Daft digging question

[Arachne]

I have close on 125 square metres to dig (and a dodgy shoulder -this'll be fun!)

Given recent weather, the ground's pretty solid. I'd planned on taking my watering can up today, giving the ground a wee sprinkle with it, and digging the slightly moist ground - then read that wet soil shouldn't be dug. So - to water or not? I'm on the first dig, the getting rid of turf bit, and will be building raised beds for the most part - so can I water before I dig? If I do, will it actually make any difference?

[shirlthegirl43]

It might help soften the turf a bit, but won't carting the watering can about do as much harm as the digging? Once you have the first bit of turf off, the rest is easier.

If you are building raised beds, you may get away with just turning the turf over and then putting your topsoil or whatever on top. That will save a lot of digging.

[Flummery]

I've watered seriously hard ground before. leaveit a couple of hours then dig - much easier. however, I agree with Shirl that if you are making raised beds and your area has turf on, turn the turf then pile the new soil/compost on top in your raised bed.

[Arachne]

It might help soften the turf a bit, but won't carting the watering can about do as much harm as the digging? Once you have the first bit of turf off, the rest is easier.

If you are building raised beds, you may get away with just turning the turf over and then putting your topsoil or whatever on top. That will save a lot of digging.

I can carry the watering can in my left hand, letting the right shoulder have a bit of a break (I'm also hoping the azada'll be more shoulder-friendly than a spade).

I'm hoping I'll be able to get away with turning the turf over - the grass on it doesn't *look* like couch, but I'll be examining the roots closely

I reckon I'll take the can up with me and see how it goes. Thanks for the advice!

[shirlthegirl43]

Just take it gently, no point in clearing a whole bed today and not being able to do any more for a month.

[Becca]

don't know about Kent, but around here heavy rain is expected tommorrow so if you wait a day nature might save you a bit of trouble..

[HeyWayne]

I use a combination of my azada and a long handled spade (I think it's classed as a "continental" style spade - the one with the pointy blade). I use the spade by digging it into the ground vertically (granted I have 17-18st to drive it in) and then use the handle to pull back and lift the ground up, using the theory of levertivity. This breaks it up into large chunks which I then use the azada to break down into more manageable ground.

Oh, and yes, we're expecting heavy rain over night and into tomorrow.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Rain is expected in Kent today, tomorrow and Friday. We are on clay and did what Shirl and Flummery suggested - turning the turf over and using it in the bottom of our raised beds.

We found that the ground by June last year was so solid it was undiggable (we were putting perimeter rabbit fencing in). but March and April were perfect digging conditions this year - it was almost a pleasure!

[Arachne]

Yup, rain does seem to be forecast - but from the looks of the sky, it won't be happening here for a while. I might just manage to get some bee-friendly flowers planted in time to let the rain water them in (still not at lottie as the dear bloke has offered to come up with me when he finishes work and take over digging when my shoulder starts complaining. Instead, I'm drawing plans...).

Now of course I'm worried that if the rain's *that* heavy, my adopted bees might drown.

[Mikey]

I have been digging for what seems like an eternity. I only manage an hour or so an evening, and about 3 to 4 evenings a week. I'm double digging my ground to ensure that I can improve the soil structure as much as possible (I have heavy clay), and I'm removing as much of the bindweed as I go as poss.
I have found that on evenings when I am unable to get down there to breakup the ground I dug the previous night, a good watering makes it more manageable the following day. I don't suffer with shoulders, but I do have a history of back problems so little an often seems to be kinder on me.

Happy digging

[Arachne]

Progress report: the ground, unsurprisingly, was like concrete, but the bloke discovered a very useful turf-lifting azada technique. Bit of a soak and it was all go. Slowly, but going. Got a little bit on the back dug and some bee-happy flowering plants in there, and the first actual bed outlined and quarter-turfed. At that point we started to lose light, so gave it a good soaking and left. It'll have got another good soaking with the rain last night, so hopefully tomorrow, when I can next make it up there, it'll be a lot nicer.

Thanks for all the advice - I tried the spade thing but couldn't get the spade in more than a centimeter or so - I am very much in love with the azada - without it I doubt I'd have got much at all done, if anything.