Tree Planting Shovel

A planting shovel is an agricultural and gardening tool that is multipurpose and helps individuals to dig and transplant soil, make trenches, and remove dirt and debris. Most common are the pointed spade shovel for digging, the rounded spade for planting, and the square-tip shovel for transferring loose material. The round digger shovel is preferred for digging holes in softer soil types due to its curved edges.

Parts of a planting shovel

A planting shovel has various parts, including the grip, shaft, collar, kick plate, and blade. The grip is the uppermost part that is attached to the shaft, which is mostly in the form of a wooden, metal, or plastic handle. If the shaft is fiberglass, then attaching a grip handle helps prevent splinters. The shaft is a long pole-like part of these tools and is used as leverage when using the shovel. Where the blade meets the shaft is the collar, and it should be secure; otherwise, it can crumble or snap during heavy work since it is connected to the shaft with a screw. Most are replaceable, and since the blade has a higher lifespan than the shaft and handles, if they break, one can replace them and connect them with the collar. The kick plate is the uppermost edge of a blade where one places a foot to add pressure, but it's not in all shovels. Usually, it is found in digging shovels where extra pressure from the user might be necessary. The blade comes at the lowermost part that makes contact with the ground, and it's usually made of aluminum, steel, or hard plastic. In a shovel, this is the lower edge of the blade furthest from the shaft and takes various shapes depending on the uses intended.

Different planting shovel types

Most planting shovels are made of high-carbon steel with special heat treatment for the greater harness and are suitable for planting or rocky and compact terrain. The blades come in many shapes and sizes, which makes the difference between different types of shovels. A digging shovel is used to dig up dirt for gardening. They have moderately sharp blades for readily cutting through soil and other things in the ground, which is very useful. The trench shovel is used to utilize the garden or lawn and to dig trenches in any given region, and it has a long and narrow blade that ensures a deep and straight trench. For heavy-duty applications where using a manual shovel would be inconvenient, a power shovel, also known as an electrical shovel, is ideal as it digs through dirt, snow, or hardened soil. Handheld shovels, also known as mini shovels, are fairly huge; thus, they are not the most practical solution when it comes to portable use. They are compact and suited for single-handed use, such as planting flowers in planters and pots. The folding shovel is substantially more portable than ordinary shovels with standard capability when folded due to their foldable construction. Other types include the flat shovel, edging shovel, scoop shovel, and many more.

Choosing a planting shovel

It is essential to consider the purpose, the shape of the blade, size, height, and weight, and the material used to construct the shovel when selecting one. For example, the shaft's durability depends on the material and how the shovel is used, mostly consisting of wood, fiberglass, or metal. Consider flat tips for scooping and rounded tips for cutting and digging. Also, metal shovels are heavier and larger than plastic shovels.