In article ,
Nad R wrote:

Baz wrote:
"DogDiesel" wrote in
:


"Baz" wrote in message
...
"DogDiesel" wrote in
:


"Nad R" wrote in message
...
"DogDiesel" wrote:
Hello,
I've ordered a soil test kit and a Stirrup hoe. I bought a rake,
I've
yet
to setup my compost bin.

I'm trying to figure whats better for turning soil about a
foot down.
The top 6 inches or so have been tilled . Underneath is hard
packed. Should I get a digging fork , broadfork, or a shovel. I
don't want to break
the tool. I saw narrow long shovels in Home Depot today.

Thanks Diesel.

Pointy Shovel for turning soil a foot deep.
Transfer Shovel for moving soil or finished compost.
Garden rake with a one side that is flat for leveling soil.
Six or more prong Manure forks are best for turning a compost pile.
Broad fork is a luxury item if you have lots of soil to turn that
is already loose.
A "half moon" edging tool is a nice tool for creating a nice sharp
looking boarder.

As for breaking tools I find wood is worse. I prefer fiberglass or
all steel, cheap steel will bend and wood breaks to easy.

Now if you have money to burn a John Deer tractor or a Bobcat....
Sweet !

--
Enjoy Life... Nad R (Garden in zone 5a Michigan)


I appreciate the reply. A good Ole shovel is still the way. I saw
two good ones at Home Depot. The broad forks look cool . With two
handles, but I wasn't sure it would break or not.





I bought a Wilkinsons spade a few years ago when I started gardening.
It has a tubular metal shaft and have used it like a crowbar to lift
large roots from trees I have felled and it is as good as new. I have
put all my weight into it, bounced on it. Still as new.
If you buy a spade like this, make sure it is all one piece and not
joined with rivets if it is going to take the work I describe.
A fork is different, as you know, because it does not matter how
strong the shaft is, the tines will bend with too much pressure.

Baz





It looks like im going to be shoveling dirt. I want to go a foot down
and turn it over. Mix in my straw and some peat and sand.



So you have clay soil? I would go for a metal shafted set of tools if
they are going to last you out. You can buy them for a fiver each at
discount stores in UK, such as Poundstretcher, my fork is from there and
its as strong as I need it to be.
Do you need to go a foot deep, all over, at once? Hard work.
You could just dig that deep for root veg this year and with rotation,
next year do the same and so on until the whole plot is done......
....then start again.

Baz

Most veggies only need six inches, like lettuces, others like carrots need
at least a foot. So it depends on what you want. The deeper the soil the
more crowding of the veggies you can do. Shallow soil you will need to
plant them further apart. The roots will go deep if the can, if not they
will spread out.

Double digging. The first part you dig put in a wheel barrel. Then rotate
and fill in the part that was dug... At the end fill in with the dirt from
the wheel barrel. As time goes by, the soil will get looser to the point
where shoveling is not needed.

http://www.wikihow.com/Double-Dig-a-Garden
--
- Billy
“When you give food to the poor, they call you a saint. When you ask why the poor have no food, they call you a communist.”
-Archbishop Helder Camara
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