Easiest trenching method ...other than a digger

Delvis

Delvis

Delvis

Caporegime
Joined
7 Nov 2004
Posts
30,204
Location
Buckinghamshire
Hi all, so I've got to get a trench ready for some power going up the garden, but I've obviously underestimated how much work it is :p

Has anyone else done similar by hand? If so, what did you use? Method etc.?

The amount of rocks bolders there are really isn't helping!
 
Other than a digger, there really is only one other option, which is brute strength and time. You could invest in some post diggers and a decent, sharp spade, but beyond that I hate to say that's about it. Only other thing is using a small rotary, but they don't often go down to the depth required for external armoured cable.
 
Get yourself a drain / trenching shovel. Made the world of difference when I dug out an 8m trench in clay soil for ducting. I use it more than a normal spade.
 
Abyss said:
Get yourself a drain / trenching shovel. Made the world of difference when I dug out an 8m trench in clay soil for ducting. I use it more than a normal spade.
Click to expand...

Aye I've been tempted, may have to just invest on another tool :p
 
Arsonist said:
Other than a digger, there really is only one other option, which is brute strength and time. You could invest in some post diggers and a decent, sharp spade, but beyond that I hate to say that's about it. Only other thing is using a small rotary, but they don't often go down to the depth required for external armoured cable.
Click to expand...

Aye, just didn't realise how much work was needing to be done in the hole garden, but better to get it out the way now than lay a patio then decide I need power up there!
 
200sols said:
The easiest method is to pay someone else to do it :D
Click to expand...

Aye, sadly I have four bulk bags in the way of the fence otherwise of take it down and get the digger over again!

jpaul said:
pick ? bought mine for digging out tree/hedge roots - they're effective.
Click to expand...

Aye I have a mattock with flat ends, works a treat, just slow going sometimes on stones :(
 
I was just about to mention a mattock, great for digging down, just give it a massive swing down. When I was digging out a border trench for the o/h's polytunnel there was just so many roots, rocks and boulders I gave up and hired a micro digger. So much easier and fun too :D.
 
I dug 30m about 500m wide and probably only 300mm deep to plant some hedging and jesus that killed me, never again! I did that 3 years ago and i pulled something in my groin which still isn't right now :o.

I found using a pick to break up the ground is the easiest and then dig it out with a sharp spade, i'd get a minidigger in if i was doing anything like that again as it'll do it in a 10th of the time and they're not that expensive just for a day or a weekend if you can physically get it in there.
 
sovietspybob said:
I dug 30m about 500m wide and probably only 300mm deep to plant some hedging and jesus that killed me, never again! I did that 3 years ago and i pulled something in my groin which still isn't right now :o.

I found using a pick to break up the ground is the easiest and then dig it out with a sharp spade, i'd get a minidigger in if i was doing anything like that again as it'll do it in a 10th of the time and they're not that expensive just for a day or a weekend if you can physically get it in there.
Click to expand...

Aye wish I had the foresite, but sadly I've got stuff in the way now
 
When doing it by hand using the appropriate width spade makes a big difference and a pointed end helps. I go for small slices they tend to come out more neatly and are less hard work both pushing in and lifting out. Small vertical slices allows me to use my body weight to do the hardest part of the work.Also keep a mattock for the big stones. I tend not to loosen with a mattock as the trench ends up with less clean sides so I do more work digging the loose spoil out the bottom to get my depth. But ground conditions are king.
 
If the bulk bags are still intact, wouldn't the hypothetical digger be able to move them out of it's own way? Lift them aside, drive in, do the digging, drive out, place them back again.
 
bazzabear said:
If the bulk bags are still intact, wouldn't the hypothetical digger be able to move them out of it's own way? Lift them aside, drive in, do the digging, drive out, place them back again.
Click to expand...

Technically, but I've already forked out a small fortune (for me) and have done the most part of the digging already tbh :( Just need to go across the garden now
 
PlacidCasual said:
When doing it by hand using the appropriate width spade makes a big difference and a pointed end helps. I go for small slices they tend to come out more neatly and are less hard work both pushing in and lifting out. Small vertical slices allows me to use my body weight to do the hardest part of the work.Also keep a mattock for the big stones. I tend not to loosen with a mattock as the trench ends up with less clean sides so I do more work digging the loose spoil out the bottom to get my depth. But ground conditions are king.
Click to expand...

Sona trenching or drain shovel?
 
I'm not sure I can answer that for you. When I dug the trenches for my first polytunnel it was a traditional 10" blade spade which was exactly what I needed for the sheet and mass of soil. When I dug the trench for my shed power cable I also used a 10" blade spade but in retrospect I wish I'd bought and used a drain spade because the narrower but longer blade would have made the job of getting the right depth far easier. Also the narrower trench would have needed less pea shingle at the bottom to cover the power cable and water pipe I laid in the trench.

edit; I'm not an experienced ground worker btw only sharing experience from a few similar jobs I've done so don't take as gospel.
 
PlacidCasual said:
I'm not sure I can answer that for you. When I dug the trenches for my first polytunnel it was a traditional 10" blade spade which was exactly what I needed for the sheet and mass of soil. When I dug the trench for my shed power cable I also used a 10" blade spade but in retrospect I wish I'd bought and used a drain spade because the narrower but longer blade would have made the job of getting the right depth far easier. Also the narrower trench would have needed less pea shingle at the bottom to cover the power cable and water pipe I laid in the trench.

edit; I'm not an experienced ground worker btw only sharing experience from a few similar jobs I've done so don't take as gospel.
Click to expand...

Oh for sure, just good to get opinions.

Was going to get a drainage spade/shovel but non in stock near me
 
I did this once without the right tools and it was only 4-5m long never again. IMO either pay someone else to do it or get the proper tools in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom