Dive into the art of planting and nurturing with nursery spades, the trusted companions for cultivating your green haven. These specialized tools go beyond mere digging, offering precision and gentleness to handle delicate seedlings and small plants with care. Designed with ergonomic handles and sturdy blades, nursery spades effortlessly cut through soil, creating a conducive environment for your garden's growth. Whether transplanting, dividing, or installing new additions, these spades are crafted to minimize root disturbance while maximizing planting success. Embrace the precision and finesse of nursery spades with the top choice on our list, the Fiskars Steel Nursery Spade.
Our Top Picks For Nursery Spades
The Best Nursery Spades
Best Overall
The Fiskars nursery spade is designed carefully for heavy-duty work. It can smoothen the process of digging deep for you. It consists of an extra-large D-shaped handle that gives you two-handed control while digging.
This high-quality garden spade is ideal for digging a trench, edging, slicing through thick turf, and digging deep holes. The main feature that makes this spade stand out is the 14-gauge hardened steel blade and the 18-gauge steel shaft that promises durable corrosion-free blades. These blades are easy to maintain and do not wear off quickly.
Pros
- High-quality, welded 14-gauge hardened steel blade for effective cutting
- Comes with lifetime warranty
- Extra-large, D-shaped handles with an ergonomic design
Cons
- Blades have to be sharpened
Sturdy Structure
If you’re looking for an extra-long, narrow nursery spade for your gardening activities, then this is the one you should go for. It is made of a powder-coated steel blade that does not require extra maintenance efforts. You need to wipe it after each use to preserve the quality and performance of the blade.
The Radius Garden nursery spade has a unique structure with a V-shaped cutting tip that helps easily cut through roots, dirt, and soil clumps. Moreover, the design promotes comfort and durability as the top-notch ergonomic rubber handle relieves arm and wrist stress, eliminating fatigue.
Pros
- Root slayer blade can be sharpened without the warranty being void
- Sturdy structure makes it easy and convenient to dig
- Made of high-quality carbon steel
Cons
- Regular cleaning and sharpening are required
Great Brand
This mini garden shovel is handy for people who prefer lightweight and small gardening tools. It is produced with excellent quality fiberglass metal that does not bend or break when carrying out demanding chores. It is not only convenient to carry, but is also helpful for digging tasks in the garden or even at the beach.
The handle has a built-in non-slip, TPR molded grip that does not harm your wrist while digging. This feature reduces wrist stress and helps get the work done quickly. Additionally, the steelhead has a rust-resistant finishing to increase the durability of the tool. The structure of this nursery shovel is also strong even though it is lightweight.
Pros
- Fiberglass usage ensures durability and sturdiness
- Shovel is finished off with rust-resistant powder-coated paint
- 26 inches long which makes it easy to carry around
Cons
- Limited in capacity and may not be able to handle heavy digging
Great Grip
If we talk about the top nursery spades, the Truper 31189 garden spade is obviously on our list. It is a 30-inch nursery spade manufactured with good quality alloy steel. You get a solidly constructed tool at an affordable price.
We recommend this nursery spade due to its D-grip handle, which provides balance and control for easy usage. The robust steel collared edge makes the structure more sturdy, which is necessary for a user to utilize a nursery spade for an extended period.
Pros
- Lacquered handle with a D-grip for easy control
- Manufactured with sturdy alloy steel
- 9-inch cushion grip to make it convenient to use
Cons
- Not suitable for those looking for a lightweight tool
Best Value
Our final pick for nursery spades is this strong, durable, and comfortable garden spade. It is a hard-wearing spade, explicitly designed according to the requirements of professional gardeners. The spade is manufactured with a carbon steel head and socket.
It is made to carry out heavy digging tasks for long hours. If you are a gardener or landscaper by profession, you will want to invest in this spade.
Pros
- Solid and sturdy structure
- Comfortable handle suitable for all weathers
- Resistant to rust, scratches, and humidity
Cons
- Weight-divided testers make it tiring for the user after some time of use
Nursery Spades: A Buying Guide
Choosing the right nursery spade depends solely on the purpose you want to use the spade for. Different spades can be built for specific tasks such as digging, transplanting, cultivating, or mixing.
It would be best to make sure that the spade you plan to purchase provides value for money, has a strong structure, and fits the length and weight you’re looking for.
The following factors need to be thought about carefully as they determine the look of your garden.
What To Look For in a Nursery Spade
Weight and length
If you’re searching for a spade that can help you cut through soil and dig deep holes, you should go for heavy spades as they will not bend or break easily when put under pressure. Whereas, if you want to dig small holes for short periods, you can opt for lightweight nursery spades.
Material
Spade blades made from stainless steel are top-notch but heavy. They can help cut through the soil quickly and will not rust. On the other hand, carbon steel blades are lighter and more rigid but may rust if not well-maintained.
Spade shaft
Wood shafts are strong and can absorb shocks and vibrations. However, they can get wet if exposed to rain. Metal shafts are firm but not shock-resistant. They also get uncomfortable and slippery in hot weather.
Fiberglass and plastic shafts are light and durable. They can absorb shocks, but they can also break easily if too much pressure is applied to them.
PEOPLE ALSO ASKED
What do gardeners use nursery spades for?
Nursery spade tools are used for multiple purposes. The blades help dig deep holes for planting, reshape beds, cut sod, and help with light cultivation. There are different types of blades and spade shapes available for specialized purposes.
What is the difference between a shovel and a spade?
A shovel has a broader blade, while a spade's blade is comparatively flat. A shovel's blade is curved inwards with a pointed tip, whereas the spade's blade has straight edges.
How to maintain a spade?
To maintain a spade to increase its performance, you need to clean them after every use. Remove the dirt pieces and rust particles with a stiff brush, sharpen the spade with tool sharpeners, rub the blade and handles with cooked linseed oil, and then store them in a decent place away from extreme temperatures.
