How to Double Dig a Garden Bed

When making a garden bed ideally you should double dig the bed first. Double digging takes time and effort but it's well worth the extra work involved by improving soil structure and fertility, improving drainage and rewarding you with high yielding, highly nutritious plants.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Garden fork
• water from a water hose
• tarp or garden cart
• compost

1. some people prefer to use a rototiller to do your digging but your garden will not benefit from rototilling. a rototiller destroys earthworms and other soil animals that help make your soil fertile. It compacts the subsoil and destroys the soil' s structure.

2. Double digging is not a project you'll be able to complete in one day. I've worked beds that have taken me a couple of weeks to do. Several days before you plan to plant the garden, after a good soaking rain mark off your bed. If you live in a region that does not have adequate rainfall, soak the bed with water 2 days before beginning to dig.

3. Cut lines into your sod (growing grass) with your garden fork around the perimeter of the garden bed. Now with the garden fork, cut the sod into foot square pieces and then using the garden fork to loosen, remove sod for the top the garden bed. Transfer all sod to garden cart or to tarp. Remove all sod from the soil. Do you r best not to leave any grasses behind. Remove this sod to the compost area to be composted. (When composting, turn root side up)

4. Now loosen the entire top 4-6 inches of soil all along one end of the garden bed in a one foot wide swathe. Remove all this soil to the garden cart or to the tarp.

5. When you have removed all the soil from the first row, Loosen the exposed subsoil by sticking your garden fork deep into the soil and twisting and moving the fork through the soil to loosen up the clumps. Do not turn this soil over, just, dig into it. Spread a shovelful of compost over the surface of the exposed subsoil.

6. Now spade the topsoil from the next one foot section of the bed onto the subsoil in the trench. When all the soil is moved onto the first section, spread a shovel full of compost onto the newly heaped up section.

7. Now, loosen the soil in the newly exposed trench and repeat the process systematically shifting the topsoil and loosening the subsoil.

8. When you reach the end of the bed use the reserved topsoil from the first section turned to fill the last trench.

9. Plant your seeds as soon as possible after double digging. If you can not plant immediately, cover the double dug bed with a tarp and keep the soil evenly moist to keep the microorganisms alive.

10. Once your bed is dug, do not walk on it. Your double digging put air into the soil. Waling on it will recompact the soil. When planting the seedlings or seeds, place a board under your knees. Using a digging board will allow you to distribute your weight over a wider area and minimize compaction.

Tips & Warnings

• The best time to double dig is in the spring when soil is naturally looser.
• Use your whole body when double digging. Use your whole body weight to do most of the work with a little help from your knees and arms. If you feel excessive pressure on your back, Stop and think about how to put less pressure on it. This will help prevent back injuries.

[local8b0y8]

on 4/26/2009 thanks!

[goodselfme]

on 4/24/2009 thank you for the double digging tips for a healthy garden bed.5* and a recommend.