When to Use Trenching Shovels

Cleaning Debris

• One of the top applications for a trench shovel is to clean up loose debris at the bottom of a trench after a digging shovel, spade or even power trencher has extracted about the first foot of the trench. A trenching shovel will allow you to stay at level ground, and at an ergonomically-correct standing position, to make a clean-cut area.

Wires and Landscaping Projects

• A trench is needed to house a sprinkler system, French drain pipes or underground utility power lines. A 6-inch wide trench is ideal for deep drainage trenches and sewer pipes, while a 4-inch wide trench is best for power lines and irrigation pipes.

Shovel Design

• Trenching shovels vary in blade widths from 3 inches to 6 inches and typically have at least a 48-inch handle made of either fiberglass or wood. Some trench shovel blades are more rounded, whereas others are more pointed. A duckbill trenching shovel, for example has a slightly rounded point with only a 5- to 6-inch blade that makes deep cuts into the soil.

Considerations

• To extend the life of your trenching shovel, always clean it after use. You’ll create a lot of friction, but not progress, if your blade is clogged with dirt or clay. For seasonal, winter storage, give the shovel a light coat of oil to protect it from rusting. Protect wooden handles from extreme winter temperatures with a coat of urethane.