I wouldn't buy any Fiskars tool other than scissors and a few items from their Duluth Trading subsidiary, but then, I'm a tool snob.

For spades and forks, you can't do better than Sneeboer. Hand forged stainless steel heads and traditional ash handles, made in Holland.

Lee Valley sells what Sneeboer calls the Planting Spade. LV calls it the Perennial Spade, and it's a fantastic tool. They get $42.50 for it, compared to $59 from Sneeboerusa.com. Check out their 4-tined fork. It's much more costly than the Fiskar, but I'd bet you'd never have to buy another, and their tools are simply perfect in use. I bought the Perennial Spade from LV, and got Sneeboerusa to bring over the next size up, which they call the Patato Shovel. It was over $100, but worth every penny. Here's the link to the Dutch company's website.

Here are the two spades I bought:

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When you get one of these tools in your hands, you'll know what I mean when I say they are heirloom tools. They are, quite simply, exquisitely made tools. When kept sharp, they do the work for you. The photo doesn't show it, but the handle sockets do not intrude into the blade. The backs of the blades are flat and smooth.