A garden shovel is an essential gardening tool used for planting various plants, digging up or moving other plants, as well as a variety of other purposes. The garden shovel is a very versatile tool, making it popular with gardeners, landscapers, farmers, and many others. There are many different types of shovels to choose from in a great range of sizes and weights. These different kinds exist to meet the many different needs of those who use shovels, from moving large quantities of sand to digging deep into the clay-filled ground.
A garden shovel is made up of two different parts, the handle and the blade. A longer handle provides greater leverage and is useful for heavier work and for cutting through roots and tough ground, while a shorter handle provides greater control and is often useful for planting or digging up bulbs. The blade, or scoop, is used for cutting through the ground and moving dirt or plants. A larger blade can move greater quantities of soil or anything else that needs to be moved, while a more sharply pointed blade is able to cut into hard ground or through roots more effectively.
Another major point that many people consider before the purchase of a garden shovel is the weight. Heavier garden shovels tend to be much sturdier than their lighter counterparts, making them more effective at digging through roots or tough ground. Lighter garden shovels are easier and less tiring to use, but are less durable and can break when used for heavy, high strain purposes. In most cases, it comes down to a matter of personal preference. A gardener is best off using the shovel that feels best in his hands.
The sharp point of a garden shovel is one of the most important aspects of the shovel. It is important that a garden shovel is able to cut easily into the ground. A dull point tends to make messy cuts into the sod, dirt, or other material being shoveled. This can lead to a messy, uneven garden. A dull point will also probably be unable to cut through thicker roots, making some gardening tasks nearly impossible.
A garden spade can often be mistaken for a garden shovel. The two tools, however, are quite distinct and have very different purposes. A garden spade is small and has a flat blade that goes up to the handle. It is meant to be used for working the dirt and for precision work close to the ground rather than for cutting, which is the task of the garden shovel.