How to Use a Kodiak Spading Fork

The Kodiak spading fork comes with a hardwood handle and four 10 3/4-inches long, 7 1/8-inches wide tines that are specially shaped to dig into the soil. A garden fork is an essential tool for gardening but it is often confused with a hay fork. The hay fork is made for moving lightweight material such as hay, straw and compost around, and the tines are normally longer and thinner. A spading fork is more robust, with a shorter, D-topped handle for gripping.

Instructions

- 1
  Grip the Kodiak with one hand on the D-handle and the other hand part way down the handle when lifting or turning soil. Use your knees instead of your back muscles to lift with the fork.
- 2
  Spread fertilizer and other soil amendments on top of the soil. Dig into the ground with the Kodiak and, with a twisting motion, lift the soil up and over in the same spot. The tines allow the amendments to fall through into the hole, mixing them with the soil.
- 3
  Push the tines deep into the soil at a 90-degree angle and vigorously rock the fork back and forth to loosen the soil for planting new crops.
- 4
  Slide the tines under vining plants such as squash to lift up to inspect under the vines.
- 5
  Push the tines into the soil to the side of root crops such as potatoes. Move the fork back and forth to loosen the soil around the potatoes to make them easier to dig out.
- 6
  Use the fork to also move light material that would normally be done with a hay fork. A 4-tined spade fork such as the Kodiak is best for this. It does not work as well as a hay fork but will work well enough for most purposes.

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