Tools Used for Digging the Soil

Pick Axe

• Pick axes can be especially useful when digging in hard or rocky soil and they come in different sizes. The end of the axe has a multifunctional metal tip. One side of the tip is pointed to break through soil, while the other side has a flat blade, which can be used to clear the soil out of the immediate area.

Shovels and Spades

• While the basic design of shovels and spades are the same, shovels have rounded metal plates attached to the handle, while the metal plate of the spade is flat. The primary function of a spade is to dig, while the shovel is best-suited for moving already loose dirt.

Trowel

• A trowel is a hand tool for digging out small amounts of soil. The handles are made from either wood or plastic, attached to a long, concave metal blade that has a pointed tip. Trowels are useful for potting plants and placing bedding plants outside. Because of the shape of the blade, a trowel can also be used for moving and transporting soil in limited quantities.

Hoes

• Hoes have metal blades that are perpendicular to the handle and therefore are ideal for digging out rows of soil or forming trenches. This is done by pulling back on the handle and digging out the dirt in long lines. Two different types of hoes are grub and grape hoes. A grape hoe is ideal for shallow digging or for weeding an area, while a grub hoe's longer blade makes it more suitable for digging deeper into the soil.