!
Key Features:
My experience: Having used this spade professionally for over a decade, I can honestly say it’s worth every penny. It cuts through roots, stones, and the most challenging ground with ease. The short shaft (97cm) might divide opinion, but I find it perfect for precise work and brilliant in tight spaces. Yes, it’s all-metal construction means it can feel cold in winter, but the performance more than makes up for it. The balance is absolutely spot-on, and at under 2kg, you can work with it all day without fatigue.
Take a look at my Niwaki spade below, now celebrating its 10th anniversary with a vibrant Majorelle blue respray!
What others say: BBC Gardeners World Magazine awarded it high marks, praising its “light, balanced feel and ability to slice through difficult ground quickly and easily.” Customers consistently describe it as “incredibly strong,” “lethally sharp,” and “surprisingly light.”
Best for: Professional gardeners and serious enthusiasts who want the ultimate precision digging tool. Not the cheapest option, but genuinely a tool for life.
Fiskars brings Finnish engineering excellence to garden tools with its solid construction and ergonomic design. They have a distinctive grey and bright orange brand and colouration, making their spades and tools easy to find in the garden. The one Fiskars spade I’ve used on larger builds is the pointed Xact spade, which is extremely tough, as the price reflects – one of the most expensive spades in this review. The great thing with this range, in my experience, is the larger foot plates to help drive the spade into the soil. These footplates are the top section of the spade blade, allowing you to apply extra pressure to the spade when digging or lifting soil.
If you need a spade that can handle abuse or say shifting 4 tonnes of gravel, then Fiskars models are tough enough to cope. My only niggle is the plastic handles, which I’m not a fan of personally, but they are otherwise incredibly well-made tools.
Key Features:
Best for: Gardeners who appreciate modern engineering and want tools backed by comprehensive warranties and the all-important foot plates for strength when digging poor or compacted soil.
Garden forks are essential for breaking up soil, lifting plants, and working in areas where a spade might be too aggressive. Where a spade lifts and moves, a fork breaks up and aerates the soil. I would argue that a spade has a few limited functions of cut, dig and move, whereas garden forks are much more nuanced. Garden forks enable you to aerate lawns, lift and divide plants carefully, or help break up compost heaps or loosen heavy, fudgy soil.
Whilst I said my garden spade was my one go-to tool, in reality, a garden fork is a very close second, allowing me to garden in every condition and with every plant requirement. Let me show you how to choose a garden fork and which one will best suit your budget and needs.
But first, let me break down the key differences between garden spades and forks.
| Feature | Garden Spade | Garden Fork |
|---|---|---|
| Blade/Tines | Flat, sharp-edged metal blade | 3-4 pointed metal tines |
| Primary Function | Cutting and slicing through soil | Breaking up and aerating soil |
| Best Soil Types | All soil types, especially compacted | Heavy clay, rocky, or root-filled soil |
| Digging Action | Clean cuts through soil and roots | Penetrates and loosens without compacting |
| Edge Quality | Creates neat, straight edges | Cannot create clean edges |
| Root Handling | Cuts through roots cleanly | Lifts roots without damaging them |
| Soil Turning | Good for turning soil over | Excellent for breaking up clods |
| Transplanting | Ideal for lifting plants with root balls | Difficult for transplanting |
| Weeding | Excellent for cutting weed roots | Good for lifting deep-rooted weeds |
| Lawn Work | Perfect for edging lawn borders | Not suitable for edging |
| Compost/Manure | Can move materials but less efficient | Excellent for turning and mixing |
| Physical Effort | Requires more force to penetrate | Easier penetration in hard soil |
| Versatility | More versatile overall tool | Specialised for specific tasks |
| Winter Use | Can struggle in frozen ground | Better for breaking frozen soil |
| Drainage Work | Good for digging trenches | Excellent for creating drainage holes |
| Plant Division | Clean cuts for dividing perennials | Gentle lifting without root damage |
This Spear and Jackson fork combines traditional craftsmanship with modern materials, such as stainless steel, to create a tool that’s both beautiful and highly functional for occasional or weekend use. The wooden shaft is warm to the touch and lovely to look at. This good beginner fork enables you to lift herbaceous perennials and most shrubs, but it won’t tackle super heavy-weight work, such as tree roots or really rocky or gley soil, so bear that in mind. I’m not sure, having used one, that it would last if used for professional gardeners, but then it’s not built or priced for that requirement.
If, however, you’re working with raised beds, super fluffy allotment soil or other friable ground, then this fork is a great starting point.
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users consistently praise this fork as “well-made,” “beautiful,” and “excellent value.” The British Growing Awards winner for 2022, it scores 4.5 stars with hundreds of positive reviews.
Best for: Gardeners who want a traditional, high-quality fork that will last for decades with proper care and for occasional use.
The Spear & Jackson digging fork, seen below, is a no-nonsense work tool for heavy-duty gardening. It’s useful for those who prefer a more contemporary handle design; the ‘Select range’ offers polypropylene shafts with ergonomic features such as the rubberised handle grip. The primary advantage of these man-made handles and shafts is their clean appeal, as they can be washed and wiped down, whereas wood can stain quickly and is more challenging to clean thoroughly.
For some reason, when using forks to turn compost or improve soil, they become filthy, even compared to spades. I’m not sure whether it’s because you’re breaking apart more soil or the fact that you’re usually transplanting with forks rather than spades.
As a result, I opt for an easy-to-clean tool like this fork every now and then. I’ve owned this Spear and Jackson fork now for over a decade, and it’s still going strong. You can see my sunbleached one below! You’ve probably also seen it being used in my many YouTube video gardening guides.
I know that I usually complain about plastic handles. Still, this rubberised one manages to get past my qualms with plastic in the garden (which you can read about here). I usually opt for more eco-conscious materials, and plastic is difficult to recycle and can often crack or appear lacklustre after a few years’ use, unlike wood, which retains a timeless appearance.
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users appreciate the “lovely lightweight” design and “comfortable” handle, though some note durability concerns with heavy use in rocky conditions.
Best for: Gardeners who prefer modern handle materials and ergonomic design features. Additionally, if you drop it, the rubber handle and heavy-duty polyurethane shaft prevent it from rattling, and it bounces back more!
Perfect for gardeners who find full-size forks too cumbersome, this compact Kent & Stowe fork offers professional performance in a more manageable package, which is a godsend for us smaller gardeners. Like its sister spade above the ‘Gardening Life’ range, make tools that suit the shorter gardener, and because there’s less strain working with oversized tools, you stay busier longer in the garden—enough said.
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users describe it as “well-made,” “lightweight,” and “perfect for senior female gardeners.” Particularly praised for border work and precision tasks.
Best for: Smaller gardeners, those with mobility issues, or anyone working primarily in beds and borders rather than large open areas.
Fiskars’ classic, super-hard-working garden fork is absolutely fab to use in new build clay soil with debris and unknowns popping up in it! It’s manufactured using their usual tough construction method, making this heavy-duty form ideal for larger jobs involving tree roots, heavier stony soil, or lifting large clods of clay soil. If you need to call in the big guns, then this is the fork for you, and the price reflects that. Perfect for jobbing gardener professionals and planter experts alike! Lastly, that bright orange handle means it’s super easy to spot when you put it down to grab your brew!
Key Features:
Customer feedback: Users praise it as “strong,” “excellent quality,” and “well worth the price.” Some note it’s heavier than expected, but appreciate the robust construction.
Best for: Gardeners who appreciate ergonomic design, need to lift all sorts of horrors out of the soil and want a tool that reduces physical strain during extended use.
Not everyone needs professional-grade tools, but you still want reliable performance and something that doesn’t rust and fall to pieces in the first year alone. Here, in my experience, is the best budget option for gardeners just starting out.
Draper offers good value tools that perform well for occasional gardening tasks, such as weekend gardeners or those just starting out. This double set costs less than £30 and gives you both a spade and a matching fork with bright green handles, making them easy to spot. The drawbacks are the handles; in my experience, having handled a few of these, they are uncomfortable for longer stints in the garden, and you probably will require decent leather gardening gloves to mitigate that.
Key Features:
Best for: Occasional gardeners or those just starting out who want reliable tools without the premium price tag. However, not the most comfortable or ergonomic of tools, but the price reflects that.
It’s a false economy to buy cheap, mass-produced spades and forks that have been spot-welded together or made of very flimsy metals and materials. Once a fork gets bent out of shape, you’re struggling without a heat lamp and a workbench to straighten it back. If your spade blade starts to flake, it will forever be rusty and have clods of dirt in it, making any gardening a very mucky and unenjoyable experience! At a very minimum, for a set of two, I’d pay £30 (a fork and spade combo) or £15 and above for each separately to ensure you have workable tools.
With so many excellent options available, how do you choose the right tools for your needs? It can be easy tio get lost down a rabbit hole online, on Amazon or any one of the thousands of gardening supply shops and sites. However, sometimes you need to stop and consider what your requirements are before jumping in and buying tools on a whim.
Here’s my tried-and-tested approach from years of garden design work.
Your height, strength, and any physical limitations should drive your tool selection. There’s no point having the “best” tool if it’s uncomfortable for you to use.
For shorter gardeners (under 5’6″): Look for compact or border tools like the Kent & Stowe Garden Life range. These are perfectly proportioned for smaller frames and won’t cause back strain. I’ve used this spade multiple times as I’m only a short gardener and it makes light work of the ground!
For taller gardeners (over 6′): Standard or long-handled tools are essential. Short tools will force you into uncomfortable positions that lead to back problems.
For those with mobility issues: Lightweight tools with ergonomic handles are crucial. The Garden Life range and Fiskars ergonomic tools are excellent choices.
Different soil types require different approaches, and your tools should reflect this. So many gardeners forget this and either buy over the top expensive spades for suoper lightweight sandy soil or the converse where someone buys a £15 spade for heavy clay only for it to bend and even snap with use.
Heavy clay soils: You need robust tools with sharp edges. Solid forged carbon steel spades work best, as they can handle the leverage required without bending or breaking.
Light sandy soils: Lighter tools are perfect here. Stainless steel options work beautifully, and you can get away with more compact designs.
Rocky or root-filled areas: Go for the strongest construction possible. Solid forged tools with strong handles are essential.
Your approach to gardening should influence your tool choices. If you plan to grow a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, invest in more heavy-duty tools. Whereas maintaining a modern garden, which has light soil, may allow you to use lighter, more decoratively finished tools instead!
Intensive vegetable gardening: You’ll be using your tools constantly, so invest in the best you can afford. Professional-grade tools pay for themselves quickly with allotment and kitchen gardens.
Weekend gardening: Mid-range tools offer the perfect balance of quality and value. You want reliability without paying for features you won’t use. You may even opt for ‘prettier’ solid wood tools as they look nicer to display in greenhouses, sheds or orangeries.
Casual maintenance: Budget-friendly options are perfectly adequate. Focus on comfort and ease of use rather than ultimate durability, opting for stainless steel that can be rinsed clean and stored away, rather than carbon steel that requires filing and oiling.
Even the best tools require proper care to perform at their best and last the longest. We’ve all been guilty of just wacking the tools away in the shed after using them, but please try to spare 5 minutes to clean them beforehand so they are ready to go the next time you need them. Here’s how to keep your spades and forks in top condition.
Clean your tools after each use, especially if you’ve been working in clay or other sticky soils. A simple rinse with the hose and a brush is usually sufficient to remove stubborn soil. For stainless steel tools, this also prevents any mineral stains from setting in.
For carbon steel tools, wipe them dry after cleaning and apply a light coat of oil occasionally. WD-40 or even cooking oil will work. Stainless steel tools require less maintenance but still benefit from being kept dry and gently wiped down with a clean cloth after use.
Wooden handles should be checked regularly for splinters or cracks. Sand lightly if needed and apply linseed oil annually to prevent the wood from drying out and cracking. Synthetic handles just need occasional cleaning with warm, soapy water. It goes without saying, put your tools away and don’t leave them out in the rain where they will rust and become damaged!
Keep your spade edges sharp for easier cutting. A simple file or sharpening stone works well. Sharp tools require less effort and produce better results. If in doubt, find a local tool sharpening service; some of them offer on-the-drive services to make it really easy!
Quality garden tools represent a significant investment, but they’re one of the best purchases you can make as a gardener. Here’s how to ensure you get maximum value:
Ready to transform your gardening skills beyond just digging holes? Garden Ninja’s expertly crafted online courses will fast-track your development from keen amateur to skilled garden designer in months rather than years. Starting at just £29, you’ll gain access to professional garden design expertise from BBC Garden Rescue’s Lee Burkhill, delivered at a fraction of traditional horticultural education costs.
Garden Design Examples for Small Gardens: 30 Design Templates & Planting Plans: In this online gardening course, I’ll walk you through 30 fantastic garden designs, explaining the logic behind the layout, the plant choices, and take-home tips for applying them in your own garden.
Learn how to transform and design your own garden with Lee Burkhills crash course in garden design. Over 5 hours Lee will teach you how to design your own dream garden. Featuring practical design examples, planting ideas and video guides. Learn how to design your garden in one weekend!
Garden Design for Beginners Online Course: If you want to make the career jump to becoming a garden designer or to learn how to design your own garden, this is the beginner course for you. Join me, Lee Burkhill, an award-winning garden designer, as I train you in the art of beautiful garden design.
What makes Garden Ninja courses so effective:
Quality spades and forks are just the beginning of creating your dream garden. Once you’ve got your essential digging tools sorted, you might want to explore other aspects of gardening success.
For comprehensive guidance on creating beautiful garden spaces, check out my beginner’s guide to garden design, which shows you how to plan and implement stunning outdoor spaces.
If you’re interested in sustainable growing methods, my no-dig gardening guide demonstrates how to work with nature rather than against it whilst still achieving fantastic results.
For those planning productive gardens, explore my guides on crop rotation and growing vegetables for beginners.
Choosing the right garden spade and fork is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a gardener. These tools will accompany you on every major project, from creating new beds to maintaining established plantings. They’ll help you work more efficiently, reduce physical strain, and achieve better results in everything you do.
Remember that gardening is supposed to be enjoyable, not a battle against inadequate tools. The right spade and fork will make even challenging tasks feel manageable, allowing you to focus on the creative and rewarding aspects of gardening rather than struggling with equipment that works against you.
Now get out there and start digging! Your garden (and your back) will thank you for choosing tools that are truly up to the task!
JOIN THE NINJAS
Be the first in line for new Guides, Discount codes and Offers
