What is the difference between a spade and a shovel?

The spade and shovel battle is on! They really are not that much different from each other, but there are some differences.

The first obvious difference between a spade and a shovel is the blade. The blade on a spade is narrow. The top of the blade is set in a straight line with the handle. This is different from the shovel because the shovels blade is usually curved so you have a place to put your foot to get extra leverage when you move heavy loads.

When should I use a spade?

Spades are used to flatten dirt and to move the dirt around. Because the blade is narrow you might use it to break up the ground but you really wouldn’t want to use it to move large, heavy materials. Keep that in mind when you start a new project in your garden.