What is the difference between a digging fork and a spading fork?
Digging forks have four sharp, usually square tines. Most often digging forks have a “D” handle, but there are longer handled versions. Similar to a digging fork, a spading fork has wider, flatter tines. It’s better than a digging fork for moving soil material, or edging. With foot-long tines, a digging fork or broadfork is able to loosen the soil 12-to-14 inches deep, providing the next-best method to double-digging with only a moderate amount of work.
Can a spading fork break up compacted soil?
Cultivating fork chops out weeds With this tool in hand, I can quickly plow through the soil, dislodging weeds, breaking up compacted surface soil, loosening, mixing, and generally getting a bed ready for planting. One common variation has three pointed tines, a good design for breaking up tough soil. Fork weeders: Sometimes referred to as dandelion weeders, weeding forks excel at digging out deep roots. Our best budget pick is a short-handled weeding fork that’s great for dealing with dandelions, thistle, and other deep-rooted weeds.