A wide selection of styles is available for each tool. The choice is really one of personal preference and price range. You can get the best value in a particular price range by knowing the uses for each tool and the possible choices to look for when shopping and comparing. A garden shovel with a pointed blade is lighter and smaller than most other shovels and is well suited for garden use. A spade has a flat blade and is designed for cutting rather than lifting or moving soil.
Spades are excellent for shaping straight-sided trenches and for edging beds.
Both shovels and spades come with long handles or short handles in D-shaped styles. The choice of handle style depends on personal preference. Long handles offer greater leverage and may be less tiring to use, while short handles are often thicker and stronger. A spading fork is another useful digging tool. It is ideal for breaking and turning heavy soils and for loosening subsoil layers.