King of Spades Steel D-Handle Steel Blade Spade

This tool is in a league of its own. I am not a professional but spend countless summer afternoons and most weekends in the yard (not really by choice) and have worn out and broken several shovels in my life through heavy use and outright abuse. This nursery spade is built to be abused, the handle is round at the top and taped to an oval near the blade. I believe it is aircraft tubing like that used in bicycle frames. I set it on the ground near a root ball, put my foot on it, apply my body weight and it slices through roots like butter with no jumping on the blade etc. Once I've done a few soil cuts this way I can lever out any root ball with ease and absolutely no concern for breaking the tool. I started popping a bunch of ratty15 yr old azaleas out of the ground in 2 minutes a piece then I moved a Maple sapling to an area where I could actually use a maple tree and popped 20 Hostas and ~50 Lily of the valley plants out of the VA red clay in 10 seconds each, then set to managing some overgrown bamboo rhizomes. Not a bad first day.If I could make a suggestion, consider getting the optional footrest. The seller I purchased from did not include this but it would make things even more comfortable and a bit easier.

Great tool for landscape planting and irrigation.

I bought two of these 14 years ago at a landscape supply wholesaler. And still going strong. I am a professional contractor and they have been used daily. I purchases these for about $80 then. They have gone up a lot and run $150 at the same wholesaler now. These are every heavy put are built like a tank. I have see many 'other' contractors break their $35 fiberglass and wooden 'straight-shooters'. I show them mine, and they love them, ask how much they run, and refuse to pay it. I ask them how many shovels they have broken over the years and they always respond with "countless". I respond with the cost of this shovel would have saved you a ton of money. These are great for edging, landscape wire installations, root hacking, and plant transplanting and removing. Great buy. Just make sure the rubber foot pad is included with your purchase first.