Nan, go out to Westbury, to Jericho Turnpike and visit Hicks Nurseries. They have got GREAT hand tools.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hicks

Nancy, you're going to laugh, I'm sure everyone will...
I use two giant metal slotted spoons. They work great, and they're shiny silver so I can find them easily, and they don't care if I leave them out all winter. I think I paid 2 bucks each!
I also have a few other trowels, including one my mom got me with teeth and a pointed end.
I am bad about leaving everything out too, I am on my fourth pruner, it's terrible.
hub just brought home a garbage rescue plastic cabinet for me to store my tools, since they never make it back to the garage. Even my 18 month old son is better about putting things away!

I learned a long time ago cheap tools are a false economy. When you need them most, they fail you.

Here are my two favorite short diggers (I work sitting down, too.):

{{gwi:103867}}

These are heirloom quality tools, meaning they will outlast you, and probably your children. They are hand forged stainless steel, and if kept sharp, are remarkably useful tools for gardening.

They aren't cheap, but I guarantee you get your money's worth. The smaller one is available from Lee Valley for $44.50. The manufacturer, Sneeboer, has a US website here, but they charge more for the small spade. They special ordered the larger one for me, from Holland. It was about $100.

Yep, Lee Valley here too.

My father's shed is a great place too. :O) He's starting to give me some of his tools since he doesn't garden as much as he used to.

Just spent an hour at "Lee Valley" - - wow. LOTS of wonderful garden tools/equip (Donn - is this also the place you've gotten drip irrigation supplies? - I think you said so)

My husband said - JUST send me the link and get OFF the computer already! I do believe I am getting that fantastic hand shovel pictured above as a gift. I am going to take REALLY good care of it! Maybe I'll even learn to sharpen garden tools.... took me years to figure out sharpening knives in the kitchen just makes sense and saves aggrevation.

Trudy - getting "up island" to Hicks has been a major goal of mine since MAY!!!! And this weekend offically started the pumpkin pickers traffic out here so I am not getting on that highway for at least another month!

And since I have to move plants tomorrow, and I am hand shovel less - I am going to try some big steel kitchen spoons!

Tiffy - maybe Dad wants to adopt me? All mine has in his shed is wood. His idea of gardening is planting tubs of impatiens on his deck - period.

Thanks all,
Nancy

WW Manufacturing is "THE" standard in garden/nursery tools. Buy these products for life.

These folks are long time friends of our family. Their products are the best.

Here is a link that might be useful: Walt's Welding

I checked and they do have a nearby nursery listed as carrying their products (no direct internet sales - too bad)I'll see if I can stop by there to look them over this week.

Thanks,
Nancy

bevhall....

I don't think it's funny....I use big spoons too LOL! Unless I digging up some extremely deep rooted plant that's what I go for too :D

Vera

I'm ogling the Lee Valley tools, but I have to say that my two Walmart spades that I bught for

I've got a mix of "walmart" and garage sale (some very good!) type full sized spades/shovels/long handled "stand up" and use tools and they are holding up fine, as you say. Maybe higher quality would make the job quicker/ easier, but I get by. What I find snaps on me is cheaper hand sized tools (shorter, for sitting and working). Like I said earlier, I do need about 1.5 ft of handle as I do most garden chores from a rolling cart I sit on because my knees are bad.

One thing that occurs to me - - I think I've got to stand up more when I garden, use bigger, longer real tools for big jobs like transplanting - perhaps I am asking too much of the shorter ones!

And investing in ONE really good quality "medium" handled digger is probably a sound idea. Hoping it arrives for my anniversary gift! Some would not think it romantic, but I do!I am too cheap myself to buy expensive items for the garden, so most really nice elements in there have been gifts from the hubby - slate installed for pathways, a fountain, a stone birdbath. He's a keeper - I just have to point him in the right direction.

Nancy