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Mary Walsh

PoeticGardenerPoeticGardener Posts: 3
in Tools and techniques
Hello,   I was interested in the 10 best spades article but after reading this was disappointed.  All of the models were heavy.  None had ergonomic handles.  None designed for someone who is 5'4" and a bit arthritic and cannot heft a heavy digging spade easily.  Has anyone got any suggestions apart from getting a muscle-bound gardener to do the work!

Posts

  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    Read up about "no dig" gardening.  Build raised beds where you just need to cultivate the surface of the soil.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Failing that, a lady's border spade in stainless steel should do the trick as they have a smaller spade surface so you are less likely to strain yourself.

    Have a look at Spear and Jackson or Burgon and Ball, depending on your budget.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’ve always used a ‘border fork’ and ‘border spade’ .  As a woman I’ve found them to be a much more practical size for me to use without straining my back. I know male gardeners who use them too as they’re a more practical size to use amongst plants  ‘in the borders’ 😆 

    Like you I was surprised that this aspect wasn’t addressed by the magazine feature. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree with the use of a lady's/border spade and fork. I am the same height as you and they are fine for me. Considerably lighter. I would head to the garden centre and try various ones until you find one that suits you :) .
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    The article does stipulate 'digging spades', maybe there'll be a separate list of border spades another day.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • PoeticGardenerPoeticGardener Posts: 3
    PoeticGardener said:
    Hello,   I was interested in the 10 best spades article but after reading this was disappointed.  All of the models were heavy.  None had ergonomic handles.  None designed for someone who is 5'4" and a bit arthritic and cannot heft a heavy digging spade easily.  Has anyone got any suggestions apart from getting a muscle-bound gardener to do the work!
    thanks for all the replies.  Talk about when is a spade not a spade?  Didn't know there was a difference.  New to all this gardening lark!
  • PoeticGardenerPoeticGardener Posts: 3
    thanks for all the replies.  Talk about when is a spade not a spade?  Didn't know there was a difference.  New to all this gardening lark!
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    What's the difference between a border spade and a digging spade ? Presumably just the size ?

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    After my faithful trowel, the tools I use most are a border fork and border spade.  I would recommend spending a bit extra to get stainless steel ones with wooden 'D' shaped handles.  I bought some of these 30 years ago and they are still as good as the day I bought them:




    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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