How To Choose The Best Garden Auger: The Gardener’s Guide

Every gardener knows that digging holes is a time-consuming procedure. To make planting easier, but also for a bunch of other purposes, you could use a garden auger.

A garden auger is a device used to screw soil upwards and dig holes in the ground. Similar devices are used for many other purposes in different industries, and the main difference between the garden augers and the industrial ones is the dimension.

Garden augers usually come as attachments to be used with most types of electric drills, and some manufacturers even propose them as separate power tools.

To find out whether you need a garden auger or not, read our gardener’s guide that explains which are the different types of augers available on the market and how to pick one. If you don’t feel like reading, use the links below to go to our selection of the best garden augers on the market.

Types Of Garden Augers

Garden tool manufacturers launched on the market different types of garden augers that can be used for small gardening jobs or more complex works. Most of the garden augers available on the market are ideal to dig up holes up to 7 feet deep. These tools usually match with many types of hand-held drills and are easy to use.

On the other hand, some augers are manufactured as separate power tools that are either hand-held or more complex machines. The latter are usually handled by at least two gardeners but present the advantage of being more versatile.

Since there are so many different types of garden augers available on the market, let’s have a look at the most popular.

1. Simple Garden Auger

The simplest garden auger available on the market is a manual gardening tool shaped as a long screw with a handle on one end. The handle will allow you to hold the tool and twist it, to insert it into the ground and remove excess soil.

The simple garden auger is ideal to dig small holes, such as holes for planting vegetables or trees. Most of them are about 2-3 feet in length, while the blades usually vary in size.

Some simple garden augers don’t have a handle but are shaped to be attached to electric drills. This will allow you to dig holes with more ease, and most of them are compatible with both corded and cordless electric drills.

2. Well Drilling Auger

Many gardeners use augers to drill wells. If this is the case, you will need a well drilling auger designed to cut into the soil and remove it from the bottom of the well, using a round cutting edge.

This type of auger is more difficult to use compared to the simple garden auger. The instrument is handled with the help of a structure similar to a tripod and these tools are usually powered by an engine that uses either petrol or electricity.

3. Double-Handled Garden Auger

The largest type of garden augers is the double-handled, which require the workforce of two gardeners at a time. These augers are difficult to handle, especially by inexpert gardeners who don’t have experience in synchronizing their movements.

Nevertheless, the double-handled augers have the advantage of allowing you to dig in any direction, not only vertically. This tool is also very powerful. In fact, many gardeners invest in a double-handled auger if they need to dig holes to fix a fence or other type of garden structures, such as a gazebo.

These tools are usually powered by petrol, although some manufacturers also propose electric versions.

Because most gardeners need a garden auger for small gardening jobs, we decided to concentrate on the first type of augers, either handheld or compatible with electric drills. If you never owned a similar tool before, find out how to choose one.

How To Choose A Simple Garden Auger

Since the various models of augers are so different between them, when it comes to actually choose one, most gardeners get confused. To be sure the garden auger you chose is the best one, here is a list of things to consider:

• Purpose: the first thing to identify is the reason that makes you invest in a garden auger. If you only need such as a tool to plant some bulbs, flowers, or vegetables, then a simple auger with a diameter of about 2,75 inches is perfect. These augers are also perfect for turning compost piles. On the other hand, if you need an auger to aerate the ground or dig watering holes around trees, then an auger with a diameter between 1,25 and 1,5 inches is more appropriate.
• Weight: the weight of the tool is of crucial importance. Regardless of whether the auger you like is manual or operated by an electric drill, you will still have to hold the tool. Ideally, you shouldn’t invest in an auger that weighs more than 6 pounds.
• Compatibility: if you choose an auger to use with an electric drill, then you should check if the specific model you like is compatible with the power tools you own. Most garden augers are compatible with 3/8 inches drills, but you should check the tool’s specifications before buying.

With this in mind, let’s see which are the most popular garden augers available on the market.

The Best Garden Auger Reviews

1. Power Planter 3″x12″ DIY Guru Auger

The tool is suitable to drill holes in all types of soil. It is recommended to use it with power tools of 18 or more volts and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Things We Liked

• Made in the USA: this garden auger is manufactured in the USA. This means that the manufacturing process complies with the national regulations and it is a guarantee for the quality of the product.
• Ideal for planting: this auger is perfect for planting vegetables, potted annuals or perennials, bulbs, or bedding plants.
• Fits all 3/8-inch drills: it doesn’t matter what brand of power tools you own, as long as you have a 3/8 inches drill.
• Easy to use: the auger leaves the removed soil around the edges of the hole, while the heavy-duty steel shaft penetrates all types of ground with ease.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The drill works well on all types of soil; however, its performances are not the best on wet ground.

2. Power Planter 3″x7″ Bulb & Bedding Plant Auger

The auger is ideal to use with cordless drills with a power of 14 volts or higher.

Things We Liked

• Heavy-duty shaft: the shaft is made of heavy-duty steel and it boasts a non-slip hex drive that fits all 3/8 inches drills.
• Bulb planting auger: specifically designed for bulb and bedding plant, this auger is capable of digging the perfect holes.
• Easy to use: the auger fits all 3/8 inches drills and needs as little as 14 volts of power to dig up the holes.
• Multiple purposes: besides digging holes for planting, this auger is also suitable to mix fertilizer or compost, and even for other household chores.

Things We Didn’t Like

• Compared to similar products, this auger is expensive. Nevertheless, if you are looking to invest in quality then a higher price should be expected.

3. Power Planter 3″x24″ Extended Length Bulb & Bedding Plant Auger

The 3/8 inches version works perfectly with cordless drills of 18 volts or higher.

Things We Liked

• Efficient: this garden auger is perfect for multiple purposes. When it comes to planting, it is really efficient for bulbs, bedding plants, or bare root trees and shrubs.
• 24 inches long: thanks to its length, it will be easy to dig holes of any size.
• Rugged shaft: to dig the ground with more ease the shaft is made of rugged heavy-duty steel with a non-slip hex drive.
• Lifetime warranty: to assure the flawless construction of its products, the manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty on all its augers.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The total length of the auger is less than 24 inches, and although the digging depth is about 22 inches the difference might still be a problem for some.

4. Better Garden Tools Heavy Duty Bulb and Bedding Plant Auger

The auger is made of heavy-duty steel and it boasts a hex drive that is compatible with almost all 3/8 inches drills.

Things We Liked

• Extra-long: the length of the shaft is a true advantage. Not only you’ll be able to use it without bending, but you’ll also be able to dig deeper holes.
• Multiple uses: besides digging holes, the auger is ideal to mix compost or fertilizer, to aerate the ground, or prepare mortar or paint.
• 3 years guarantee: the manufacturer offers a three-year warranty on labor and manufacturing defects that guarantee the quality of the product.
• Fits most drills: ideal for 3/8 inches drills, the auger works best with cordless power tools.

Things We Didn’t Like

• The auger doesn’t have noticeable performances on the ground that is more compact. Whether you should invest in it or not depends on the type of soil you have.

5. Yard Butler IRD-2, 30-Inch Roto Auger

The auger is available in four different versions with shafts of different lengths. As such, if 30 inches feels like too much, you can choose one of the shorter versions.

Things We Liked

• Versatile: this garden auger is one of the most versatile on the market, thanks to the length of its shaft that make it suitable for multiple uses.
• Easy to use: the auger fits on all 3/8 inches electric or cordless drills. It is recommended to use it with cordless tools.
• Excellent quality: the shaft is made of heavy duty steel and is treated against rust with high-quality paint.
• Lifetime warranty: the manufacturer guarantees for all of its tools by giving a lifetime warranty against manufacturing or material defects.

Things We Didn’t Like

• This garden auger doesn’t have great performances on clay soil and it works best on loose, aerated terrains.

Conclusion & Final Pick

Choosing the right garden auger means identifying your needs, the type of soil you have, and whether you want an auger for planting alone or to perform other chores as well.

Because of its quality, popularity, and dimensions, we consider that the best garden auger available on the market is the 3”x12” DIY Guru Auger by Power Planter.

To begin with, Power Planter brand is a guarantee of reliability. The tools proposed by this manufacturer are of a high-quality, made of heavy-duty steel and compatible with all 3/8 inches drills.

Moreover, the length and diameter of this auger are perfect for a wide range of purposes. Starting with planting bulbs or bedding plants to planting vegetables, aerating the ground, or simply digging watering holes, this tool is perfect for every purpose.

Last but not least, this auger is ideal to aerate the compost pile, to mix paint or mortar and also to do other digging holes in the garden or yard.

For all these reasons, we consider the DIY Guru Auger from Power Planter the best garden auger available on the market.

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