When it comes to spring cleaning, your garden is one of the first places you should be looking to update. You may want to play around with your flower patches or uproot any old plants that may need some care. The one thing you need for this is something every gardener will know about: a garden fork.
These handy tools are something that every green finger should have in their garden - especially if they're looking to turn over lots of patches in the new season. Pair a garden fork up with a spade and you can get to work in no time.
Investing in a good gardening fork is something that will save you money in the long run, as well as make your gardening experience far easier. From high-quality wooden handles to steel that stays sturdy, buying a good fork is well worth your money.
Before we dig into the best garden forks though, it's good to know exactly what you're looking for.
What is a garden fork?
Usually, on the end of a stick with four or eight points and a slightly curved head, garden forks are perfect for moving around soil, compost and mulch. Their spiked heads make it easy to move the most difficult soils. What you want to do with them is move over large parts of soil at a time, so if you have a bit of a larger garden patch that you’re changing, these can be really helpful.
What should I think about when buying a garden fork?
Every gardener is different so you’ll want to be sure that you grab a garden fork that suits your needs. Material, size, weight and height are all the various things that you want to keep an eye out for.
Material: This can be the make or break of a long-lasting garden fork that works over the years. Look for options with stainless steel and hardwood for high-quality results. Make sure to cover your tools in the winter and rainy seasons to lengthen their life span.
Size and weight: If you’re an experienced gardener, you may not feel the heaviness of a bigger fork. On the other hand, if you struggle with heavy tools or just want something that’s not so substantial, go for a lightweight option.
Height: Garden forks also come in a range of full lengths and it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the height of your fork so you’re not getting something that’s too large or small for you.
The best garden forks 2022
Kent & Stowe - Garden Life Digging Fork
Best garden fork with 25 year guarantee
View offer
This Kent & Stowe is made of stainless steel and hard ash wood, meaning it's going to last a long time. It's also lightweight, in fact, it's 40 per cent lighter than the regular garden forks, so you can have accessible gardening no matter who you are. It comes with 25 years of guarantee, so you're in good hands.
Height: 91.5cm
Material: Stainless steel, ash wood
Weight: 1.07kg
Spear & Jackson Traditional Digging Fork
Best stainless steel garden fork
View offer
Next up is this Spear & Jackson traditional spear that has a stainless steel head making it completely rust-proof. It won the British Growing Awards in 2018 and has lots of top-rated reviews on Amazon. Gardeners love this option for its ergonomic features.
Height: 90.5cm
Material: Stainless steel, hardwood
Weight: 1.95kg
Wilkinson Sword Carbon Steel Border Fork
Best carbon steel garden fork
View offer
If you'd rather invest in a carbon steel option, this Wilkinson garden fork is a great place to start. Under £20, it's good value for maximum material and is made with borders in mind. It's perfect for digging up flowerbeds and cultivating soil, even if you have confined spaces.
Height: 95cm
Material: Carbon steel, solid wood
Weight: 1.55kg
RHS Burgon and Ball stainless steel digging fork
Best digging garden fork
View offer
Want to get your dig on? This RHS Burgeon and Ball garden fork has forged tines for extra strength and reduces friction, making it incredibly easy to slide into the soil. It has a longer length so you can avoid too much bending over, especially if you're a little taller.
Height: 111cm
Material: Stainless steel, FSC-certified ash
Weight: 2.12kg
Sainsbury’s Traditional Digging Fork
Best supermarket garden fork
Buy now
Supermarkets are super easy to pick up from and are often as good quality as the bigger names out there. Sainsbury's has its own traditional garden fork that you can get your hands on, making shopping super easy.
Height: 100cm
Material: Stainless steel, wood
Weight: 1.95kg
Wickes Carbon Steel Powagrip Garden Digging Fork - 995mm
Best budget garden fork
View offer
Wickes Carbon Steel is made totally out of steel and has a strong grip on the handle. This one is for the gardeners looking for a bargain, coming in at under £10 it's completely affordable. As good as our other option, the carbon steel is hardened and tempered for durability.
Height: 99.5cm
Material: Carbon steel
Weight: 1.5kg
Roamwild Multi-Digger Garden
Best multi-use garden fork
View offer
Looking for a unique tool? This Roamwild digger is made out of fibreglass, making it a super unique product. It's also shaped slightly different to our other top choices, with wedge-shaped pointed times allowing you to easily dig through soil and break up lumps.
Height: 102cm
Material: Fibreglass
Weight: 1.6kg
GARDENA ErgoLine Digging Fork
Best top-rated garden fork
View offer
Reviews from other gardeners can be really helpful in making the right decision for your garden. This digging fork is top-rated on Amazon and other customers love it for its value while being really effective.
Height: 116.8cm
Material: Metal, Plastic
Weight: 2.16kg
Draper 88789 Carbon Steel Garden Fork
Best Amazon garden fork
View offer
Amazon has a variety of options with different price points, but this Draper garden fork is well trusted and for only £15, you're getting your money's worth. It's made out of carbon steel that's fully tempered like other forks and has four strong times for getting through tough points.
Height: 100cm
Material: Carbon steel
Weight: 1kg
Draper 83971 Carbon Steel Garden Fork and Spade Set
Best garden fork and spade set
View offer
If you need to stock up on more than one garden tool, why not invest in a garden and spade set? Perfect for the new season, you'll be set to dig and dive around your garden, no matter the task.