[brucesgirl]

When I dig I always use a fork, I find it easier and it leaves a lovely fine surface.
But I've noticed most other people use a spade.
What do you use, and why?
This has puzzled me since we got our plot.

[WG.]

Many people use a spade so as to deliberately leave a rough surface for the winter weather.

I have a pretty-much no-dig system but would use a fork, or increasingly, a mattock for any I did.

[muntjac]

spade fer me ,i like thin slices of soil turned over ,and ist real nice feeling loking back over it  

[flowergirl]

ive been using a spade to slice off the grass then a fork to break up the soil dont know if its right but to coin a phrase....werks for me

[Aunt Sally]

It's easier to get the perennial weed roots out using a fork.

[muntjac]

[Sally A]

I'm more of a forker, exposes more weed roots when digging over.

[Esme]

Fork for me.

[muntjac]

much nicer to see a hand dug plot  

[SnooziSuzi]

much nicer to se ahnd dug plot  

Munty, have you been drinking!    

Personally, I started using a fork because it was easier for me but I got so much flack from the *ahem* 'experienced gardeners' for doing this that I changed to a spade and it took me 4 times as long!!  :evil:

Do whatever werks for you!

[nobby]

rotavater every time [great fun]

[crowndale]

I use a fork for all teh above mentioned reasons, will use a spade if I need to slice though which isn't often really.

[fatbelly]

A fork is the best for me. It exposes more weed roots and I think the tines help break up the soil much better than a spade.

[richyrich7]

Spade for me every time little slices no bigger than 6" nice and easy, esp with my long handled thingy, a fork's for lifting spuds etc weeding, double digging the bottom of a trench planting hole etc.

Most people struggle with a spade as they take to big a slice and/or the traditional spade handle is too short for Mr average let alone long shanks like Munty and Shaun.

[muntjac]

once your into a rythm well me ,, i find i can pitch n turn a full plot in a day no worries .one of those sections in the pic i mean ,i dig a half dozen turns have a break to catch my wind and then on again.one of the old fellas who died a year or so back would do his whole plot ,.the end one in a day no messing he would start at about 9 and be finished for 3 ,,,, was up n down like a little jackrabbit .all he did was sup from a hip flask and chew liqourice stick