I don't know his case, but for my case, I had to be very careful when
dig up a transplant, or else the handle will break.

Handles aren't as strong these days.

And when I hire a kid to do chores, you have to explain to them that a pry-bar
is for prying and a shovel is for digging and if they mix them up they WILL
snap shovel handles. It does no good of course. They don't listen any better
than we probably did at that age.