Healthy Gardening Guide: Shoveling & digging safely

With longer days, warmer weather and fresh spring rain to soften the ground, our gardens call us to sink our fingers into the soil and plant this year’s beds full of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener with more than a few years under your tool belt, or just getting started building your first garden bed, take these tips to avoid injury so you can garden all summer long and well into first frost.

Gardening may be considered a hobby, but it’s labor intensive—especially if your garden project requires digging. Today, we are focusing on shoveling.

Shoveling requires leg, abdominal, arm and back strength alongside good balance to move material or dig up the earth. Choosing the right tool for the job and using good form will help get your project done right without injuring yourself or damaging your plants.

Choose the right shovel

When in doubt, visit your local garden store and ask a professional to help you find the right shovel for your project.

1. Pointed Spade – also known as the digging spade, is the most common option for general purpose digging in hard packed, rocky and loose soil. This shovel can also break through roots but may also damage sprinkler or electrical lines. Always get your land checked for utility lines before starting any digging project. Contact Colorado811 before you dig, whether you’re digging deep or only a few inches.
2. Square shovel – this tool is ideal for moving lighter loads of loose material, like potting soil, compost or mulch. The flat, square tip can hold more material than the pointed spade. This shovel is not recommended for digging in hard-packed dirt.
3. Edging shovel – shaped similar to the pointed spade, this shovel blade is completely flat with a T-shaped handle and is used to cut straight lines down into the earth using foot pressure. Used to cut through roots, sod, or other foliage at the edge of a garden bed, driveway, or other pathways.
4. Round shovel – also similar to the pointed spade, just without the point. This shovel is ideal for digging up healthy, established plants and moving them to a new spot in the garden without damaging their root systems. Round shovels are a good option for digging a new hole for a plant or tree in loose, softer soil.
5. Trowel – a handheld shovel is best for digging up weeds or planting small seedlings in loose soil.

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Lift lighter loads

Lifting smaller amounts of material each time you scoop may take a little longer, but it takes less time than if you have to recover from an injury in the middle of your project. Lifting lighter loads can keep you on your feet longer and keep your project moving.

Toss into a wheelbarrow instead of ​across the lawn

 ​Scooping and tossing shovelfuls across your lawn may seem like the faster way to move material. But lifting, twisting, and tossing creates high risk for injury. Instead, shovel your material into a wheelbarrow next to your dig site and move your material in small, manageable loads.

Keep good form while shoveling

Digging should be a good leg workout, not a back workout.

• For digging into compact ground, keep your back straight as you apply pressure with your foot to the back of your shovel. Avoid stomping on your shovel and instead use your body weight to sink your shovel into the ground. Bend at the knees, and lift each load with your legs keeping comfortable, neutral posture.
• To shovel loose material, like mulch, bend at the knees and hinge at the hip, keeping your upper body upright and chest open. Use your legs to apply force behind your shovel when scooping material. Lift with the legs as well and do not round your back.

Wear gloves

Shoveling may not seem that hard on your hands, but splinters and blisters can form easily. Choose a pair of snug-fitting gloves with thick material such as leather, or gloves with a protective coating along your palms and fingers.

Choose the right garden shoes

Digging holes in the ground creates the perfect environment to turn your ankle, so pick a pair of shoes to protect your feet and prevent injury. Don’t hesitate to swap your footwear in the middle of a project to fit the job—just like you would swap your shovel to fit the job!

• Shoes should be tight-fitting with a thick, protective sole so you can effectively apply pressure to the back of a shovel without hurting your feet.
• If you are moving heavy material, such as large rocks or potted plants, you may want to choose boots with a steel toe in case you need to drop a heavy load quickly.

Dig at the right time

If you can, wait to start your digging until just a few days after a good rainstorm—the soil will be softer, making it easier to sink your shovel. Keep in mind, damp soil is heavier so keep your wheelbarrow on hand and move small loads of soil more frequently. Do not dig right after a rainstorm as the soil can become compacted, damaging soil structure and making it harder for your plants to take root.

Follow us on social media for more helpful gardening safety tips and demonstrations. Stay tuned as we delve into different gardening health and safety topics throughout the planting and harvest season.