bluegrassmom said:I have amended clay soil, I haven't ever used a fork. I wonder if they would do well here. You lift so much soil with a spade.
For heavy soil you want a fork with heavy, forged tines. I prefer a fork for two reasons; you don't lose as many roots when you pry out a clump, and once the clump is out, you can sink two forks back-to-back and split it with less damage.
One forking tip I can offer is to be aware of how it reacts as you pry. If you happen to be putting all your weight on one tine because of a rock or tree root, you can bend it.
I can see where the circular handle might offer more hand positions, but with one of these things, your foot does all the pushing. RH's suggestion of the Craftsman fork with a lifetime guarantee is golden advice. It's also a few bucks cheaper than the "fancy" one made in China.
I have one of the Lee Valley stainless steel, green-handled trenching spades, and it's been outside (out of the sun) for at least 10 years now. Because it's out there with me, it gets far more use than one I'd have to go fetch every time I needed it.
