Good quality tools for gardening are crucial as they are more comfortable to use and make gardening easier. A lightweight, flat spade is one of my favorite gardening tools for general planting and garden maintenance. Choose one with a fiberglass handle and a flat blade with a square point for flexibility. Shovel blades with a serrated edge are difficult to sharpen, so consider buying a floral shovel with a smaller, rounded blade for heavy-duty garden work. A heavy metal spade can quickly cut through cable tv, phone, gas and electric lines. A sharp spade makes work much easier to complete. The sharpening process requires ear and eye protection due to the noise and heat generated by the process.