Q: How is this different from a spade and fork?
This broadfork loosens soil down 10" or more without turning it over, so the soil's natural layers stay intact, unlike digging with a spade and fork.
LB101 - Lee Valley U-Bar Digger
The U-bar digger (or broadfork, as it is sometimes called) has been written up in gardening literature and wanted by serious gardeners for many years. There are a couple of versions on the market, but they are prone to bending or breaking under normal use. After researching available literature, we tested other models, took their best points, and have designed what we think is the best U-bar digger available.
Used to loosen garden beds at the beginning of the season, the digger provides results similar to a spade and fork; however, rather than turning the soil, it loosens it without disturbing the soil strata. Loosening down 10" or more, it produces a deeply aerated planting bed.
The two long handles provide extraordinary leverage, allowing a person of average strength to loosen large areas of garden in a fraction of the time it would take with a conventional spade and fork. Not suitable for clay or densely packed soil. Measuring 58" overall, it has five 10" long high-strength alloy steel tines that span 18". Weighs 19 lb. All-metal construction with comfortable handgrips. Handles are removable for easy storage.
Made in Canada.
This broadfork loosens soil down 10" or more without turning it over, so the soil's natural layers stay intact, unlike digging with a spade and fork.
Not necessarily – it's not designed for clay or densely packed soil, where the tines are more likely to bend under the strain.
It weighs 19 lb, with an all-metal build and five 10" alloy steel tines spanning 18".
Step onto the U-shaped bar to push the tines into the soil, then step back and pull the handles toward you, rocking them side to side to break up clods.
Clean the tines with water and a bristle brush, then oil them to help prevent rust; the handles remove for more compact storage.
It's made in Canada, where each digger is assembled from alloy steel tines and an all-metal frame.
| Materials | Alloy steel tines; metal frame |
| Dimensions | 58" overall length; five 10" tines spanning 18" |
| Weight | 8.6kg (19 lb) |
| Includes | U-bar digger |
| Package Quantity | 1 item |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
| Warranty | Lee Valley Satisfaction Guarantee |
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Lee Valley U-Bar Digger
The U-bar digger (or broadfork, as it is sometimes called) has been written up in gardening literature and wanted by serious gardeners for many years. There are a couple of versions on the market, but they are prone to bending or breaking under normal use. After researching available literature, we tested other models, took their best points, and have designed what we think is the best U-bar digger available.
Used to loosen garden beds at the beginning of the season, the digger provides results similar to a spade and fork; however, rather than turning the soil, it loosens it without disturbing the soil strata. Loosening down 10" or more, it produces a deeply aerated planting bed.
The two long handles provide extraordinary leverage, allowing a person of average strength to loosen large areas of garden in a fraction of the time it would take with a conventional spade and fork. Not suitable for clay or densely packed soil. Measuring 58" overall, it has five 10" long high-strength alloy steel tines that span 18". Weighs 19 lb. All-metal construction with comfortable handgrips. Handles are removable for easy storage.
Made in Canada.
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