digging

[gan heather]

This is very embarrassing to say, but I'm not sure I'm digging correctly. When you dig, should the topsoil (with the grass) be removed and placed elsewhere and then digging carried on underneath? I've read through double digging instructions, but they don't mean to add the top part of the soil with the grass back into the bed, do they?

[tiachica]

Hiya,

Yes, you do add the topsoil back in as per this picture:



However, the turf at the top you could put upside down right at the bottom of your dug hole, then manure on top.

[organic]

If you're double digging - drop the grass green-side-down into the bottom of the trench and back fill on top of it.

Some descriptions of double digging involve digging down 1 spit, breaking up what's below with a fork and then backfilling. I don't know how to treat grass in that case. The descriptions I learned from have you dig a trench 2 spits deep and the backfill on top of the grass dumped at the bottom.

I believe "couch" grass needs disposing of though, not burying.

[Two_Sheds]

I'm a bit lazy, and when I turned my lawn into flower beds last year, I just dug a single spit and buried the grass upside down.
Only a small amount survived and grew again, but it's manageable

[Dead Dogs]

I am just starting on converting a large area of my garden to grow fruit and veg, having just brought the place.

When I started to dig the veggie plot, I decided to put the tuffs grass side down at the bottom of the trench. Reasons for this where that I wanted to put keep all the nutrients I could. Secondly, I haven’t got any home grown compost yet, so the grass will have to do. Finally, there’s an awful lot of turf to move and find somewhere else for it.

A question for you, as were on the subject of digging. How wide a plot to dig?

Do I dig the entire area, as I remember my grandfather doing or do I break it into small plots ?

[Jeanied]

That's a matter of personal taste, DD. I tend to dig just a small area because I'm very unfit and my plot is divided up into smaller beds. Other plot holders dig the whole thing over, row by row, until the whole lot is dug. I feel a bit daft posting now, because I don't really dig - I use a fork!

[organic]

I'm using the Square Foot Gardening method so I'm digging beds 4 feet (1.2m) wide going right across my plot. I see no point in double digging the paths - it will only get walked on and go rock hard again so it's a waste of effort to even try.

If I was using a more traditional method (growing in rows) I'd still be inclined to plan where the beds and paths were going and only dig the beds.

[Liza]

I'm using the Square Foot Gardening method so I'm digging beds 4 feet (1.2m) wide going right across my plot. I see no point in double digging the paths - it will only get walked on and go rock hard again so it's a waste of effort to even try.

If I was using a more traditional method (growing in rows) I'd still be inclined to plan where the beds and paths were going and only dig the beds.

I am doing the same this year except the beans will go in a row. Are you edging your beds Organic ? I am trying to get mine raised a little as I have no edging but finding it hard to keep the soil in place as it keeps falling back down.

Any ideas ?

[Two_Sheds]

The beds will hopefully rise in time, as you add compost/manure etc over the years

[Alison]

The turf on my plot is so full of couch grass etc that it goes nowhere near the dug area. Did a lot of double digging last year to start the beds off and cleared the turf then dug down two spade depths as described above. OH did one where he emptied a 4' by 10' bed down 2 spade depths and sieved the whole lot back in - have no idea why but take any help! To be honest it did help with the weed reduction but I couldn't be bothered and it did mean I had to rethink where I was putting things as the sprouts were destined for there and the soil was much too loose!

[organic]

Liza - I'm not edging my beds yet.

If I'd been able to start back in September/October as planned I'd have them edged by now, but injury and then weather and work kept me away from the plot so now I'm digging the beds, marking the squares (I'm the 4x4 grids from wood salvaged from a skip cut down on my table saw) and getting on with the job of planting. Once things are a little less hectic I plan to start making edges in things like old scaffolding boards as and when I get my hands on them. That will serve to stop my toe slipping onto the bed when reaching into the middle squares and (as Two Sheds said will happen) contain the soil as it rises over time.

The soil is naturally a bit higher as it has been dug over and the soil either side is very hard packed down from walking on it. I'm not overly concerned about overspill at the moment. I'm working on the assumption that as it gets wet and settles it should pretty much stay where it's meant to be and once the edging goes in it'll be fine.

So, edging yes - but not now. I'm happy enough at ground level for the time being.