by Charlie Garratt

Created on: February 24, 2009

Almost two and a half year's ago I moved into a new house and began the process of turning about an acre of field and hillside into a flower and vegetable garden. Believe me, in that time I've learnt a thing or two about digging.

1. Do the digging in small chunks. There's very little point in spending several hours at it one day only to strain your back and legs so badly that you can't dig any more for a week.

2. Don't believe what it says on the TV or in "coffee table" books when they show perfect crumbly soil that is clearly a pleasure to dig. Unless you've been working it for years it is never like that. If you've got sandy soil it's likely to be much easier to dig than heavy clay soil but, either way, it's probably not going to be like you see on the TV garden.

3. Do be prepared for rocks, or at the very least, stones, if it's newly dug ground. Only this week I dug a six foot square patch and pulled out several rocks, one so large that I couldn't move it without breaking it up with a sledgehammer first. It's not the case that every small stone has to be removed (unless you're planning to grow root vegetables), in fact they can be important to maintain good drainage, but anything above the size of a golf ball should be taken out.

4. Don't think you can dig in the weeds and they'll just die. This is highly unlikely. If there are lots of weeds it is probably better to use a garden fork than a spade as, this way, the soil can be broken up and the long roots of perennial weeds removed.

5. Do the digging well in advance of when you need it, particularly in time for the frost to get at it if you can. This way nature actually helps you in the task as you can dig roughly and the weather will break down the clumps of soil over the winter. OK, so you've missed it this year but it's worth remembering for the end of the season.

6. Do think about whether or not you need to dig anyway. There is considerable evidence that soil quality is better and crop yields improved if the ground remains undisturbed after initial preparation.

7. Don't double dig' unless you're sure that your topsoil has sufficient depth. Most garden books will give a detailed explanation of how you should take out the soil to two spade depths. In some areas, like where I live, the topsoil is barely a foot thick so double digging would simply bring poor quality, or even sterile, soil to the surface whilst burying the better quality topsoil beneath it.

Finally, do make it easy on yourself by using decent tools and clothing. For example, for heavy digging a long handled spade is invaluable for new ground, whereas a smaller, so-called, border spade is great for the annual tidy-up. Good boots, preferably waterproof, with strong soles are a real asset and vital protection for your feet. Personally, I always wear strong rubber or canvass gloves when I'm digging as they help prevent blisters, aid grip on the spade and protect the hands when pulling out the inevitable rocks and stones.

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