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How to use our long handled digging tools
Professional quality digging tools that are fast, efficient, and affordable.
Forged steel for long life. Extra long handles for easy digging with less effort.
How to use the Grub Hoe for digging and tilling:
Using a grub hoe (also called an Azada) is very different from using a shovel or spade. Instead of stomping or ramming a
shovel blade into the earth, the heavy-duty grub hoe blade swings from hip height down into the soil using it’s own weight,
gravity, and a little help from your arms. Instead of leaning over to lift the shovel load of soil with your back, with the long
handled azada you use your whole body to pull the thin slice of soil towards you into a previously cleared space.
Think of it this way; you can use a shovel to move a single 4 lb chunk of soil or you can use two quick strokes of a grub hoe to
move two 2 lb slices of soil - with less strain, less pain, and in less time! It’s the easy way to dig!
Using a grub hoe (also called an Azada) is very different from using a shovel or spade. Instead of stomping or ramming a
shovel blade into the earth, the heavy-duty grub hoe blade swings from hip height down into the soil using it’s own weight,
gravity, and a little help from your arms. Instead of leaning over to lift the shovel load of soil with your back, with the long
handled azada you use your whole body to pull the thin slice of soil towards you into a previously cleared space.
Think of it this way; you can use a shovel to move a single 4 lb chunk of soil or you can use two quick strokes of a grub hoe to
move two 2 lb slices of soil - with less strain, less pain, and in less time! It’s the easy way to dig!
Proper Grip and Action:
1. First make sure that the handle length is correct for your height. Follow the instructions at Ergonomic Long Handle to create
the correct length.
2. One hand goes at the very end of the handle, the other hand goes 1/3 to 1/2 way down the handle (see the picture above)
3. Grip the handle with your thumbs facing towards the blade.
4. Raise the tool to hip height and chop it down into the soil, then pull the slice of soil back towards you (see description above)
Do NOT slide your front hand back and forth as you chop downward with the tool - only tools you swing from overhead like an
axe require sliding.
A grubbing hoe can do everything a shovel or spade can EXCEPT lift material up into a wheelbarrow or toss material to another
place - you will still need your shovel for that. But you can make even that kind of digging easier by first breaking up the soil with
your grub hoe and then using a light scoop shovel to just lift the pulverized dirt into your wheelbarrow.
1. First make sure that the handle length is correct for your height. Follow the instructions at Ergonomic Long Handle to create
the correct length.
2. One hand goes at the very end of the handle, the other hand goes 1/3 to 1/2 way down the handle (see the picture above)
3. Grip the handle with your thumbs facing towards the blade.
4. Raise the tool to hip height and chop it down into the soil, then pull the slice of soil back towards you (see description above)
Do NOT slide your front hand back and forth as you chop downward with the tool - only tools you swing from overhead like an
axe require sliding.
A grubbing hoe can do everything a shovel or spade can EXCEPT lift material up into a wheelbarrow or toss material to another
place - you will still need your shovel for that. But you can make even that kind of digging easier by first breaking up the soil with
your grub hoe and then using a light scoop shovel to just lift the pulverized dirt into your wheelbarrow.
Tips from experienced users around the world:
From Simon Drummond at Get Digging - the BEST azada site on the web. It is where I learned about grub hoes.
His What Users Say page is truly inspiring! If you live in England or Europe, please purchase your azada (grub
hoe) from Simon's site at www.get-digging.co.uk )
“Using an Azada should be no problem for anyone used to using hand tools and having reasonable bodily
coordination. Azadas are basically used with a swinging action and, as with a mattock, pick, axe etc, much of
the knack is in letting the tool do the work as far as possible. As when using most tools, take your time and
don't rush it – don’t try and take huge swings and shift vast amounts of soil in one go. If you're worried about
chopping your toes off or decapitating your neighbour in the next allotment then you're not using it properly!
Unless you're dealing with very hard ground, there's no need to swing the blade from a great height - apart from
anything else you'll probably end up with half the allotment in your hair! If you're jarring your wrists or arms,
they are probably too rigid - relax, loosen your wrists and let the tool swing. One of the big advantages of this
type of tool is that the shock of impact is absorbed by the tool and not by your arms and wrists as occurs with
the ramming action of a spade.”
From Stonehead at Selfsufficientish He is a modern crofter (homesteader) from Scotland, check out his
interesting blog at Musings from a Stonehead
“The weight, depth and a very sharp edge make it very quick for opening up new ground. …dig a trench at one
end of the bed you're digging (much like you do for double digging) and then work at right angles to the trench.
You take off the vegetation using a shallow angle (swinging the hoe down in front of you) and slicing off the
turves. Then you go around a second time at a steeper angle, digging thick slices of soil and pulling them
forward so they topple into the trench and then onto each other.
It's about three times faster than using a spade and much less back breaking, especially on virgin ground. You
can also swap positions a lot more than you can with a spade, so it's a lot less taxing. …you need a good, long
handle as this gives you both reach and leverage. Obviously, you need to balance handle length with your own
height and build, but within reason the longer the handle, the better the leverage and the easier the work.”
From Simon Drummond at Get Digging - the BEST azada site on the web. It is where I learned about grub hoes.
His What Users Say page is truly inspiring! If you live in England or Europe, please purchase your azada (grub
hoe) from Simon's site at www.get-digging.co.uk )
“Using an Azada should be no problem for anyone used to using hand tools and having reasonable bodily
coordination. Azadas are basically used with a swinging action and, as with a mattock, pick, axe etc, much of
the knack is in letting the tool do the work as far as possible. As when using most tools, take your time and
don't rush it – don’t try and take huge swings and shift vast amounts of soil in one go. If you're worried about
chopping your toes off or decapitating your neighbour in the next allotment then you're not using it properly!
Unless you're dealing with very hard ground, there's no need to swing the blade from a great height - apart from
anything else you'll probably end up with half the allotment in your hair! If you're jarring your wrists or arms,
they are probably too rigid - relax, loosen your wrists and let the tool swing. One of the big advantages of this
type of tool is that the shock of impact is absorbed by the tool and not by your arms and wrists as occurs with
the ramming action of a spade.”
From Stonehead at Selfsufficientish He is a modern crofter (homesteader) from Scotland, check out his
interesting blog at Musings from a Stonehead
“The weight, depth and a very sharp edge make it very quick for opening up new ground. …dig a trench at one
end of the bed you're digging (much like you do for double digging) and then work at right angles to the trench.
You take off the vegetation using a shallow angle (swinging the hoe down in front of you) and slicing off the
turves. Then you go around a second time at a steeper angle, digging thick slices of soil and pulling them
forward so they topple into the trench and then onto each other.
It's about three times faster than using a spade and much less back breaking, especially on virgin ground. You
can also swap positions a lot more than you can with a spade, so it's a lot less taxing. …you need a good, long
handle as this gives you both reach and leverage. Obviously, you need to balance handle length with your own
height and build, but within reason the longer the handle, the better the leverage and the easier the work.”
| Also be sure to check out the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction's Guide to Deep Soil Preparation (a better method of double digging raised gardening beds with grub hoe and a fork hoe) |
| A grub hoe digs using a swinging chop and pull action. |
| Also great for trenching and for digging a French drain |
