Basic question about forks

Could someone please explain to me the difference, in practical terms, between a digging fork and a border fork? Which should I buy, and why? I've seen both offered for sale, but my untrained eye can't tell the difference!

Are any brands particularly good value or particularly bad quality?

 

Border forks should be that bit smaller and lighter. As an average-sized woman I use mine for any digging too - it's a better fit for my hands and feet. A larger person may still find one useful for working in confined areas - like plant-filled borders, hence the name!

I think hand tools are one of those purchases where you need to see and handle the goods in real life - feel whether the weight and balance as well as the quality are right for you. Time for a visit to a garden centre, perhaps? If cost is a consideration, wait until Lidl and Aldi have gardening tool special offers - as my neighbour says "Germans won't buy bad tools" and the quality of any I've bought in my local Lidl has always been sound, despite the low price.

 

@Clare G Thank you. That's helpful. It sounds as if a border fork is the thing to buy now, then. That's much what I was thinking I'd probably want, but at least I now have some reasoning.

 

My personal hate, regarding fork and spades is stainless steel.
Not worth the extra cost.

But if you want one to last go for a good one, the real cheap ones are inclined to bend.

 

Or they shear - I've broken a tine more than once on border forks by trying something too big.

 

Well, for what it's worth, I went to the garden centre this afternoon and bought a Wilkinson Sword border fork. Let's see how it copes!

 

Broke two S/S ones up till now, never again.
If you look the nasty plastic handle has bent as well.

 

I bought a Bulldog fork and spade 30 years ago, when I got my first garden. Wooden handled, one piece forged heads still going strong. Looked at stainless steel and other handle types, but they didn't feel right. They were in a sale 30% off, so I got a good pair of loppers as well.
Since then I've added a Boarder fork, another garden spade, a wire tined grass rake and a Dutch hoe all from Bulldog had no problems with any of them. Picked the last four items up from 2nd hand stalls, spade, rake and hoe barely used about £5 each.