Shovels and spades are versatile hand tools used for various outdoor tasks, primarily related to digging, lifting, and moving soil, dirt, or other materials. Depending on the specific job and tool, these garden tools are best suited for moving, digging, and cutting loose materials. Shovels and spades come in varied shapes, sizes, colours, and materials, adapting to specific tasks and preferences. These specialist tools are found in almost every home for gardening, landscaping, construction, and other projects. These devices also feature ergonomic handles and plastic or metal blades that last for a long time.
Shovels & Spades: Clarifying the Difference
These versatile tools are often used interchangeably, but they differ in terms of designs and purposes. Shovels have curved, wide, and flat metal blades with sharp edges designed for efficient scooping and lifting loose materials like soil, sand, gravel, or snow. They come in various types, including square-nose shovels, round-nose shovels, and flat-nose shovels, each suited for specific tasks. Additionally, shovels typically have a long handle to stand upright while working, reducing back strains.
In contrast, spades have a flat, squared-off blade with a straight edge, ideal for digging, cutting, and edging tasks. They have a shorter handle than shovels, providing more control and leverage when performing detailed work. In simple words, shovels are best suited for moving loose materials in large quantities, while spades are better for precision digging and cutting tasks.
Most Popular Types of Shovels and Spades
Spades and shovels come in various types based on intended applications and environments. Some of the most common spade and shovel types include:
- Garden Spades – Garden spades have a flat, squared-off blade similar to square-point shovels but are smaller and lighter. They are designed for tasks in tight spaces, such as digging holes for plants.
- Square Shovels – A square shovel has a square-shaped blade with straight edges. These digging tools are commonly used in construction, gardening, landscaping, and agriculture. Similar to scooping shovels, these shovels are best for moving loose materials and slicing tree roots.
- Scooping Shovels – These tools are characterised by their wide, flat, and slightly curved blades, making it easier to scoop up and transport loose materials. They are ideal for various uses, including gardening, snow removal, landscaping, construction, and agriculture.
- Digging Shovels – As the name implies, these shovels are explicitly designed to dig holes for planting trees and other shrubs. They typically have a curved pointed tip with upturned edges, making them best for preparing garden grounds.
- Trench Shovels – These specialist tools are designed for digging narrow, deep holes or trenches in the ground. They feature sharp pointed tips with long and narrow heads, perfect for digging trenches in construction, landscaping, agriculture, and other industries where digging precise and deep holes is necessary.
Typical Uses of Shovels and Spades
Shovels and spades’ applications can vary depending on their design and specific features. Some of their typical applications include:
Uses of Shovels:
- Digging Holes
- Removing Snow
- Moving Loose Material
- Clearing Debris
- Mixing Concrete or Mortar
- Creating Trenches
- Harvesting Crops.
Uses of Spades:
- Edging and Bordering
- Transplanting Plants
- Dividing Perennials
- Turning Over Soil
- Digging in Confined Spaces
- Cutting Through Soil or Sod
- Digging Narrow Trenches.
