Quick verdict
A transplanting spade has a narrow, long blade for digging deep holes and lifting plants without disturbing their neighbours, and Fiskars builds this one entirely from steel: a welded 14-gauge blade, an 18-gauge shaft and an extra-large D-handle. It will not flex, rot or snap, and the sharpened edge cuts roots and compacted soil. It is the spade for perennials, shrubs and bulbs.
Strengths
- Narrow blade digs deep, clean holes for transplanting
- Welded 14-gauge steel blade and 18-gauge steel shaft
- Extra-large D-handle for two-handed control in gloves
- Teardrop shaft profile is comfortable to grip
- Sharpened edge cuts roots and hard soil
Weaknesses
- Heavier than fibreglass or wood-handled spades
- Narrow blade is slow for moving volumes of soil
- Steel shaft is cold in winter without gloves
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Right Shape for the Job
A round-point shovel moves soil. A transplanting spade moves plants. Its long, narrow blade slips down beside a root ball, cuts cleanly and lifts the plant with minimal disturbance to the bed around it. Fiskars’ 46 inch version is built entirely from steel: a welded 14-gauge blade, an 18-gauge steel shaft with a teardrop profile and an extra-large D-handle. It is covered by Fiskars’ lifetime warranty.
This review is based on Fiskars’ specifications and on owner feedback rather than on our own use.
Digging Performance
The narrow blade concentrates your weight on a small edge, so it drives into compacted soil and clay where a wide shovel skates. The sharpened edge cuts through fine roots and the blade’s depth reaches below most perennial root balls in one stroke. Owners use it for dividing hostas and daylilies, planting shrubs, setting bulbs in drifts and cutting crisp bed edges. For moving a pile of soil it is the wrong tool, and owners say so.
Build and Durability
All-steel construction means no wooden handle to rot or snap at the socket and no fibreglass to splinter. The weld between blade and shaft is the stress point on any spade and Fiskars’ is heavy enough that owners report years of prying without failure. The lifetime warranty covers it regardless.
Handle and Comfort
The extra-large D-handle fits a gloved hand and allows a two-handed grip for levering. The teardrop shaft is comfortable and the length suits users of average height and taller. Steel is heavier than fibreglass and cold in winter, which gloves address.
Who Should Buy It
- Perennial gardeners who divide and move plants every season.
- Anyone planting shrubs and bulbs in established beds.
- People who have broken wooden-handled spades and want one that lasts.
Care
Knock off soil, wipe dry and hang it. A file along the edge once a season keeps it cutting. Nothing else is needed.
Common Owner Complaints
Weight for extended digging and the narrow blade when used as a general shovel, which it is not. Durability complaints are rare.
Technique Tips
To lift a perennial, cut a circle around the crown at the drip line with the spade, then lever from several points rather than one so the root ball comes up whole. For planting, the narrow blade makes a slot that closes neatly around a root ball with the heel of your boot. Owners use the sharpened edge to slice turf for a clean bed edge in a single line.
Alternatives to Consider
The Bully Tools 14-gauge round-point shovel is the volume-moving partner. Radius Garden’s Root Slayer has a serrated edge for heavy roots. Fiskars’ own 46 inch digging shovel is the general-purpose sibling.
Verdict
For transplanting, dividing and planting in established beds, the Fiskars 46 inch transplanting spade is the tool that makes the job clean and the plants happy. It is built to outlast its owner. Keep a round-point shovel beside it for everything else.
Full specifications
Fiskars 46 Inch Steel D-Handle Transplanting Spade FAQs
Digging deep, narrow holes and lifting plants with their root ball intact in crowded beds. The narrow blade disturbs less soil than a round-point shovel.
Steel does not flex or crack and is backed for life. It is heavier, which some users prefer for driving into hard soil and others find tiring.
For edging and small holes, yes. For moving piles of soil or gravel a round-point shovel like the Bully Tools is far faster.
The steel is coated and owners report years without rust when stored dry. Wipe it after wet use.