Clay is a ubiquitous material in the garden, but it can be hard to work with. Using your hands can be difficult and time-consuming. Digging holes for plants takes more time than you’d like to spend on your yard.
Your back is tired, your arms are sore, and your knees hurt from digging in clay soil that just won’t give up its bounty. A good digging shovel lets you dig through hard-packed earth like it’s butter. It even works on concrete.
Today we’re going to look at five different best shovels for digging to help you find the best one for digging in clay soil. Each product will be rated on durability, price, usability, customer satisfaction, and overall quality.
Top Five Best Tools For Digging In Clay
Radius Garden 202 PRO Garden Stainless Steel Shovel
Color: Original Green
Brand: Radius Garden
Item Dimensions: 41.3 x 8.5 x 3.5 inches
Item Weight: 5.07 Pounds
Style: Shovel
Grip Type: Ergonomic
Spear Head Spade Gardening Shovel
Color: Yellow
Brand: Spearhead Spade
Item Dimensions: 58 x 3.5 x 9 inches
Item Weight: 4 Pounds
Style: Outdoor, Garden
Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel
Color: Red
Brand: Radius Garden
Item Dimensions: 45 x 10.5 x 3.8 inches
Item Weight: 5 Pounds
Style: Original Root Slayer
Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel
Color: Red, Black
Brand: Bully Tools
Item Dimensions: 44 x 9 x 4.12 inches
Item Weight: 4.5 Pounds
Style: Classic
Tabor Tools Shovel
Brand: TABOR TOOLS
Dimensions: 44.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches
Handle Material: Fiberglass
Grip Type: D-Grip
Radius Garden 202 PRO Garden Stainless Steel Shovel
This garden shovel is made of stainless steel. It is sturdy enough to handle the heaviest soil and digging jobs. The blade has a sharp edge on one side, making it easy to cut through roots and other rigid materials. The long handle provides more leverage for your digging efforts, while the rounded tip helps you dig in tight spaces without damaging nearby plants or flowers.
It has a comfortable, round-grip handle that won’t slip out of your hand while you are digging. A dirt-grip coating on the shaft makes it easy to hold onto even when your hands are wet with mud or water. The 202 PRO features an extra-wide blade for easy scooping, while its wide footrest provides stability when digging in hard soil, making it the best shovel to dig a trench.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 41.3 x 8.5 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 1 Pound |
- The 202 PRO is a durable, lightweight digging tool.
- Less stress on your back and arms.
- Make the most of your garden space with ease.
- Keep up with all those pesky weeds more easily.
- This shovel lacks balance
Spear Head Spade Gardening Shovel
The Spearhead Spade Gardening Shovel is a hybrid shovel/spade. The spade’s head has been crafted to be similar in shape to a shovel but with a sharp edge. This unique design allows you to dig up and move dirt in a wide variety of situations, making it the best shovel for digging up grass.
The smooth handle on this gardening tool makes it easy to use for any gardening task, from digging holes for planting flowers and vegetables to moving soil around your yard. The Spear Head Spade has an ergonomic grip that will keep your hands comfortable.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 58 x 3.5 x 9 inches |
| Weight | 4 Pounds |
- Dig a hole or move dirt with ease.
- It’s the only gardening tool you need to have on hand.
- Dig in a variety of situations.
- Spend less time doing yard work and more time enjoying the outdoors.
- The handle is not made of sturdy materials
Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel
The Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel is a must-have for any gardener. The shovel’s carbon steel blade slices through those tough, pesky roots with ease. The shovel’s resin-encased handle ensures extra durability and comfort as you dig up your garden beds.
This super sturdy clay shovel from Radius Garden features a carbon steel blade that easily slices through tough soil and roots. The unique design of this shovel allows you to easily pry out even the most challenging root balls with minimal effort.
The Root Slayer is the perfect tool for digging out thick root systems or severing roots that are growing underground. Its robust construction and sharp blade will help you eliminate pesky weeds in your garden without damaging the surrounding plants. It is the best shovel for digging up roots.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 45 x 10.5 x 3.8 inches |
| Weight | 5 Pounds |
- The blade is made of sturdy materials
- It slices through tough soil and roots with ease.
- It’s easy to use and has a unique design.
- It feels a little heavy
Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel
The Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel is the right tool for any job, from digging ditches to moving snow. This steel shovel features a 14-gauge steel blade, perfect for general construction jobs and other challenging outdoor projects.
It has a round point ideal for digging in hard soil, gravel, or sand. The handle is made of durable fiberglass with an extra-long length to make sure you can reach your work area without having to bend over. The Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel is a commercial-grade shovel that comes with a no-break polypropylene co-polymer D grip.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 44 x 9 x 4.12 inches |
| Weight | 4.5 Pounds |
- Long handle for less bending
- Durable fiberglass with extra length
- Round point for digging in hard soil, gravel, or sand.
- Get the job done without breaking your back.
- The handle grip is not firmly placed
Tabor Tools Shovel
The Tabor Tools Shovel is an all-purpose digging tool. The pointed tip of the shovel allows you to dig and clear trenches. The sharpened blade of the shovel can be used for cutting through roots, clearing out brush and shrubs, or even chopping wood. It has a sturdy steel collar that keeps the handle from bending or breaking.
The Tabor Tools Shovel is a durable, heat-treated spade shovel with a rust-resistant powder-coated head. The handle of the Tabor Tools Shovel is made with a high-impact fiberglass material that makes it strong enough to endure tough jobs yet light enough, so you don’t feel bogged down by its weight.
Specifications
| Dimensions | 44.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches |
| Weight | 3.54 pounds |
- The Tabor Tool Shovel is the perfect tool for any job.
- You’ll feel like an expert with this shovel in your hands.
- It’ll last you a lifetime, even if it’s as tough as nails.
- The handle is not attached solidly
What To Consider When Buying Best Shovel For Digging In Clay
When looking for the best shovel for digging in clay, there are a few things to consider when buying the best tool for breaking up clay soil. For instance, what do you plan on using it for? Also, how much soil will you be digging up, and how often do you think you will be using your new shovel? You should also consider the durability of the product and whether it is made with stainless steel.
Shovel for Heavy-Duty Digging
If you plan to use your shovel for heavy-duty digging and excavating, pan-type blade shovels may not be the best choice since they tend to break when used in rough conditions. Also, if you will be clearing out a lot of rocks and dirt, look for a shovel with a small head and point. This will help with digging out hard-to-reach areas such as under rocks and at the base of trees.
Shovel for Excavation
If you plan on using your new shovel for excavation, then an old-school square-nose shovel may be perfect. These spades usually provide more stability when digging since they are used for scraping, moving small amounts of material, and cleaning up projects.
Shovel for Garden
If you are looking for a shovel to use in your garden or flower beds, then go with one that has a high-quality steel blade. These spades are made to handle the harsh soil conditions found in gardens with rocks and hard-packed soil.
Whatever you decide to do with your new shovel, make sure that it is made from high-quality steel if you plan on using the shovel for heavy-duty excavation projects. This means that it will have a higher carbon content, which makes it more durable and longer-lasting. To find out how much carbon is in your shovel, check the information that should be located on the blade of the shovel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clay is one of the most complex types of soil and can be challenging to dig through. It is best to use a pointed shovel rather than a spade when digging clay since it will make breaking up hard-packed soil much more effortless.
If you are looking for the best tool to use in clay, then a trenching shovel or spade is perfect. These types of shovels usually have pointed blades that will make digging through hard-packed soil very easy.
The best tool to use when breaking up clay is a break-back shovel. These shovels are made with solid steel blades that can handle harsh, compacted conditions in clay soil. This type of shovel will make digging through clay much easier since it has a pointed tip that allows digging into the hard-packed ground.
CONCLUSION
After researching the best shovel for digging in clay, you will see many different choices. This can make it hard to determine which shovel is suitable for you and your landscaping projects. However, once the variety of soil conditions is determined, finding the perfect tools for digging hard ground becomes more accessible.
Read Also about how to use dowel jig
We have reviewed the top-of-the-line shovels that are ideal for digging through clay, as well as some tips on what to consider when buying. Hopefully, this information will make your decision easier and help you find the best shovel for clay soil.
