It’s a common ordeal for people to struggle when shopping for the best garden fork. This article will help you to understand which garden fork would work best for your specific situation. You have to ensure that you find the right garden fork for the job.
A major detail that people forget to consider is how the fork will feel in your hand after working with it. The larger the fork, the heavier it will be. Do you tend to your garden for hours on end? Is it a large garden? Is it a small garden? These simple questions will help you to determine which garden fork to purchase. It’s my goal to ensure that you have all of the details to make an informed decision.
The 9 Best Garden Forks
- Tierra Garden DeWit Forged Hand Fork
- Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork (Our Top Pick)
- Radius Garden PRO Border Fork
- Fiskars Garden Fork
- Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork
- WOLF Garten Comfort Grip Flower Fork
- RazorBack Ames Company Spading Fork
- The Ames Companies True Temper Manure Fork
- Little Giant Stable Fork
Our Top Pick for the Best Garden Fork
Our top pick for the best garden fork is the Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork.
Not only is the Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork an amazing product with high durability and affordable price, but also, the Truper brand has every type of fork with any length in this product line. If you’re in doubt, choose this one.
Check the price on AmazonHow to Choose the Right Garden Fork?
There are several ways in which you can choose the right garden fork the first time. However, I don’t want to make it sound complicated when it’s actually very easy!
Ask yourself this: “What type of work am I needing the fork to do?”
That’s a great starting place. There are many different types of garden forks, but I will discuss those later on.
Before you get overwhelmed, take a look at your working space. If you have a small, box garden, then the best choice for you would be a small garden fork. You know, one that you can work with while sitting down. If you have a large vegetable garden, then it will be helpful to have a larger garden fork.
You also have to choose a fork that will offer the most comfort and ease to your body.
It doesn’t necessarily have to have a soft cushioned handle, but you want something that will work with you and vice versa. Depending on how many minutes or hours that you spend in the garden a day or a week will help you to determine that detail.
What Makes a Great Garden Fork?
With all of the temptations to purchase cheaply, it’s easy to find yourself with a weak tool. Obviously, you want a garden fork that will do the job and last longer than a few uses. In other words, you don’t need a fork that will bend with the slightest force or exertion.
In fact, the best forks are those that are forged.
What does this mean? It means that the fork is created from one piece of metal that is forged when the heat is applied. Generally, these garden forks are designed with rubber grips that further aid you in applying heavy force and pressure.
You see, when a fork is made from one solid stick of metal, its strength and durability are twice that of one that is put together piece by piece. Many forks are made cheaply today and are constructed of aluminum alloy. Sadly, this material, unless it’s mixed in with other metals, is very weak and increases the likelihood that the fork will bend during use.
Even further, if it’s constructed with several pieces, that weakens the fork. My advice is to stick with the strong, sturdy solid forks that are forged.
Different Types of Garden Forks?
While shopping for a garden fork, it’s good to know that there are different types to browse through. Believe it or not, there is a fork for nearly every garden situation. Knowledge in this area will help you to find one that is right for you. Let’s take a look at the different kinds of forks.
Digging Forks
Digging forks are recognized as the most basic garden tool to have. They are typically long and used when standing up. They usually have 4 tines but can also have more. (It depends on how fancy you want to get.)
However, digging forks are great for breaking and turning the soil. They work very well on hard soil that can be quite cumbersome to turn over.
In fact, digging forks are so multi-functional that they can be used for almost anything garden or farm-related.
Pitchforks
This term may sound the most familiar to you. Every farmer seems to own a pitchfork! (And maybe a few Halloween costumes.)
Pitchforks are wonderful for working with hay and straw. If you have to constantly clean out livestock stalls, move small hay bales, and anything else related to hay, the pitchfork will be your best friend.
They usually have 4 tines and are spaced evenly apart to successfully rotate or move hay. In fact, some pitchforks are very sharp and curved to get a good grip on the compost.
Potato Fork
I think the term, “potato fork” is self-explanatory. Do you grow your own potatoes? Are you shopping for the best garden fork? Then a potato fork will perform wonderfully for you.
The potato fork is designed to specifically lift potatoes from the ground. The tines aren’t sharp at all since it isn’t meant to dig holes. In fact, potato forks are purposely built with dull tines so that you won’t puncture a potato.
The potato fork may also have more tines since the concern here is to not lose the potato. The more tines there are, the least likely that a potato can escape through the tine gaps.
Hand Fork
The hand fork is also self-explanatory. It’s a miniature garden fork that fits snugly in your hand. These work best for very small gardens or small tasks. If you need to do some touch-up work on a plant or two, the hand fork would also serve as a great tool. This forces you to get to the ground level and dig in.
However, don’t expect to use the hand fork for large tasks or large gardens. It would simply cause too much squatting and standing and increase the time of completion significantly.
What’s the Best Way to Use a Garden Fork?
When you’re using a garden fork, it’s wise to consider how it will affect your body. This usually brings the most concern to the hands. If you plan on using a fork for very long, you need to protect your hands from painful callouses and skin burns.
The best way to remedy this is to wear protective work or garden gloves.
Otherwise, simply use both hands to operate the longer, slender forks like a digging fork or potato fork. It may also help to apply more pressure to your foot sitting on top of the tines. This is for strength and accuracy in turning up tough soil.
For hand forks, it may not be necessary to have to use both hands. Naturally, if you using the fork to turn the soil, keep a solid grip on the handle and twist the tines into the ground with pressure.
9 Best Garden Forks – Reviews
1. Tierra Garden DeWit Forged Hand Fork
The Tierra Garden DeWit Forged Hand Fork is fairly basic but offers you great functionality.
The ash hardwood handle provides comfort to your hand while also protecting your knuckles. The Swedish Boron steel is strong and sharp and protects the 3 tines from rusting. If you accidentally leave it out in the rain, no worries!
The Tierra Garden DeWit Hand Fork is perfect for planting, digging, aerating, cultivating, and weeding.
Pros
- Durable and sharp Swedish Boron steel tines
- Ash hardwood handle
- Great gardening functionality
Cons
- Tines can bend when used in hard rocky soil
2. Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork
The 30-inches Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork is one of the best garden forks available on Amazon at an affordable price.
The 4 sharpened tines make it super easy to use with hay, compost, and turning up soil. Constructed of steel, it’s guaranteed to provide sturdy reliability for your garden and farming chores.
Pros
- Four tines, ideal for any purpose
- Has a D-grip
- Clear-coated steel
- Wide range of product selection (including other fork types and length)
Cons
- Some people who bought this product noticed quality issues
3. Radius Garden PRO Border Fork
The Radius Garden PRO Border Fork is a popular digging fork and is designed for tight spaces. Its special “O-Handle” grip delivers extreme gripping strength compared to classic design handles and the thermoplastic elastomer grip is slip-resistant and gentle on the hands.
The Radius Garden fork is made from high-quality, sturdy steel, and the 4 square-shaped tines are sharpened to turn soil and transplant flowers.
Pros
- Ideal for working in tight spaces
- Special O-Handle provides extra gripping strength
- Slip-resistant grip is gentle on the hands
- Sturdy and sharp steel tines
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty digging tasks
4. Fiskars Garden Fork
The amazing thing about the Fiskars Garden Fork is the lengthy 47-inches! It’s created from steel that gives it the durability and reliability needed to get the job done.
As for the handle, it’s designed with the classic D-angle that forces your hand and wrist to stay in the same spot to provide quality support.
The Fiskars fork is great for many tasks including compost, turning soil, moving mulch, rocks, and stones. It’s an overall multi-functional garden fork.
Pros
- Welded steel
- Convenient mid-grip
- Feels stronger than the other forks
Cons
- Although it’s a pitchfork, you might still not feel the tines are sharp enough
5. Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork
If you love to grow vegetables, the Hoss Tools Garden Digging Fork is perfect for any gardener. It is very versatile and can be used for digging up potatoes, cultivating soil, and mixing compost into a small garden bed. You can also easily dig into and break up hard soil with minimal effort.
The heat-treated steel tines have superior strength and the rubber foot pad provides a wide, firm surface for pushing the fork into the soil.
Even better? The Hoss Tools fork has a lightweight yet sturdy steel tubing shaft and the comfortable D-shaped handle is comfortable to use.
Pros
- Perfect for digging potatoes, cultivating soil, and mixing compost
- Heat-treated steel tines
- Comfortable D-shaped handle
Cons
- Price is much higher than almost all the others here
- Not ideal for digging into very rocky soil
6. WOLF Garten Comfort Grip Flower Fork
The WOLF Garten Comfort Grip Flower Fork is an ideal tool for breaking up, cultivating, and blending soils, mixing fertilizer or compost in garden beds, and potting tasks.
Made in Germany, the 4 heavy-gauge steel tines are sharp and will not bend, and offer the best root protection when planting or transplanting bulbs in the garden.
The comfortable ergonomic rubber grip on the fixed handle protects your hands while you work.
Pros
- Ideal for breaking up, cultivating, and blending soils, mixing fertilizer or compost
- Four heavy-gauge sharp tines that won’t bend
- Safe for planting and transplanting
- Popular tool for bulb gardening and repotting
- Fixed handle with ergonomic, comfortable hand grip
Cons
- Not ideal for heavy-duty gardening tasks
7. RazorBack Ames Company Spading Fork
The RazorBack Ames Company Spading Fork is a multipurpose tool that can be used for digging, turning, loosening, and transferring all types of soil.
Its durable forged head contains 4 diamond pointed tines for maximum strength and will help you to easily penetrate topsoil and break up any hard clumps.
The 30-inches handle is made from sturdy, strong, and solid North American hardwood which is designed for tough outdoor conditions. You will experience more control as you dig or remove soil as the steel D-grip handle prevents any twisting.
Pros
- Durable forged head contains 4 diamond pointed tines
- Ideal for digging, turning, loosening, and transferring all types of soil
- Sturdy, strong, and solid North American hardwood handle
- Steel D-grip handle prevents any twisting
Cons
- Diamond pointed tines make the fork heavier than other forks
8. The Ames Companies True Temper Manure Fork
No farm is complete without a manure fork and The Ames Companies True Temper Manure Fork will help you to get your jobs done fast.
The 5-tine fork is ideal for picking up bulky material and can be used for gardening and agricultural tasks such as picking up hay, spreading mulch, and cleaning up manure.
It is made from sturdy forged steel and the 48-inches hardwood handle gives you an extended reach.
The cushion end grip gives you good comfort and control.
Pros
- Very good quality and value for money
- Good price
- Can be used for gardening and agricultural tasks
- Five sturdy forged steel tines are ideal for picking up bulky items and spreading loose material like mulch and cleaning out manure
- Extra-long hardwood handle
- Cushion end grip for comfort and control
Cons
- Tines are not thick enough for lifting up heavy rocks or stones
- Heavy
9. Little Giant Stable Fork
The Little Giant Stable Fork is a good tool for a small farm, ranch, or home, and it works well at mucking out a duck stall.
The 17 specially designed tines are uniquely angled to provide easy manure pickup with less spillage. As the tines are a bright red color, the fork will be easy to spot in your storage shed.
This fork is manufactured from strong polycarbonate which gives it strength and enhanced flexibility. And the nylon locknut secures the handle to the head. The long timber handle gives an extended reach and is comfortable to use.
Pros
- Specially designed tines are uniquely angled to provide easy manure pickup with less spilling
- Strong polycarbonate provides strength and enhanced flexibility
- Can be used on a small farm, ranch, or home use
- Nylon locknut secures the handle
- Brightly colored tines
Cons
- Tines can bend if dragged across concrete surfaces
- Attaching the nylon locknut requires some effort
- Not ideal for heavy-duty use
Our Top Pick for the Best Garden Fork
Our top pick for the best garden fork is the Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork.
Not only is the Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork an amazing product with high durability and affordable price, but also, the Truper brand has every type of fork with any length in this product line. If you’re in doubt, choose this one.
Check the price on Amazon
