10 Best Garden Spades UK 2022 | Burgon & Ball, Roamwild and More

Through their unwavering dedication to quality through construction, we just couldn't look past Burgon & Ball for the number one spot. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society, their digging spade features astainless steel blade with a comfort tread and an FSC-approved ash wood shaft and handle.

While this seems like a standard pairing of materials for premium spades, it's in the quality of craftsmanship where Burgon & Ball edge out the rest. The tool is not just a pleasure to use but it comes with a lifetime guarantee, which is another nod to this trusted company's undying quest to be the best. 

Roamwild's multi-digger garden spade is a contemporary spin on what this piece of garden equipment has come to represent. The shaft and handle are made of fibreglass, with the handle featuring the brand's 'AIRlight' design in order to make it as lightweight as possible. 

With a healthy amount of grip on not just the handle but the shaft as well, you'll feel in control of this spade even in the wet. The blade has a defined cutting edge to make light work of any root that catches you off-guard. A feature-filled, modern spade of which the high price reflects. 

Burgon & Ball is the oldest standing British manufacturer of garden tools and accessories. In fact, they've been making their premium tool range in the same factory in Sheffield since 1873, an enduring legacy that ensures they are at the top of the tool game.

Their planting spade's stainless steel blade has been strengthened through a tempering process and set to an ash wood shaft and handle. At 53 cm, this is a very workable and premium spade to see you through plenty of planting seasons. 

We know that Gardena's spade at number 7 has got you sorted when your plants are in their infancy, but what about the established ones? Well, you're in luck, as this traditional planting spade is sized well at 91 cm in length.

Features to highlight include the height markings in inches on the blade in addition to the small-yet-refined cutting edge on the other side. The hardwood shaft and handle have also been weatherproofed, making it ready to go to work come rain, hail or shine. 

Entering the more premium side of the garden tool world, this digging spade by British company Kent and Stowe looks incredibly good, comes highly rated and is made of all the right materials. 

The blade is constructed of stainless steel with a silver finish that's sure to turn a few heads down at the allotment. The steel runs halfway up the shaft for strength where it is met with ash hardwood. This gives it a nice contrast in tone and rounds out, for the price, a desirable digging companion for larger areas. 

Going in the other direction, Fiskars's pointed spade is the longest of our picks at 117 cm. This extra length will be of the most benefit to taller gardeners, as it will help them work through the tougher parts of their garden with crouching over too much. 

In addition, the pointed alloy steel blade is purposed to make your life easier when up against ground that is hard and stacked with stone. We rate this as a decent mid-range spade that's popular with those who enjoy good gardening gear for a competitive price.  

When there's some planting or transplanting that needs seeing to in your garden, you're going to want a spade that is small, easy to handle and comfortable to grip. This planting trowel by Gardena ticks all those boxes and then some.

Its unique design allows you to extend it to a total length of 41 cm. This will help to minimise backache, keeping you at a comfortable height while still finishing the job at hand. While it won't be the only spade you need to buy, it's certainly a cheerful one to add to the collection. 

For the folk who are putting off going into battle with the root-infested area way down the back of the garden, you need not worry anymore as the Root Slayer is here for you. A modern spade through and through, its circular ergonomic handle has four times the gripping surface of a regular spade.

As for the blade, it's made of heavy-gauge steel with two cutting edges and an inverted 'V' cutting tip. This spade will take a lot of the effort out of cutting through roots and save you time and energy in the process. Its niche design isn't for everyday use, but it's the best of its kind if toughness is what you need. 

This border spade from Amtech is another great first purchase for gardeners who want something easy to get along with that is both short in shaft and light in weight. At just 93 cm long, it is small for a full-sized tool. It also weighs just 1.5 kg. 

The low weight can also be put down to the plastic shaft and handle, which, once again, aren't the hardiest but do mean the spade is fairly cheap. For anyone who is worried about handling a full-sized spade for long periods of the day, this will keep you engaged and be kind to your arms when there's some digging to be done. 

If you're looking to keep costs down but still want a spade that comes highly rated and ready to dig, this offering by Challenger is a great one to consider. Good for older gardeners too, the blade is constructed of carbon steel which gives it a lightweight sensibility.

The shaft is made of a hardwearing polypropylene plastic which, although strong for plastic, will still have its limitations when compared to other materials. All in, this is a good entry-level spade for anyone who doesn't desire to spend any more than they have to.