8 Best Shovels For Digging Up Roots
Are you looking for the best shovel for digging up roots in your garden? I’m sure you get confused about the uses of shovels sometimes.
There are different types of shovels, and all of them vary in the role they play to improve your garden. Not all of them are good for digging. One key factor to consider when buying a shovel is the shape of its blade. It will help you determine which is perfect for digging roots.
I have prepared a list of the best shovels that you can use to dig up roots. At the end of this blog, you will be able to choose which one fits your needs.
Table of Contents
What Is A Shovel?
A Shovel is a garden tool mostly used to dig holes in the dirt. However, it is also handy for moving soil, snow, or other loose materials.
The most common garden spade has a slightly concave blade with a flat edge, and while not so great for digging holes, it is useful for cutting through sod, edging your lawn, or marking a trench.
Meanwhile, there are also shovels designed for digging up roots. Here is a quick overview of the best shovels for digging up roots.
Quick Overview of the Best Shovels For Digging Up Roots
In-Depth Review of the Best Shovels For Digging Up Roots
Radius Garden 22011
Are you looking for the best shovel for gravel? Then the Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel is your best pick. Its design and performance in all types of terrain make it a must-have tool.
This tool cuts like butter through the hardest and strongest roots. Unlike other models with pointed tips, Radius Garden 22011 has an inverted “V” tip. This design enables you to apply more force over a larger area, increasing the cutting efficiency.
The wide edges on this shovel provide stable support for the foot to apply more force. Its jagged edges make it the best shovel for mulch currently available in the market.
It also weighs lighter and is smaller than older models.
PROS:
- High performance
- Light-weight
- Durable
CONS:
- Uncomfortable handle
- Smaller shovel surface
ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002 Carbon Steel Shovel
A smaller version of the famous Root Assassin Shovel. Ideal for clean and precise cuts in smaller areas.
Its pointed tip and serrated borders make the job a lot easier. Even though roots are not strong enough to resist the power of this compact digging tool. This tool is ideal for shorter users as it is portable and lightweight.
With only 2.2 pounds in weight, it is one of the lightest shovels in the market today. It is designed with industrial-grade steel to withstand aggressive usage without deforming. This tool has a silver powder coating, which guarantees the best protection against moisture and corrosive agents.
The Root Assassin Shovel’s D-grip handle with rubber coating gives you greater control during work.
PROS:
- Compact and easy to use
- Light-weight
- It requires little effort to cut and dig
CONS:
- Not very efficient with too robust roots
- Too short for taller users
Fiskars 46-Inch Steel D-Handle Digging Shovel
The Fiskars 46-Inch Steel D-Handle Digging Shovel is lightweight, durable, and extremely resistant.
This digging shovel is made of different gauge steel for maximum strength and less weight. It features a 16-Gauge Steel for the shaft and 14-gauge for the blade. This dependable tool is completely covered with black powder coating for higher resistance to external agents.
Its large D-handle provides more space for both hands. Its hard pointed blade can penetrate the toughest surface and easily cut the most robust roots.
PROS:
- Durable
- Provides better control
- Lightweight
CONS:
- Plastic handle
- Wide scoop
The Ames Companies, Inc 2584300 True Temper Digging Shovel
Lighter than most models, Ames 2586100 43-InchTrue Temper Shovel is the ultimate solution to tired arms after working.
Most of its shaft is made of fiberglass, making it lighter than other similar models. This feature prevents your arms from getting tired too quickly.
With a rounded point blade made of steel, it can withstand heavy usage without too much damage. Ideal for very tough soils and stubborn roots. It also has a D-Grip fiberglass handle that gives you more control and allows you to focus all the force on a single point.
It’s useful for heavy work and yard maintenance.
PROS:
- Light-weight
- Sturdy blades
- Rust-resistant
CONS:
- Fiberglass shaft
- Can be damaged by fire
Spear Head Spade SHLF2 Long Handle
The Spear Head Spade SHLF2 is engineered to obtain the best penetration with the least effort. The revolutionary design of its blade is perfect for all types of yard work.
Lightweight and efficient. Spear Head Spade SHLF2 revolutionary blade design allows maximum penetration into compacted soils with less effort. Instead of a round scoop, it implements straight cuts on the blade for better performance on hard surfaces.
If it is difficult for you to do yard maintenance due to joint pain, this is the perfect tool for you. Its carbon-manganese blade resists great impacts and corrosion.
It’s also an excellent cutting tool for stubborn and deep roots. Its handle and shaft are made of fiberglass to reduce weight.
PROS:
- Reduces digging effort
- Durable
- Light-weight
CONS:
- Blade is not adaptable
- Smaller scoop
Martha Stewart MTS-MDS1
Cost-efficient, portable, and easy to use. Martha Stewart MTS-MDS1 is the perfect digging shovel for small garden areas.
Anyone can handle this amazing tool without any issue. Although its handle and shaft are made of hardwood, the Martha Stewart MTS-MDS1 is one of the lightest and most compact shovels on the market.
If you’re too tall, you may have to kneel to dig or cut the roots. Its heat-treated and powder-coated scoop gives greater strength and durability.
Moreover, its 8-inch point blade penetrates the hardest and most compact soils without much effort.
PROS:
- Durable
- Light-weight
CONS:
- Short length
Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel
The Bully Tools 82510 Shovel can survive tough conditions and destroy the most problematic roots.
Its 14-Gauge blade can penetrate hard soils and cut sturdy roots as well as top-selling models. If you’re looking for a high-quality product, you can take home one of these with complete confidence.
Its fiberglass handle uses hardwood to make it almost indestructible. Ideal for contractors used to heavy duties. Its extended ferrule is stronger than other units, preventing the shaft detaches from the scoop with high impacts.
PROS:
- Sturdy handle
- Durable
- Heavy duty
CONS:
- The tip tends to bend
- Blades easily get dull
Ames 2535800 D-Handle Digging Shovel
With a 15-year manufacturer warranty, Ames 2535800 is a tool that will stay with you for years.
Manufactured with the highest quality standards for demanding customers.
Its hardwood shaft provides maximum strength and flexibility. When you dig too hard soils, you won’t feel the direct impact on your hands because of the damping effect of the wood. Its D-handle provides more stability for precise digging.
This tool has a tempered steel blade that guarantees years of use without damage. Its high strength and durability make it perfect for cutting the most robust and deep roots.
PROS:
- Strong
- Durable
- Light-weight
CONS:
- Not suited for heavy usage
Parts Of A Shovel
Blade
It is the sharp part of the shovel that you need for digging up and cutting roots. For quicker penetration into the ground, you need a pointed blade.
Blade steel must be strong enough, or it will bend or break in contact with hard soil. Steel gauges between 12-14 are the most appropriate. A 16-gauge steel blade isn’t enough for heavy duties.
The most appropriate blade types for this kind of purposes are:
- Round point blades
- Serrated blades
- Inverted “V” blades
Shaft
Some shafts are too long for short people, while others are too short and force you to bend during work.
If you choose the wrong length of the shaft, you can suffer from back pain.
Here are the common materials for making shafts:
- Steel
- Hardwood
- Fiberglass
16-Gauge is the most appropriate for steel shafts.
Hardwood is lighter than steel and is the best material to dissipate impacts. This way, the vibration doesn’t pass to your hands, giving you better control.
However, hardwood tends to weaken with moisture. If you want your hardwood shovel to last longer, better keep it away from water and fire.
Fiberglass is a strong and lightweight synthetic material. Today, shafts from most modern models use fiberglass.
Handle
The handle should be comfortable, ergonomic, and has a good grip. So you can find it in different materials, such as fiberglass, polyethylene, wood, as well as steel. The most common types of handle for digging are:
- Straight handle
- O- handle
- D- handle
- T- handle
When you need to apply a lot of force, straight handles aren’t the best option. They tend to slip from your hands.
O-handles allow you to hold the shovel with both hands around an arc. The hand on the top of the arch tends to suffer too much with high impacts.
D-handles work the same as O-handles, but the support surface is flat. It’s the most comfortable handle type.
T-handles offer a flat support surface but have no upper edges to prevent hands from slipping. Not appropriate in case of sweaty hands.
The best handles use soft materials. It allows a better grip, dissipation of efforts, and prevents blisters.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Shovel For Digging Up Roots
How to identify a good shovel for digging up roots?
A shovel is good for digging if it has the following features:
- Sharp-pointed blade.
- 12-14 Gauge steel head.
- Durable shaft.
- Comfortable handle.
Is 16-Gauge steel good for a shovel-head?
No. The thickness wouldn’t be enough to survive the impact or to penetrate hard surfaces.
How to select the best size for the shaft?
Always consider your height first. The distance between the pointed tip and the top of the shovel should be close to the length between the tip of your feet and the midpoint of your chest.
Should you sharpen the shovel’s blade?
Yes. You must keep the blade sharp.
Are shovel shafts replaceable?
Yes. You can always buy a new one at any hardware store.
Conclusion:
There is a wide variety of shovels in the market, and not all are made for digging up and cutting roots. Keep that in mind before making a decision. Choosing the blade type is always the first step in making the best decision.
Consider material quality, weight, and ergonomics.
Now that you have an idea of which shovels have high ratings, you can now select the best shovel for digging up roots.
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