What would you do

[bario1]

I'm with the majority here - dig, break up the bottom pan with a fork, throw in a ton of fallen leaves, mix with the soil and leave over Winter.

[nickdub]

How about finding someone who keeps pigs and wouldn't mind boarding them out for a few weeks ?

[rary]

I have made a start today, got the strimmer out and went over the ground as I want to get that part out the way while the boys are in school, as said I used a strimmer then raked over the ground, I have left all the raked material around the edge to hopefully keep the boys off the nettles and thistles, while doing this work it raised my admiration for previous generations who cleared virgin ground without the use of machinery they no doubt would have used a scythe rather than a power strimmer I have tried to post some photos of before and after but for some reason they are not loading

[rary]

Here are some photos showing how the ground looked before I started and how it is now

[Aberdeenplotter]

I think I'd be trying to afford hiring a mini digger. That looks like a tough take on.

[rary]

Tut, tut AP such thoughts I am now thinking, will I spend some money to save me having to dig or will I keep it in my pocket (actually security box) and just dig it when the boy's are there to help, decisions, decisions, though I am finding one of the choices getting quite dominant I wonder if you could guess what one it is

[rary]

Was out on the field today and raked over an area that I will use as a flower bed

That was it before I started raking

and this was after doesn't look much different but actually had removed quite a lot of couch grass

[rary]

And here are some photos of the first digging, it's good looking soil but at the moment it is too wet to break up easily, but I will turn it over ant the boy's can go over it with a weed wand to burn any roots showing

but once it's a bit drier they can break it up and remove weed roots

[rary]

Good afternoon, had three of the boy's down today and also had a change of tactics on Sunday I turned the turf upside down but today I decided to remove the turf, used what I removed to make a compost heap

and one of the boy's loosened the soil with an airiator? it's something I have had for several years and ideal for the boy's to use,

[rary]

The other two,were busy also, as one raked up all the grass that I had cut


While the other covered the area that was turned over on Sunday with lots f newspaper and cardboard then put some turf on top to hold it in place, the rest of the turf I remove I will use it as edging for a raised bed