Best gardening forks

Gardening forks prepare beds and borders for planting. These are our top picks for digging, turning, and scooping in every soil.

True Temper 2812200 fork
(Image credit: True Temper)

For those who own or tend to an outdoor space, gardening forks should be part of the utility tool kit. A full-size digging fork will help you work the soil before planting, as well as let you add mulch to beds, turn compost piles, and more. Gardening forks make it easier to dig into dense soil, stony soil, and break up earthy clods. Take a look at the best around in our selection.

Best overall

True Temper 2812200 fork

(Image credit: True Temper)

True Temper 2812200 fork

Dig into tough soil

This fork's four forged steel tines have diamond points so you can dig easily into clay and other problem soils. It has a hardwood handle for strength, which is 30-inches in length, making it comfortable for most users. The handle is a D-grip style that gives leverage when you’re working. 

Best for comfort

Radius Garden 203 PRO fork

(Image credit: Radius Garden)

Radius Garden 203 PRO fork

Sharpenable design

The O-shaped handle of this fork creates space to grip with two hands for good leverage, avoiding strain even when you’re working dense soil. It has wide foot placement as well to make digging deep easier. The four-tine design has stainless-steel blades to avoid rust and a resin-encased carbon steel shaft for durability.

Best for bulbs

DeWit Perennial fork

(Image credit: DeWit )

DeWit Perennial fork

Lightweight handle

If you’re looking for a fork that will enable you to dig and separate bulbs, this one has your name on it. It will do the job without damaging them. You can use it to divide plants like hostas, too. Bear in mind that you’ll need another fork for general digging. This fork is just 23-inches long.

Best for potato growers

Hoss Tools garden digging fork

(Image credit: Hoss Tools)

Hoss Tools garden digging fork

Grow your own

Make potato harvesting easy with this sturdy digging fork. The design features lightweight tubing to make lifting a less fatiguing task, but it’s made from aircraft-quality steel for strength. The rubber foot pad can be swapped from left to right so you can use your dominant leg to push down when you’re working.

Best for tough conditions

TABOR TOOLS Digging Fork

(Image credit: TABOR TOOLS)

TABOR TOOLS Digging Fork

Non-slip grip

However difficult your soil is to dig, this fork will cope with the task. The shaft is made from welded steel so it won’t flex or break with the effort, while the four-tine head is in anti-corrosive steel. It has a D-shaped handle to keep your wrist aligned to eliminate strain. This fork has a total length of 40 inches, which might not suit taller gardeners.

Best for rocky ground

Bully Tools 92370 spading fork

(Image credit: Bully Tools)

Bully Tools 92370 spading fork

Comfort grip

If you’re after a gardening fork made to resist bending, check out this version. The beveled tines are extra thick. You might need to work harder to penetrate the soil with them, though. The handle is made from strong triple-wall fiberglass and reinforced with the polypropylene co-polymer D-grip for control. 

Our verdict

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Get yourself a great gardening fork, and you can dig into soil that would be difficult to work with a spade. The True Temper 2812200 fork has durable forged steel tines with diamond points to assist in penetrating problem soils. It has a strong hardwood shaft and a D-handle for good leverage.

Keen vegetable growers should consider the Hoss Tools garden digging fork to lift the potato harvest. The left or right positionable footpad allows you to set it up so you can exert pressure with your strongest leg, and the steel tubing is lightweight to make lifting easier. Looking for a fork suitable for digging bulbs? Check out the DeWit Perennial fork, which can be used for dividing plants, too.

Sarah Warwick
Freelance writer

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes and gardens and loves investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper.