I use the preadotor tool model 80 for my shovel it cant be beat and I can use it in a nice lawn as it cuts a pretty plug. Agien though I had to weld a larger foot rest on it as it was cutting a hole in my boot.
The perfect relic digging shovel for me
Blue handled ames digger from home depot. Its very strong. I lanyard all my tools with a small loop of rope and hang it from a "D" ring on my belt loop. It works great.
I used to use one of those big Bowie knives that you could buy at a flea market for 5 dollars. I needed it for cutting deep plugs. It was cheap, very tough, and the mere sight of me holding it kept many a nosy person from coming anywhere near me
Several years ago I found a nice Lesche digger in the woods at my favorite local park, and have been using it ever since ( I don't get the cops called on me like I did with the Bowie knife ). Those Lesche diggers are nice digging tools.
For cutting roots up to 1 inch I use a good pair of by-pass pruning shears. Just make sure that the metal handles go all the way through the grips. You don't want to have a handle break off while you are applying heavy cutting grip. To those that may not know, the by-pass pruners are the ones with the curved blades.