In addition to easily cutting through roots, the Root Slayer shovel can tackle tough soil conditions. A few different Amazon reviewers say they even use it for metal detecting, since it can handle any type of soil they encounter, from dense gravel to heavy clay. One of the downsides to using landscape fabric in your garden is the difficulty in digging through it to put in new plants. Even after more than 10,000 customer reviews on Amazon, only 1% of reviewers give the Root Slayer shovel a one-star rating. One elderly customer said the shovel worked well, but it was too heavy for regular use.