The Burgon and Ball Round Tine Fork is like a mini hay fork. It has round instead of flat tines so it's better when it comes to digging up plants with fibrous roots. Think about the difference between using a digging fork with wide tines and a compost or hay fork with round tines. The digging fork digs up clumps and the compost fork lifts more fibrous material. This is how this round tine fork works...It's a good fork for containers. Round tines are so much easier to maneuver in rocky or heavy clay soil. They break up the soil with much less effort and they do not seem to get stuck on the detritus in poor soil as frequently as flat tines do. The overall size is 11.5" long. Endorsed by the Royal Horticultural Society.