Digging up Your Garden DIY Style

Digging up Your Garden DIY Style

Digging up your garden isn't especially tricky and anyone with a little bit of knowledge and work ethic can get it done with minimal training and expertise. This really begs the question why hire a gardener who will charge x amount per hour when on a Sunday you can really just dig in and get it done yourself. 

Well the reason is if you make mistakes it can leave your garden looking a right mess. So I am here to talk you through how to dig up your garden DIY style!

When to dig

Digging the soil is essential for good plant growth. If the soil condition is poor organic matter can be added at the same time as digging. The best time to dig is from October through December, when the soil is free of frost and can be left to overwinter. From mid-winter until early spring, the ground is frequently wet or frozen and difficult to work with. Heavy soil must never be dug when it's wet as this can damage the soil structure and lead to poor aeration and drainage.

The depth of your topsoil, quality of drainage and whether or not your plot has been previously cultivated, will all determine the digging method required. Single and double digging are the most effective and labour-efficient digging techniques. Before digging, make sure the site is clear of all persistent weeds.

How to dig

The depth of your topsoil, quality of drainage and whether or not your plot has been previously cultivated, will all determine the digging method required. Single and double digging are the most effective and labour-efficient digging techniques. Before digging, make sure the site is clear of all persistent weeds.

Keep an eye for future articles on different techniques with which to dig up your garden! For all your gardening tool equipment please check out our sponsors Timberpro!