Gardening Fork - what's good?

helen_jelly

Hi

We have just managed to break our second fork whilst digging over the allotment.
Could you help please by recommending a Fork that will handle heavy clay soil and alot of digging.

Thanks
Helen

Farway

JCB?

Sorry a bit flippant, but maybe you should be looking for a rotavator, either hire, buy or pay some one?

helen_jelly

Farway wrote: »

JCB?

Sorry a bit flippant, but maybe you should be looking for a rotavator, either hire, buy or pay some one?

Hehe:rotfl:

DH is dangerous enough with a fork, let alone a JCB!!

We haven't got much more heavy duty digging to do - just another bed, the rest of the soil is coming along nicely - just fed up with buying forks that seem to not last!!

Would like one that last at least 2 years if possible!!

Helen

Yorkie1

I've had a Wilkinson Sword fork which has seen some fairly heavy duty work over the years.

Perhaps also consider getting a border fork / spade rather than the full size ones. A smaller tool will move less soil at a time, putting less strain / weight on the tool.

bromsgrovebarry

As a professional gardener who has broken more forks that I would like to remember, the only brand of fork I would use is Bulldog. Yes they are more expensive than budget brands but if you want it to last, it is a sound investment.

helen_jelly

Thank you Yorkie1 and bromsgrovebarry

Smaller is an option I hadn't considered so will investigate that [we're new to growing and having a lottie, can you tell]

Bulldog - never heard of them so I'm going to check them out too, I don't mind paying more if its better qualityso thats an option too

Thank you very much for your help

Helen

Waterlily24

Another Wilkinson fan here. We also had trouble with forks because of heavy clay soil. I bought hubby a Wilkinson fork and spade and they have been great. Not particularly cheap but worth it.

salthepal

Definitely agree - Wilkinsons Sword. Much better than any other fork I've used.

kinkyjinks

I have really heavy clay soil and I also broke 2 forks within a year. I bought a Fiskars power fork at the start of the growing season and it is the best investment I have ever made. Comes with a lifetime guarantee too.

salthepal

Fiskars have now taken over the Wilkinson Sword gardening brand but I was lucky enough to get some discontinued W S forks on Ebay.

geoffky

Bulldog....the best