The Home Gardener’s Guide To Shovels And Spades

Do you know what you’re digging with? Many people don’t know that shovels and spades are actually two different tools with different uses. There are so many garden tools out there that it can be overwhelming and hard to know which tools to use for which jobs, but if you know how to choose the right tools, your garden and landscaping projects will be significantly easier on your body and everything will go more smoothly.
This guide will teach you how to tell the difference between shovels and spades, how to properly use them, and which tool to pick for which job.

What’s the Difference?
So, what is the difference between a shovel and a spade? A spade is shorter and has a flat blade, while a shovel is longer, angled, and its blade is curved into more of a scoop.
Shovels are better for digging up, breaking apart, and lifting soil as well as for scooping and moving loose materials.
Spades are best for cutting into sod, edging, or digging trenches—anything that requires a sharp, straight edge.



Proper Use
When working with digging tools like this, be sure to wear appropriate footwear (no flip flops!). For both spades and shovels, the basic technique is to insert the blade into the ground, using one foot to push down on the ledge at the top of the blade, called the “step.”
Shovels should be inserted into the ground at an angle and pushed slightly forward, while spades should be pushed into the ground vertically to create a straight edge.
As with any outdoor work, use your common sense and be mindful of the heat, stay hydrated, stretch, and take breaks.

Parts of a Spade and Shovel
Shovels and spades are made of similar basic parts—the handle, step, and blade—but they have subtle variances which might not look like much at first, but make all the difference in what these tools can do.
Handle
Spade: shorter, straight handle with a D or T grip at the top to make it easy to hold.
Shovel: long, upward-angled handle, often no grip at the top since shovels are usually held by the handle at an angle, not by the very top. Shovels do frequently have some type of padding around the upper section of the handle to make holding it more comfortable.
Step
Spade: small ledge on top of the blade on either side of the handle, so that you can rest your foot on it and press down into the soil with the strength of your leg.
Shovel: smaller or no step ledge, as shovels are not intended for the type of work that requires as much extra force of a foot on the blade (such as edging) and a bulky step would get in the way when scooping and lifting material at an angle.
Blade
Spade: flat blade with a square-shaped end.
Shovel: curved, bowl-shaped blade, usually rounded or pointed at the end, but shovels with square-shaped blades are available as well.

Keep in mind that there are many different blade weights, which will dramatically change the experience of handling a shovel or spade. Professional-grade shovels can get very heavy, which means that they are great for heavy lifting but can also be difficult to use. Lighter shovels are less powerful, but are much more usable for many and are a good choice for those with limited abilities.
Try out the different weights and see what feels comfortable to you—I personally prefer a lighter shovel, while my partner prefers a heavier one.

Tips for Pruning in Early Spring

The New Year has passed, and winter is drawing to a close. Some gardeners may already be preparing for early spring pruning, but others are still unsure of what they should be doing.
Early spring is a great time to prune plants. But pruning is not an easy task; it requires a lot of knowledge and skill. Next, we will discuss the considerations for early spring pruning.



Early Spring Pruning Tips
Proper pruning is important, and it provides these important benefits
-To keep plants alive.
-To create and maintain good branch or plant structure
-To increase the flower or fruit production of fruit trees
-To improve overall health and air flow.
-To keep the size of the plants in line with the space in which they are planted.
Many novice gardeners get confused when deciding when to prune, how much to prune, and the appropriate type of cutting to base their planting on. A common mistake is to prune purely according to the appearance of the plant, rather than looking at its natural growth factors: size, width, shape, growth rate.
The best plan of pruning must be based on the characteristics of the plant itself. If possible, it is important to start pruning when the plant is young, as pruned trees are easier to maintain.

Before Early Spring Pruning
The first step before early spring pruning is to identify the type of plant. More pruning of young, vigorous shrubs and trees will increase the amount of new growth. This means that the more frequently they are pruned, the more attention they may need to be put in. This is not a good decision. For older trees that have lost much of their vigor, good heavy pruning often stimulates new growth and helps produce more branches, flowers or fruit.
For flowering shrubs and trees, it is important to determine whether the species is flowering on new shoots in the current season or on growth from the previous season. Knowing this will help determine the timing of pruning and avoid cutting the wrong branches and leaving fewer potential flowers.
For plants that have already flowered, pruning during the dormant season prior to early spring and removing buds that grew in the spring will help the plant produce more flowers and develop a stronger branch structure. This also helps reduce the amount of time open wounds are susceptible to disease before active growth begins.
It is always good to remove any dead, diseased or dying material at any time. This will reduce stress on the plant, reduce the size of wounds from insect and disease damage, and allow the wounds to heal properly.

Proper Spring Pruning Tools
-Hand pruners: for smaller diameter branches, or soft flowers and vines.
-Pole pruners: Pruners with extension poles for pruning branches that are out of reach from the ground or from a ladder. Also available in saw form for cutting larger branches.
-Hedge trimmer: Used to shape shrubs, ideal for large, flat pruning areas.
-Chainsaw: For larger branches that cannot be cut with a pole saw or other method.
It is very important to disinfect the tools before pruning. And it is the dormant period of the plant before early spring pruning. During this period of reduced gardening work, gardeners also have plenty of time to carefully clean and disinfect tools. The easiest way to do this is with bleach and water, which can be done in every home.
After the early spring pruning, the plants will be in a phase of vigorous growth. Therefore, during the pruning process, especially when switching between pruning of different kinds of plants, tools should also be disinfected. Although it is uncommon to spread diseases through pruning, there is some risk, and disinfecting tools will greatly reduce this risk. After all, no one wants a lot of sick plants in their spring garden.

At Gardepot, we offer a variety of wholesale garden equipment and gardening guides. Please feel free to contact us for any needs or questions.

What are the Best Gifts for Gardening Lovers?

Winter is the season of holidays. After Christmas, the New Year is just around the corner. And if anyone has gardener friends around, then it's time to get them some gifts!
What are the best gifts for gardening lovers? What would they love? What are the most useful items to give a gardener? In this list from Gardepot, we'll provide some gift ideas for consideration.

Best Gifts for Gardening Lovers
1. Hand Pruners
Maintaining a garden requires regular pruning, so hand pruners are undoubtedly the most common and desired tool for gardeners. A hand pruner as a gift should have an ergonomic handle and a sharp blade to help the gardener make clean cuts quickly and efficiently.
Hand pruners come in two styles, anvil style and bypass blades. The anvil style hand pruner has a sharp blade that closes to the bottom of the cutting board. It is ideal for cutting dead wood. The bypass pruner, on the other hand, has two sharp blades that make clean cuts in a scissor-like fashion. The clean cut minimizes trauma and allows the plant to recover quickly from the pruning. The right one should be chosen according to the needs of the gardener.

2. Loppers
This is a handy tool for gardens with lots of trees, shrubs and bushes. Loppers are cutting tools with long handles and thick, sharp blades. This tool is ideal for cutting thick branches at a certain height.
Some loppers have telescopic handles that can be extended to reach further. Telescopic loppers do not require the use of a ladder when pruning tall trees, so this is an even better gift.

3. Herb Kit
Herbs are the most popular plants in almost any home garden. Herbs are perfect for beginners or gardeners who don't have a lot of time to tend to their yards. Most are easy to grow and low maintenance. Some can even thrive with neglect, such as basil and mint. This makes herb kits the gift for garden lovers that can never go wrong.
Herb kits on the market will usually include several complementary herbs, as well as some essential gardening materials, such as planting pots and potting mixes. All gardeners need to do is plant the seeds and within a few weeks at the earliest they can harvest fresh and delicious herbs to spice up their daily dishes.

4. A Mini Gardening Tool Set
For gardeners who like to grow herbs or small potted plants, you can't go wrong with this gardening gift idea. Mini gardening tool sets usually include mini versions of trowels, shovels and rakes, and some will include more other less common mini tools.
Mini gardening tool sets are handy for tending to small gardens growing vegetables or indoor potted plants. Even some manufacturers or brands will launch mini-tool sets specifically as gifts, with unique designs on the product and packaging.

5. Garden Gear&Accessories
Garden gear&accessories refer to a variety of protective equipment including gardening gloves, rain boots, aprons, etc. to prevent gardeners from getting hurt on the job. What gift is better than caring for your fellow gardeners themselves? This is also a very practical gift since every gardening lover will need these gears to protect themselves.

6. Functional Garden Decors
Functional garden decorations make great gifts for those who care for medium to large gardens. Water features, birdbaths, bird feeders, birdhouses, barrels (to collect rainwater), and beehives are just a few of the many garden decorations that add beauty and function to any outdoor space.

7. Plant Stand
A plant stand is a decorative shelf that is usually used to display different potted plants. It's a great gift idea for gardeners who need more space. It's practical and looks great when set in a corner.
In addition to being a gift idea, this list can also be used to provide gardening supply retailers with ideas for preparing goods to sell during the holiday season.

Gardepot is a leading manufacturer and exporter of gardening tools in China. Customers can find cheap wholesale products and various gardening guides on our website. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or needs.