A digging fork is used to work or crumble stony or strongly cohesive (clay) soil and to dig in manure. In the (vegetable) garden, unlike the garden spade, the roots of the plant are less damaged when transplanting with the digging fork. For the same reason, the gardener also prefers this tool for sticking out creepers and shrubs. A slightly wider and longer fork is used as a potato lifting fork.
See also the little digging fork. [MOT]