After years of experimenting the only tool I now use for digging down in difficult ground is a Post Hole Bar - Chisel End 7.7kg 1.75M. It will cut through anything and give you deep narrow holes if that's what you want.
Made out of tempered steel, it is also the best leverage bar for removing heavy stones or roots.
Sharpen with angle grinder as required.
I only wish I had got one 30 years earlier!
This is very similar to what I would call a mattock, as sold by our local agricultural suppliers.
The long handled one is an azada, see
That would seem to be the case.
A hand hoe perhaps?
or
Sharp spade or mattock, if it's clay it won't get blunt too soon.
I prefer the mattock as the spade gives me some sort of RSI of the elbow.
Anyone seen or tried one of these?
AJH
My soil didn't have roots but was stony in places and one hole coincided with an old hole. I did the loosening and breaking part with a big crowbar (had it, so cheaper than buying the correct tool and only 6 holes to do) then used one of these:
Interesting. Is the costume mandatory?
That's got something like the right length handle, but the blade is flat whilst I want something scooped so the loose soil doesn't just fall off as you lift it out of the hole. It also looks a bit hefty for something which only needs deal with loose soil.
That looks to be about the right sort of weight, but the blade is flat & small, whilst the handle is too short.
Imagine a planting hole about a foot deep. All the loose soil falls to the bottom as you deepen & widen the hole. I want something to reach down there & scoop it out without having to grovel too much.
I used my azada to do this afternoon, the hole was a bit deeper but it works reasonably well, just place the edge of the blade at the far side of the hole and drag it towards you. Some earth falls off but it is more effective than using a spade. The only alternative that I can think of is using a large catering ladle fixed to a wooden pole/handle.
Bit expensive for the sort of use I would make of one. Probably around £150.
I think an azada is going on my shopping list - provided that I can get it in the shed along with all the other tools I've collected over the years.
That catering ladle does sound about right as well - I wonder if they come with long handles...
Off to do some research.
What would O&HS make of the possibility of finger damage at the slide entry?
TMH recommended this one - and I can confirm that it's v. good for the loose stuff:
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