Un louchet est un outil de jardinage utilisé principalement pour creuser, retourner et aérer le sol. Il est particulièrement efficace pour travailler dans des espaces restreints ou pour manipuler des matériaux comme le compost ou le terreau. Grâce à sa forme et à sa taille, il permet de réaliser des tâches précises, comme le désherbage ou la plantation de bulbes.

What is a spade?

A spade or nurseryman’s spade is a gardening tool used for making planting holes. The blade of this tool resembles that of a traditional spade, but it is narrower and longer. The blade of a spade often measures more than 35 cm in length with a width between 15 and 18 cm.

A spade consists of a handle made of wood (usually ash) or composite material, as in the case of the Novagrip Leborgne nurseryman’s spade, and a steel blade. The steel may be treated with boron to limit corrosion and/or with a so-called “mirror” treatment for better penetration in heavy and sticky soils. This is indeed the case with the Spear & Jackson polished spade. Some models, known as “Flemish Spades,” are equipped with a footrest on top of the blade to facilitate foot support. The handles of spades typically end with a “T” grip.

A good spade should have a sharp blade securely attached to a handle free of cracks or other weak points. A gardening tool must always be the right size for you to avoid injury: the handle of a spade should slightly exceed the height of your hip.

Please note: previously, it was commonly said that spades were sturdier than shovels. Indeed, until recently, the blades of shovels were only attached to the handle by a ring, while a steel “wing” secured the blade of the spade to its handle. This “wing” allowed for better attachment, enabling the tool to bear heavier loads. The wing also provided protection for the handle against moisture. Nowadays, this “wing” is found in many shovels, and even if it is not the case, modern techniques ensure great robustness in new shovels regardless of the attachment choice.

What is a spade used for?

• Hand trowels are primarily used for planting and transplanting trees and bushes.
• However, hand trowels are also used for work in heavy and compact soil. The narrower blade compared to a traditional spade penetrates compacted soil more easily, while the longer blade allows for deeper soil loosening.
• There are specific models of hand trowels with narrow blades designed for dredging channels and streams.
• The extraction of turf still uses hand trowels specifically designed for this purpose, equipped with longer handles.

How to use a spade?

Working with a spade is done when the soil is slightly moist but not overly so. Here are the steps for working with a spade:

• Grip the handle firmly: left hand on the grip for right-handers (right hand for left-handers) and the right hand sliding along the handle to assist the movement;
• Rest one foot on the ground and the other on the edge of the spade’s blade;
• Press your foot down on the blade and push it into the soil along its full length;
• Pull the handle towards you to lift the clod of soil while keeping your back straight.
• Lift the spade and turn the clod over.