Season's GRUNTINGS and Double-digging

Workin' hard just to keep up?

Soil tends to be heavier during winter, and sometimes digging a big hole seems more urgent too. It's nice to finish a job and come in out of the cold (especially to a nice cup of Horlicks), but that doesn't mean you should go flinging your poor body around in a desperate attempt to get it all done at once. When you consider many people's sedentary lifestyles (especially those of us who are online types), digging is quite an active, full-body movement. Here I offer some tips on digging. I hope they help you, and encourage you dig sensibly.

What kind of shovel?
Firstly, use a shovel or spade suited to your job. Pointed shovels (what I call a spade) are good for digging deep, or cultivating soil for the very first time in a long time. I really like small shovels, such as those used by treeplanters.

Or is it a Spade?
Flat-headed spades (what I call a shovel) are better for soil that is either already soft and malleable, so all you are doing is moving it around, or digging a trench that is flat on one side.

You should also have a turning fork. This is a garden fork with 3 or 4 tines about 1 foot long with a comfortable handle.

How to dig Safely
There are a few DOs and DONTs to digging. Firstly, don't overload your shovel or spade. Don't swivel your back or hips while you are lifting soil. This can cause back strain and is also a very good way to slip a disc. Wear good shoes with a steel shank or hard bottom, so that when you plunge the shovel into the soil you can use your foot effectively. Plunging with the strength of your shoulders only can lead to stiff backs neck pain later.

Lastly, by all means have a good stretch after your dig.

Double-digging
Digging any more than necessary represents alot of lost labour in the garden. So why dig twice when you can just dig once? Because it's better.

Once you've moved the first 'row' of soil, double-digging cuts down on the distance soil travels in the digging process and if done correctly totally and completely turns large patches of soil over. Additionally, double-digging is repetitive, so you can set a pace for yourself, getting your heart-rate up while repeating good moves that are not straining on your back.

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