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Soil Preparation


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Overview:

Before continuing with this section the writer would like to give the following piece of advice, particularly to those people who are not accustomed to such a manual task as digging.

Faced with a whole new plot to dig, some gardeners may have the urge to get the digging out of the way as soon as possible so that they get on with the planting

This is a commendable attitude but quite often they can over do it and end up injuring their back after the first day.

This injury may render them incapable of digging again for a number of days meaning nothing was gained by over doing it on the first day.


Method:

When to Start Digging:

There is neither a beginning or an end to the vegetable grower's calendar, although it could be argued September / October is the start, as this is the time when preparations normally begin for the following year’s crop.

As good a time as any is to commence digging soon after a crops have been harvested, for example;


circa Week 40* start removing current year’s debris, and finishing off the planting out over wintering crops if not done previously.


Once these tasks are out of the way you are in a position to commence digging the soil and adding humus making material to the cleared areas.

*Some may wait till Spring when the soil begins to warm up and become workable, the choice is down to the individual as to when he/she finds it best to do this preparatory work.


When?

View of bed after digging

Soil left 'lumpy'

Obviously these preparations are dependant on the weather, the workability of the soil and the soil type.e.g

Why Dig?

This is open to debate as there are those who advocate a 'no dig' policy is better.


Pros and Cons of the 'No Dig' system:

Pros and Cons of the Digging system:

Where to Start:

View of plot that has become overgrown with weeds

Potential State of a Plot on Arrival
Spade versus Fork - The Pros and Cons:

Graphic of a Garden Fork

Garden Fork

Graphic of a Garden Spade

Garden Spade
Handling a Spade and Fork:

Please note;

Improper handling of these tools can often lead to blisters forming on hands, and the contracting of back muscles pain, following the guidance in the list below should go a long way to alleviating such problems.

Note: A left-handed digger will naturally reverse these hand and foot positions.


Types of Digging:

Digging; One 'Spit' deep;

A 'spit deep' is the depth of dig equal to the depth of the spade blade or fork tines.

Method;

Graphic of One Spit digging method

Notes;

Soil left lumpy to breakdown over winter.

View of trench two

Cover Organic matter

from the next row

View of Manure in bottom of Trench

Add Organic matter

View of trench One

Dig first row

one spit deep

View of a barrowful of Manure

Collect

Organic Matter

 


Double Digging;

Generally on a plot single digging (1 spit deep) is sufficient, but sometime there is a need to improve the quality of poor, shallow, or badly drained soil and this is where double digging or 'bastard' digging as it is sometimes known, can sometimes help.

Note; This is not a task to be embarked upon lightly, as it will entail a considerable amount of time and effort.


What is 'Double digging ? and how often should it be done?


When is the best time to do it?

Graphic of Double digging method

Method;

Triple or Deep Trenching;

Graphic of Triple digging method

Triple Digging Graphic

To improve drainage further you could triple dig i.e. Three spits deep!

Prepped after Winter

Prepped before Winter

If you have a problem with 'Poor Drainage' you may; depending upon the contours of your plot, get away with digging just one strip across the lowest end of your plot.

This in effect is simliar to; Digging a land drain, or soak-away to improve the drainage on your whole plot.


Note; Double and Triple digging may not be practical if the Topsoil / Sub-soil is quite shallow and is sitting on bedrock.