Abstract: This invention relates to a spade for use in planting seedlings of forest plants, comprising a handle, a shaft, and a blade, the blade being four-sided and substantially planar, having a base edge, two side edges and a tread edge. The base edge and a substantial portion of the two side edges which taper towards the base edge are sharpened. The blade is reinforced by having two raised ribs which are formed by pressing out two raised portions of the blade. These ribs extend along the length of the blade for greater than half the length thereof. An additional rib extends between the two ribs from the point of attachment of the shaft at the thread edge for a distance greater than half the length of the blade and tapering toward the base edge.