Pickup stick assemblies suitable for picking up objects and discharging the retrieved objects into a trash or other receptacle may include an assembly housing having a proximal housing end and a distal housing end. A spring retaining member may be disposed between the proximal housing end and the distal housing end. An assembly shaft may be slidably disposed in the assembly housing. The assembly shaft may have a proximal assembly shaft end protruding beyond the proximal housing end of the assembly housing and a distal assembly shaft end opposite the proximal assembly shaft end. The assembly shaft may be deployable in an extended shaft position in which the distal assembly shaft end protrudes beyond the distal housing end of the assembly housing and a retracted shaft position in which the distal assembly shaft end is recessed with respect to the distal housing end of the assembly housing. A shaft retention spring may be provided in the assembly housing. The shaft retention spring may engage the spring retaining member and the assembly shaft to normally bias the assembly shaft in the extended shaft position. At least one object retaining member may be provided on the assembly shaft at the distal assembly shaft end.

The trenching shovel is narrow at its digging end so that a lot less dirt is required to be removed. The trenching shovel has a three sided blade and the shovel point has a concave, sharp edge which partially wraps around a root to permit cutting of the root without the blade slipping off. The three sides are also angled slightly outward to help prevent dirt from sticking to the channel of the shovel and to compact the side edges of the trench to prevent collapse of the sidewalls into the formed trench.