Different Kinds of Shovels & Their Uses

You may be surprised to discover shovels are not a generic tool. One shovel will not perform every task. Some shovels are designed for scooping, while others are designed for slicing, digging or edging. Once you decide on the blade you need, you should determine the length of the handle and the handle type that fits you best. Try out the shovel in the store before you purchase it. Make sure it feels comfortable in your hands and it is not too heavy. The proper shovel can make a difficult chore easier.

The round-tip shovel is a very versatile implement. The pointed tip and shield-shaped blade make it a handy tool for cutting through soil and scooping. Shovels with longer handles, up to 48 inches long, are commonly used for digging deeper holes or in situations requiring optimal leverage, such as removing roots. Shorter-handled round-point shovels are better suited for general gardening chores.

Square-pointed shovels are not very effective for digging undisturbed soil. The flat edge does not penetrate the ground as well as the pointed tip of the round-point shovel. The flat edge and shallow basin make the square-point shovel an effective tool to gather and lift loose soil, mulch or rock.

The scoop shovel is an effective garden tool for cleanup or any time you have to transfer large quantities of mulch or loose soil from one area to another. However, this versatile tool is not limited to the garden. It is frequently used on farms, on ranches and in manufacturing plants for scooping and transferring grain, fertilizers and feed. The flat blade is perfect for scraping up material, and the deep bowl allows for larger shovel loads.

Trench shovels are sometimes referred to as duckbilled shovels due to their long and narrow shape. As the name implies, they are frequently used for digging trenches. The flat blade slices easily through undisturbed soil and leaves a straight cut line, while the narrow width of the blade makes it an effective tool to scoop out broken and loose soil inside the trench. It is a useful garden tool for digging next to edgings or areas where space is limited.

Unless you enjoy the winter wonderland, the snow shovel may be the least revered of all household tools. There are two basic designs of snow shovel. The scoop snow shovel is similar to the basic scoop shovel and works well for transferring large amounts of snow. Push snow shovels have a flat edge with a partially rounded blade that is designed to push snow rather than lift it. This works especially well after a small snowfall. Snow shovels are available in a variety of materials, including aluminum, steel and plastic. Ergonomic shovels with bent, S-shaped handles are designed to take the strain off your back while shoveling.