Which tool is typically used for planting or transplanting, edging, and turf removal due to its flat or curved blade?

• A. Ear Muffs
• B. Grape (grubbing) Hoe
• C. Sprayer
• D. Spades

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that the blade shape of a tool makes it suited for digging, edging, and lifting turf. A spade has a broad, flat (often square-tipped or slightly curved) blade and a long handle that provides good leverage. This design lets you cut cleanly into the soil and lift soil or turf in a controlled way. For planting or transplanting, the flat blade lets you loosen and lift a plug with minimal disturbance to the surrounding soil. For edging, the straight edge can slice a neat, straight line along borders. For turf removal, the flat blade can slide under a sod piece and lift it out intact. Other tools here aren’t built for those tasks: PPE like ear protection isn’t a digging tool; a grubbing hoe is used more for breaking up soil and uprooting larger roots with a different, less precise action; a sprayer applies liquids rather than digging. The spade’s design makes it the most versatile for planting, edging, and turf removal.