Best Garden Forks for Digging Potatoes, Garlic and Root Crops
September is digging season in a northern garden: garlic and onions come up in summer, then potatoes, carrots, parsnips and dahlias in fall, often from soil that is heavy, cold and full of clay. A good digging fork lifts crops with less damage than a spade, loosens compacted beds and turns compost. Here are the forks worth considering, and what to look for.
How we chose: we have not tested these forks hands-on. The picks are based on manufacturer specifications and on published hands-on tests by HGTV and Bob Vila (linked under Sources), filtered for what matters in heavy, cold northern soils.
The short answer
- Best value: Truper 4-Tine Spading Fork, a forged steel fork with a wood D-handle.
- Best for heavy clay: Tabor Tools Digging Fork or the HOSS Standard Garden Fork, both all-steel and very strong.
- Best for raised beds: Spear & Jackson Traditional Border Fork, smaller and lighter, with stainless tines.
- Easiest on wrists: Radius Garden 203 PRO Digging Fork, with a round grip.
- For tall gardeners: Fiskars Ergonomic Garden Fork, about 125 cm long.
Garden fork comparison
| Fork | Type | Length | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truper 4-Tine Spading Fork | Spading fork, forged steel, ash handle | About 76 cm (30 in) | About 1.7 kg | Budget all-rounder, compost, dividing perennials |
| Ames 4-Tine Forged Spading Fork | Spading fork, forged steel, hardwood handle | About 76 cm | About 1.5 kg | Tough soil and roots |
| Tabor Tools Digging Fork | Digging fork, steel | About 102 cm (40 in) | About 2.5 kg | Compacted clay; heavy, durable |
| HOSS Standard Garden Fork | Digging fork, heat-treated steel | About 102 cm | About 2.3 to 2.5 kg | Heavy-duty use, made in the USA |
| Spear & Jackson Traditional Border Fork | Border fork, stainless tines | About 95 cm | About 1.4 kg | Raised beds and tight spaces |
| Radius Garden 203 PRO | Digging fork, stainless, round grip | About 108 cm | About 2.3 kg | Comfort and grip strength issues |
| Fiskars Ergonomic Garden Fork | Digging fork, boron steel | About 125 cm (49 in) | About 2.1 kg | Tall users, stony soil |
Lengths and weights are approximate, from manufacturer listings and the test articles cited below.
Digging fork, spading fork or border fork?
- Digging forks have strong, square or flat tines and long handles. They are best for breaking up compacted soil and lifting potatoes.
- Spading forks are shorter, often with a D-handle, and work well for general digging, turning compost and lifting garlic.
- Border forks have a smaller head and are lighter. They are ideal for raised beds, between plants and for gardeners who want less weight.
- Broadforks, such as the Bully Tools Broadfork, have two handles and a wide row of tines for loosening whole beds without turning the soil. They work best on beds that are already cultivated.
What to look for in a cold climate
- Forged or heat-treated steel tines. Northern clay soils are heavy, and in fall they are often wet and cold. Stamped tines bend easily.
- Solid handle connection. The joint between head and handle is where most cheap forks fail. Long metal straps or an all-steel design hold up best.
- The right length. A longer handle gives leverage and saves your back; a short D-handle gives control. As a rough guide, the top of the handle should reach somewhere between your hip and lower ribs.
- Stainless or not. Stainless tines release sticky soil and resist rust but cost more. Carbon steel is stronger for the money; just brush it clean and dry it after use.
- A foot tread. Flat shoulders or a foot pad above the tines let you push with your boot instead of your arms.
How to lift root crops without spearing them
- Push the fork in vertically about 15 to 20 cm away from the plant or row.
- Lean the handle back gently to loosen the soil, rather than levering hard.
- Lift the crop with your hands once the soil is loose, or slide the fork under and lift.
- For potatoes, start well outside the row and work inward; tubers spread wider than you expect.
Looking after your fork
- Knock off soil and dry the tines after use.
- Wipe carbon steel tines with a little oil before winter storage.
- Sand and oil wooden handles once a year.
- Never use a fork as a pry bar against rocks or big roots; that is the main reason tines bend.
Planning next season? Save this guide to your Pinterest board so it is there when you need it.
Gear that helps
- Truper spading fork: Best value forged steel fork for general digging.
- Spear & Jackson border fork: Light stainless fork for raised beds.
- Radius Garden digging fork: Ergonomic round grip that is easier on wrists.
- Bully Tools broadfork: Loosens whole beds without turning the soil.
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Keep reading
- How to harvest and cure garlic and onions
- How to store root vegetables over winter
- Growing carrots in a cold climate
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best garden fork for clay soil?
Heavy, all-steel digging forks such as the Tabor Tools Digging Fork or HOSS Standard Garden Fork handle compacted clay best. Avoid stamped tines, which bend easily.
What is the difference between a digging fork and a border fork?
A digging fork has a larger head and stronger tines for heavy soil. A border fork is smaller and lighter, made for raised beds and working between plants.
Is a garden fork better than a spade for potatoes?
Yes. A fork loosens soil around tubers with less risk of slicing them. Start well outside the row and lift gently.
How long should a garden fork be?
The top of the handle should reach roughly between your hip and lower ribs. Longer forks give more leverage; short D-handle forks give more control.
