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How to use a spade?

• Message 1. 

  Posted by blackeyedsusan (U2456655) on Saturday, 10th October 2009

  Ever the amateur, I am interested in how experts use tools. I think Monty Don used to do it, and last night I noticed that Toby Buckland does it a lot - he lifts it up high and pushes it into the soil using one hand, time and time again.
  
  Maybe he always has sandy soil with no stones, but if I do that I risk damage to my wrist, if nothing else. I always put the spade on the soil and push it in with my foot. Is this wrong??

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Saturday, 10th October 2009

  Hello blackeyedsusan
  No you are doing it right. The way I was taught was to put the spade at right angles to the soil then push in with the foot. Taking about 10cms spit at a time so as the soil breaks up better and is lighter. In the long run let the tool do the work and not you're joints after all that is what the spade is made for. What does toby know about gardening anyway.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by londonplantmad (U2392946) on Saturday, 10th October 2009

  I was told to put the spade down vertically and only lift 2 inches of soil. This way the soil breaks and you are not lifting a huge spade full. You do not strain your back and you can dig for much longer. If you have clay it is also important to understand clay soil. If you dig it at the right time the job is easy but if you dig it at the wrong time you will not get your spade in the ground. The best time is after a good amount of rain and never when its been dry for a long time. Also never walk on wet clay soil as it becomes compacted.

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• Message 4

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  Posted by Richardf77 (U2391775) on Tuesday, 13th October 2009

  I was never 'taught how to use a spade but picked it up from watching others use one including on GW.
  
  Most of the time I use the traditional technique of pushing the blade into the soil with your heel as verticaly as possible then lift and turn to put the soil where you want it. i have on occasions found myself digging 'the Monty way' to save time or just to break up the soil. However this way is hard work and the chalk. flints and rubble in my soil tend to disuade me from using the technique too often!

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• Message 5

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  Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Wednesday, 14th October 2009

  Hello Richardf77
  I was never 'taught how to use a spade but picked it up from watching others use one including on GW.
  
  I was taught how to use a spade by a journeyman in the trade so as I didn't pick up any bad or dangerous habits along the way. The blade of the spade has as much cutting power as an Samurai sword and quite easily dismember a foot or toe in the wrong hands. Always put the blade on the soil to be dug before applying pressure, that way accidents are completely avoided. If you lift the spade blade from the soil in order to break up the soil then you are using the wrong tool for the job, maybe a pickaxe would be more suitable to loosen the soil before the spade is applied.

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• Message 6

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  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Wednesday, 14th October 2009

  I was never taught either but it seems logical to me that the blade of the blade of the spade should do the work on being pushed in by the foot.
  
  I used to have heavy clay in Harrow and found my seemingly expensive stainless steel ladies' spade worked a treat and lasted a long time so worked out cheaper in the long run than several cheaper spades. OH eventually broke its handle but I still have its partner stainless steel fork after 20 years. It's better for the spade, back and stamina to dig small spits than large.
  
  Of course the best digging method of all is to get OH to do it......

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Tigerredwood (U13742280) on Wednesday, 14th October 2009

  Hello Obelixx
  Some people don't work with logic in the garden.
  
  
  3600 people per year damage themselves every year in the UK with spades so there must be a right and wrong way to use a spade.
  Also more men than women injure themselves, now I know why

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• Message 8

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  Posted by marcia (U14085462) on Wednesday, 14th October 2009

  Have to agree with Obs about a ladies' stainless steel spade. I get on really well with the one I have and thoroughly enjoy using it.
  
  I was taught how to dig, hoe, rake, along with lots of other gardening skills whilst using the tools correctly, by my gardening Grandad. He was a bit of a stickler and his one major rule was that at the end of the day all tools had to be cleaned before they were put away. He used to oil them with an old rag occasionally too.
  
  I inherited all his tools but found the spade too heavy. I often wonder what he would think of my "Lady Spade"

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• Message 9

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  Posted by Paul N (U6451125) on Thursday, 15th October 2009

  Going back to the original post, could it be that the reason the spade was used (almost as an axe) by TV gardeners is that prior to the start of filming, the ground would have been well and truly dug over anyway by others? Just a thought.
  
  As has been said, using the spade in a chopping action would be risky. How many of us garden in steel toecapped boots? Crocs?
  
  Mine you GH used to dig in this fashion, didn't he? Chopping three sides of a square then the final thrust and up came a great chunk of soil. I have an almost no-dig garden but when I do dig, and I'm wearing strong boots, I dig that way.

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• Message 10

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  Posted by pinktequila (U2803141) on Thursday, 15th October 2009

  I was taught how to use a spade properly by another gardener. The spade is always very sharp and although not stainless, is bright and shiny. There are different ays of using a spade to produce different results however the way I see many people using one on tv does not result in the level digging that I was taught to achieve.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by David K (U2221642) on Friday, 16th October 2009

  I think those lusty lunges adopted by MD & TB are intended to impress the camera. From what I see they are trying use a spade as a fork.
  Certainly, if they had to use a spade for an eight hour day as the Victorians did, they would soon learn how measure their efforts to last out the day.
  

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• Message 12

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  Posted by blackeyedsusan (U2456655) on Friday, 16th October 2009

  Thanks for your interesting replies, everyone.
  
  I too always use a small stainless steel spade, and I managed to buy an old "reconditioned" ladies' fork at an RHS show a couple of years ago - these are both treasured. Actually I prefer the wooden handle on the old tool, as I find the plastic one on the (expensive) spade irritates my hand.
  
  And yes, I always clean my tools after use, and even get busy with the oily rag every so often.

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• Message 13

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  Posted by bookhimdano (U10771514) on Sunday, 18th October 2009

  keep spade sharp and oiled
  
  never jump on the spade with both feet [as often seen on tv e.g archaeology digs]. great way to break both ankles.
  
  also there are different types of spades about.

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• Message 14

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  Posted by mowalot (U13936479) on Tuesday, 20th October 2009

  Hi, One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the right way to lift a loaded spade. With the lifting hand, always grasp the handle at the bottom, near the blade, then lift. It is much easier to lift than it is when holding the handle half way down and you are much less likely to hurt your back, and of course bend your knees and lift with your legs. All this may seem very obvious but I have seen quite a few people digging the wrong way esp. on allotments.

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