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WinnerRadius Garden 22011Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel
  • Material: Carbon Steel
  • Brand: Radius Garden
  • LxWxH: 45 x 10.5 x 3.8 inches
  • Weight: 5 Pounds
  • Style: Root Slayer
9.8
4.5/5 StarsMore..
ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002 Carbon Steel Shovel
  • Material: Carbon Steel, Metal
  • Brand: ROOT ASSASSIN
  • LxWxH: 32 x 5.5 x 2 inches
  • Weight: 2 Pounds
9.2
4/5 StarsMore..
Bully Tools 82510Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel
  • Material: Fiberglass, Alloy Steel, Polypropylene, Plastic
  • Brand: Bully Tools
  • LxWxH: 44 x 9 x 4.12 inches
  • Weight: 4.5 Pounds
  • Gauge: 14.0
  • Handle: Fiberglass
8.8
4/5 StarsMore..

Gardening is not an easy job. You need to mow the grass, dig the soil, sweep the leaves. Everything in gardening needs labor and time. So, if you do not have the right tools, it will be a tiresome and challenging job. Time is also a factor here. We want to complete our job in time. 

If you love gardening, you love the smell of fresh-turned soil, without any weeds or dead roots just sitting there to be planted with your favorite seedlings. But, to get there, you first need a sturdy shovel. A good shovel works like a great weapon on an experienced gardener’s hand.

Finding the best shovel for digging up roots is not an easy job. There are plenty of options to consider. A shovel works excellent when it does the digging well and doesn’t strain your back or hand. It’s used for other gardening-related tasks too.

So, we have selected some of the best shovels for digging up roots depending on the blade composition, handle length, and weight.

01. Radius Garden 22011 Root Slayer Shovel

If this is your first time buying a shovel, then the Radius Garden 22011 is a perfect all-purpose tool for you. The shovel features an O-Handle to grip more firmly while you use it. The tip is built with carbon steel, and it is hard enough to cut through even bamboo roots. 

The longer you work on your garden, the worse it gets. You will feel pain in your wrist and waist. Use the Radius Garden 22011 to reduce the pain. Its lightweight and sturdy V-shaped structure are perfect for longer work.

Specs:

  1. Featuring O-shaped handle for better gripping
  2. V-shaped carbon-steel tip for digging through dirt and roots
  3. Weighs 5 Pounds

Things we like

  1. Lifetime warranty
  2. Solid and lightweight to cut through the bamboo root

Things we don’t like

  1. The handle is made of plastic.
  2. Warranty is limited to the US continent only.

02. ROOT ASSASSIN RA-002 Carbon Steel Shovel

Root Assassin comes in two sizes, 32 and 48 inches. Choose the one depending on your height and how little you want to bend. It is a lightweight shovel compared to others in the market, weighs only 2 pounds.

The rubber-coated D-shaped metal handle gives a digging comfort. The blade is V-shaped with saw teeth on both sides. The spade with a pointed tip makes it effortless to cut through any soil and roots.

Root Assassin RA-002 is a lightweight, high-performing tool to use in almost any task a shovel is needed.

Specs:

  1. Enhanced shovel shape and curved tip with serrated edges
  2. Made with Carbon Steel
  3. D -shaped rubber handle for better grip
  4. It weighs only 2 pounds

Things we like

  1. Very strong and lightweight
  2. Lifetime replacement guarantee

Things we don’t like

  1. The blade bends sometimes.

03. Bully Tools 82510 14-Gauge Round Point Shovel

Don’t like the lightweight design and special fancy blades? Then this classic style heavy-duty shovel is just right for you. This industrial shovel is suitable for almost any kind of shoveling. The shovel is made entirely in the USA. 

The company used Fiberglass, Alloy Steel, Polypropylene, Plastic to make this industrial-grade shovel. It is a Strong Polypropylene Co-Polymer D-grip with an extra-wide design and no-slip texture, and this is not an easy thing to break.

Specs:

  1. 100% Made in the USA
  2. Commercial grade design
  3. Genuine 14 gauge steel blade
  4. Polypropylene Co-Polymer D-grip with an extra-wide design
  5. Weight 4.5 pounds
  6. The handle is made of fiberglass

Things we like

  1. Robust, sturdy, and heavy-duty design
  2. Limited lifetime warranty
  3. Multipurpose tool for engineering and gardening 
  4. Polypropylene Co-Polymer D-grip

Things we don’t like:

  1. Heavier than the regular shovels.

How to Choose the best shovel for digging up roots?

Digging tools are not complicated things. They are easy to identify and purchase. The main concern is choosing a good one that will last for years without breaking. There are different sizes, shapes, and materials to make shovels. Sometimes it gets confusing what to buy. To buy the best shovel for digging up roots, you first need to know the type of shovels.

The difference between Spade & Shovel

Not everything you see with a blade and a handle is a shovel. There are scoop types, spades, etc. Spade and Shovel are two different kinds of tools, if you don’t know. While shovels are suitable for digging and have a curved blade that goes all the way to the top pointy nose, Spades occur to have a flat-edged blade.

Spades can cut through roots and hard soils too. They are used to move dirt from one place to another, but they are not good at digging. 

Scoops are something with a short handle and flat top, and the sidewall is curved sometimes. The blade is not as sharp or firm as a shovel. The side is wide enough to move soil and dirt from one place to another. We do not use them to dig roots or holes. 

In this scenario, we will encourage you to get a multipurpose industrial shovel to do all gardening tasks. Industrial shovels are a bit heavier, but on the experienced hand, they work like magic.

These are the things you need to consider while buying the best shovel.

01. Blades

Blades are the heart of a shovel. Most blades are made of steel. Suppose you get a forged steel blade shovel that will cost you a higher price. They are made from a single plate without joints, and they last longer. Other blades are shaped with machines from sheets of steel, and there are joints you can see.

A strong, sturdy, and thicker blade should be your choice. To give some extra push while digging up roots, check if the blade has a footrest on the joint of the blade and handle.

02. Type & Length of the Handle

The longer the handle length of your shovel, spade, or scoop is, the better leverage you will get. Longer handle shovels are easier to move, and you can reach further distances without bending your back.

Mostly it depends on your height, garden size, and the task you are engaged in too. In a small garden, you would prefer a shorter handle shovel for more effortless movement.

Three types of materials are used in the shovel handle, wood, steel, and fiberglass. Wood is a traditional approach and costs much less than the steel or fiberglass handle. Some hybrid handles are a mix of fiberglass and steel too. The problem is the wooden handle breaks much faster than the fiber or steel handle.

Steel handles are most strong but heavier. On the other hand, fiberglass and steel handles cost almost the same, and fiber is lightweight. So, most of the manufacturers are now going for the fiberglass handle.

03. Grip

Old wooden handmade shovels didn’t put much thought on the top grip. They had metal D-shape grips without any padding. Some shovels didn’t have any grip, and people just used the shovel by firmly gripping the top of the handle.

Modern shovels mostly have D-shaped grips, and some even have a round-shaped grip. A good grip is a must to work for a longer time. Check if there are paddings on the hold, and it isn’t too slippery if you sweat.

04. Weight of the shovel

Weight is an essential factor while choosing a gardening shovel. Most heavy-duty shovels will weigh around 5 to 8 pounds. This amount isn’t much weight to handle, but digging for hours will make a huge difference.

Two scenarios here, heavier shovels are easier to dig with at the begging. Still, your hands will get tired pretty quickly. Lighter shovel needs a bit more push from you, but you can work longer hours with them. 

Sometimes you do not even need a heavier shovel. 

We suggest getting two shovels of two different weights. In this way, you can choose which one to use where and when without hurting your back and wrist.


Learn More about Best Shovel for Digging Up Roots


Top Picks: Best Shovel for Digging Up Roots:

IMAGEPRODUCTDETAILS 
Fiskars 397960
All Purpose
Fiskars 397960-1001 PRO Shovel, Digging, 44 Inch, Silver
  • Material: Aluminum, Alloy Steel
  • Brand: Fiskars
  • LxWxH: 5.88 x 9.5 x 44.75 inches
Spade Root Cutter
Value Buy
Garden Spade Root Cutter Shovel by LavoHome
  • Material: Wood
  • Brand: LavoHome
  • Gauge: 14.0
  • Grip: Padded

01. Fiskars 397960-1001 PRO Shovel, Digging, 44 Inch, Silver

Fisker’s all-purpose shovel is just the perfect weapon for digging and moving darts from one place to another. The handle is made of Aluminum, and a D-shaped grip is attached at the top with a double-bolted connection for easy maneuver. The blade is made of Aluminum and alloy steel. Its sharp and pointy tips are just great for digging, chopping, and prying.

Specs: 

  1. D-handle Digging Shovel features an extruded aluminum handle and double-bolted connections.
  2. It has an Extended shank with an optimized angle for digging and prying.
  3. Heavy-gauge steel with a sharpened head’s edge makes it easier to dig, chop and pry.
  4. Shorter length to work in tight spaces
  5. LxWxH: 5.88 x 9.5 x 44.75 inches
  6. Weight 5.54 pounds 

Things we like

  1. Lightweight
  2. Lifetime warranty
  3. No wooden part.

Things we don’t like

  1. Shorter handle.

02. Garden Spade Root Cutter Shovel by LavoHome

This LavoHome root cutter is the perfect tool for cleaning tracks, digging, and clearing trenches and drains. You can use this shovel to dig through sod and roots. One thing that might bug you a bit is the handle; it is made of Oakwood. Wooden handles are not our perfect choice, but when you need a shovel+spade to do a quick cleaning without hurting your hand, then this garden spade root cutter from LavoHome does the trick.

Specs: 

  1. D-shaped padded grip.
  2. Wooden handle (Oak).
  3. Forward turned step for secure foot placement.
  4. Almost 14 gauge, 14″ blade, Around 28-inch wood handle with D-grip, Overall 42″ length.
  5. Weighs only 4 pounds.

Nevertheless, this is a good gardening tool for both residential and commercial use. Lightweight and easy to maneuver on dry compacted clay and rocky soils.

Things we like

  1. Lightweight.
  2. Industrial grade steel.
  3. Great for tight space.

Things we don’t like

  1. Wooden handle.
  2. No warranty.
  3. Need to be sharpened in some cases.

As we described earlier, if you are a serious gardener, do not depend on only one shovel. Always get two. One should be longer and heavier, and the other should be lightweight. Different situations demand different options. One is never enough.

Although most manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty, remember that if a gardening shovel works for at least two years without breaking, it is a value buy.

Happy gardening.

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