What Is a Spade Shovel?

Shovels

Regular shovels have a scoop-shaped, rounded blade with a bluntly pointed tip. These shovels are made to move material, such as mulch, manure or dirt. Typically, with this type of shovel, you grasp the upper handle with your dominant hand for control and slide your non-dominant hand toward the blade end to lift each load. Slide the blade into the material to fill the scoop, then hold the handle nearly level to move the material from one place to the next.

Spades

Spade shovels, or spades, have a flattened blade shape. Spades may have a straight edge or a shallow-angled blade. These shovels are made for digging, turning over soil and creating a straight edge along a flower bed, lawn or garden. The slight angle or curve to the blade helps you remove soil from the hole as you work. Perennial spades have an elongated blade that allows you to dig deeper with each scoop and to reach deeper into holes.

Spade Use

Use a spade by pressing the blade into the ground using your body weight. While holding onto the handle, push down on the blade with one foot. The metal just over the blade may be folded to provide a larger surface area for your foot. Pull back on the handle to free the soil for removal from the hole. For edging, push the shovel several inches into the ground, press down on the handle, and pull away the clump of grass. To dig to a similar depth each time, you may want to make a mark on the blade as a depth guide.

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