The Best Pitchforks for Gardening or Yard Work in 2024, Tested
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Pitchforks for Gardening or Yard Work in 2024, Tested and hope the blog can help you.
Don’t get stuck in a hole while looking for a way to work your dirt. The best pitchforks will help loosen tough soil in no time.
Whether you need to break up garden soil, spread mulch, or turn compost, the right pitchfork can help. The word “pitchfork,” originally used to describe a tool for tossing animal feed, bedding, or manure, has come to include all kinds of farm and garden forks. With so many different types to sort through, finding the right kind for the task at hand is sometimes challenging. To help cut through the confusion, we spent 10 hours testing five pitchforks representing three of the most-often used types.
Since home gardeners are typically looking for a quality soil fork, that was the type we selected as our top choice. Our favorite, though, was the Berry & Bird spading fork. Although it was a bit more expensive, we especially loved the retro styling and its incredibly durable stainless steel head. The hardwood D-handle felt great in hand, and the deep socket allowed us to apply tons of leverage without breaking the handle. With that being said, however, that fork won’t do the job if you are trying to spread mulch or turn a compost pile.
In this guide we will offer our observations on these garden-tested tools, as well as a few popular alternatives that we haven’t put our hands on quite yet. Read on for all you need to know in order to pick out the best pitchforks for all your gardening needs.
- BEST OVERALL: Radius Garden 203 Pro Stainless Digging Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR DIGGING: Berry & Bird 4-Tine Stainless Steel Spading Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR MULCH: Truper Tru Tough Manure/Bedding Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR COMPOST: Razor-Back 5-Tine Forged Manure Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork
↓ Jump to Review - MOST DURABLE: Bully Tools Spading Fork With Fiberglass Handle
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FERRULE: Razor-Back 4-Tine Digging Fork
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BORDER FORK: Lee Valley Border Fork
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 5 |
| Time spent testing | 10 hours |
| Tests performed | 4 |
| Price range | $30 to $70 |
Our Top Picks
In our backyard tests, we learned a lot about the finer points that can make or break a gardening tool. Choosing the right fork for the job is key. Whatever sort of pitchfork you may need, this list is sure to have you covered.
Best Overall
Radius Garden 203 Pro Stainless Digging Fork
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Digging
- Length: 42.5 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds 2 ounces
What We Like
- Ergonomic loop handle
- Durable stainless steel tines
- Weatherproof poly-coated steel handle
- Good height for most users
What We Don’t Like
- Tubular steel handle might bend with excessive leverage
With its strength, durability, and ergonomics, the Radius Garden 203 Pro stainless steel digging fork is a complete digging tool. Its unique appearance, highlighted by an outsized loop handle, comes out of the “form follows function” principle. The loop handle offers an easy grip for all hand sizes, with or without gloves. At 42.5 inches overall, the tool height accommodates most users without excessive bending. The colorful polypropylene and thermoplastic exterior provides weatherproof protection for the strong carbon steel shaft, as well as a grippy surface for the user. This tool is built for many years of dependable, comfortable use.
The Radius Garden digging fork excelled throughout our in-garden tests. Weighing in at 5 pounds 2 ounces, it was one of the heaviest of the group. In most digging applications, the extra weight was more help than hindrance, as it pushed the tines downward more efficiently. The square steel tines did a great job shedding the sticky clay soil and breaking up clumps. Our only concern was about the tubular steel shaft potentially bending under leverage, since the handle is not replaceable. That being said, it held up to our 10-second, 130-pound leverage test.
Ergonomics was the difference maker with this tool, and it’s the reason we selected it as our top pick. Although traditionalists may shun the modern look and materials, this tool worked extremely well in the garden.
Get the Radius Garden pitchfork at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best Bang for the Buck
Spear & Jackson Neverbend Professional Digging Fork
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Digging fork
- Length: 39 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds 1 ounce
What We Like
- Powder-coated forged carbon steel head
- Hardwood D-type handle
- Excellent strength-to-weight ratio
- Value price point
What We Don’t Like
- Less comfortable for taller users
Those who are searching for a heavy-duty garden fork that can reliably break up tough soil without breaking the bank will find the Spear & Jackson Neverbend digging fork up to the task. The forged steel fork head features rugged square-profile tines and a long lipped socket. The upper parts include a 29-inch weatherproof hardwood shaft and a D-handle. The hammer-finished powder-coated steel head allows minimal soil adhesion, while the short length and tall socket accommodate heavy leverage.
Our test garden’s clay soil presented no problem for the Spear & Jackson Neverbend digging fork. The tines easily penetrated the compacted soil to maximum depth, and as the name claims, the stout handle and riveted connections held up to hard work without bending, cracking, or loosening. We initially had some concerns about the open-back socket possibly bending or loosening with consistent heavy use, but after an hour of abuse that included forcing 130 pounds of leverage beneath a concrete slab, we were pleased to note that it held firm.
A few important details to note are the feel of the grip and the overall size of the tool. On the positive side, the well-proportioned D-handle offered ample space to accommodate gloved hands. But our 6-foot-tall tester noted that the shorter tool height called for a more bent-over working posture. So, while we loved the overall design and construction of this digging fork, taller users may prefer a longer digging tool.
Get the Spear & Jackson pitchfork at Amazon.
Best for Digging
Berry & Bird 4-Tine Stainless Steel Spading Fork
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Type: Digging fork
- Length: 44 inches
- Weight: 6 pounds 4 ounces
What We Like
- Strong and durable but lightweight
- More comfortable for users of all sizes
- Stainless steel deep socket head
- Hardwood handle
What We Don’t Like
- Hardwood can be less durable than other materials
If you prefer the traditional look and natural feel of a hardwood handle with the durability of a stainless steel head, the Berry & Bird spading fork could be the perfect tool. Weighing just 6 pounds 4 ounces, it was the lightest pitchfork we tested, but its sturdy handle and deep socket design give it the durability required of daily-use gardening tools. The fork head measures 11.8 inches high and 7.2 inches wide.
This steel garden fork was a pleasure to test. In normal digging situations, it felt strong and nimble enough to do it all: breaking up heavy soil, aerating the root zone around trees and shrubs, turning compost, and moving perennials for transplanting. Like the other stainless steel forks we tested, it did a great job resisting soil buildup on the tines.
In addition to its capabilities of working heavy garden soil, the lightweight build made it a better multitasker than most of the others. The 13-inch closed-back socket encased nearly half of the shaft for added support in leverage situations. It passed our 130-pound leverage test without noticeable damage to the wood or steel. For jobs like double digging and lifting, this lightweight fork was the best option among our test group.
This was our favorite of all the gardening forks we tested. The reason we didn’t award it the top spot was because of the wood handle. It comes with natural variation in wood grain that is not repeatable from tool to tool, so others’ experience may differ from ours. Also, with care it could last decades or longer, but if left exposed to the elements, it will quickly degrade.
Get the Berry & Bird pitchfork at Amazon or Berry & Bird.
Best for Mulch
Truper Tru Tough Manure/Bedding Fork
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 4/5; Performance 5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Manure/bedding fork
- Length: 46 inches
- Weight: 5 pounds 5 ounces
What We Like
- Long tines with a scooping curve
- 10 closely spaced tines
- Works with wet or dry mulch
- Picks up more material per scoop
What We Don’t Like
- Specialty tool with fewer garden applications
Some chores, like mulching the garden, call for specialty tools, like a 10-tine pitchfork. The Truper Tru Tough manure/bedding fork is designed specifically for loading and moving manure, wood chips, compost, or animal bedding. It’s equipped with a wide 10-tine head, a short shaft, and a D-handle for the best combination of power and control while loading or transferring bulk materials.
This was the first actual “pitchfork” among our test group because it is used to scoop and toss a variety of coarse materials. The tines have a round profile and are about half the diameter of the square tines on digging forks. As such, it is not suited to working in the garden, so much as working on the garden. We tested it by moving a 5-cubic-yard pile of wood chips that had been delivered by a local arborist.
Unlike the long edge of a shovel, the pointed tines penetrated the wood chips easily. When they encountered the occasional unchipped stick, they flexed enough to pick it up as well. Occasionally we had to stop and clear sticks out from between the tines, which was a simple matter of dragging the back of the fork across the grass. With this fork we were able to move at a steady pace, pick up a large volume per scoop, and pitch it a few feet to fill the wheelbarrow. That’s the ideal job for this fork, and it worked perfectly.
Get the Truper manure/bedding pitchfork at Amazon, Rural King, or Do It Best.
Best for Compost
Razor-Back 5-Tine Forged Manure Fork
Photo: The Home Depot
Our Ratings: Ergonomics 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Manure fork
- Length: 66 inches
- Weight: 4 pounds 9 ounces
What We Like
- Designed for use with wet, sticky materials
- Long handle reduces bending
- Round tines resist buildup of compost
- Durable steel head and hardwood handle
What We Don’t Like
- Not as effective for dry, small aggregate materials
The right gardening pitchfork may do its best work above the soil. When you need to work a pile of rough compost, with its varying sizes of material and sticky wet texture, a pitchfork with widely spaced tines works better. In addition to the favorable tine configuration, we preferred the long straight handle on the Razor-Back five-tine manure fork as well. The fork head features oval-profile steel tines with an upward scoop shape, attached to a 54-inch hardwood handle.
This pitchfork did fine alongside the 10-tine fork on our mulch-moving project, but it excelled when we had to turn a pile of compost. The wide tine spacing and (relatively) smaller head size allowed it to easily penetrate the dense, partially composted pile and made it easier to lift and turn. We also preferred the long, straight handle because it made it easier to get all the way to the bottom of the pile with less bending. The oval tines were also shorter than those on the 10-tine fork, so they were more rigid, which helped with the heavier material.
Having similar dimensions to a traditional hay fork, the Razor-Back manure fork was also an excellent tool for picking up piles of tall weeds and garden debris. It didn’t matter if the debris was still fresh and green or dried out after baking in the sun for a few days. For that reason, we preferred this one for all aspects of composting from start to finish.
Get the Razor-Back manure pitchfork at The Home Depot or Tractor Supply Co.
More Great Options
Want a few more options to consider? We have not tested the following pitchforks yet, but our research and verified customer feedback both indicate favorable quality and performance.
Best Lightweight
Truper Tru Tough Spading Fork
Photo: Amazon
Product Specs
- Type: Spading fork
- Length: 40 inches
- Weight: 3 pounds 12 ounces
What We Like
- Smaller size, lighter weight
- Ideal for raised beds
- Easy to carry and store
- Budget-friendly price