Garden Picks

Types of Garden Picks

Standard Pick (Double-Pointed) - Features two pointed ends, providing versatility for various breaking and loosening tasks. Both points can be used interchangeably as they wear, extending the tool's working life.

Pick-Axe (Hybrid Design) - Combines a pointed pick on one side with a flat axe blade on the other, offering both breaking power and the ability to chop through roots or split apart loosened material.

Railroad Pick - A heavier-duty variant with a chisel point on one end and a pick point on the other, originally designed for railroad construction but excellent for the toughest garden excavation work.

Geologist's Pick - A lighter, more compact version with one pointed end and one flat chisel end, useful for precision work in rocky gardens or when working in confined spaces.

Primary Uses in the Garden

Breaking Hardpan - Many soils develop a compacted layer below the surface called hardpan that restricts root growth and water drainage. A garden pick is often the only practical tool for breaking through this barrier.

Rocky Soil Preparation - When establishing gardens in rocky terrain, picks loosen embedded stones and break up rock formations, making the ground workable for planting.

Clay Soil Excavation - Dry clay soil can become as hard as concrete. The concentrated force of a pick point breaks through the surface, allowing you to excavate holes for fence posts, trees, or foundations.

Root System Removal - Large tree stumps and established root systems often require the breaking power of a pick to sever thick roots and lever out remaining wood.

Trenching in Difficult Conditions - When digging trenches for drainage, utilities, or irrigation through rocky or compacted soil, a pick breaks the path that finishing tools can then clean out.

Creating Planting Holes - In extremely hard ground, a pick creates the initial opening that can then be enlarged with other digging tools for planting trees or large shrubs.

Terracing and Grading - Landscape renovation projects often involve moving earth in challenging conditions where picks prove essential for breaking up slopes and cutting into hillsides.

Choosing the Right Garden Pick

Pick weight varies from around two to six pounds for the head alone. Heavier picks deliver more breaking force but require greater physical strength and stamina to use effectively. For most garden applications, a medium-weight pick of three to four pounds offers the best balance of power and usability.

Handle length affects both leverage and control. Longer handles generate more striking force but require more swing space and can be unwieldy in confined areas. Fiberglass handles absorb shock better than wood and resist weather damage, while traditional wooden handles offer a comfortable grip and can be replaced if broken.