How to Use A Dirt And Garden Shovel -- Mostly For Women

Do you have a garden or compost pile, or want to start one? Then using a shovel will help you.

A dirt shovel has a rounded edge, and a garden shovel has a flat edge. The dirt shovel will help you the most because you can dig and move dirt with it. A garden shovel is used mostly to loosen hard soil or furrow a row of soil for planting. Both types of shovels are used basically the same way.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Shovel
• Sturdy Shoes

1. Make sure that you are wearing sturdy shoes. Running or training shoes or boots will work until you get the hang of it. After you learn you can probably be a little more casual.

2. Place the shovel on the soil where you want to dig or loosen. Place it vertically to the ground, meaning straight up and down. As straight up and down as you can get it.

3. Put your strong foot on the shoulder of the shovel at the middle of the ball. Try to feel that the ball of your foot is placed evenly on the shoulder of the shovel. Not to far back or forward. Just in the center. Get a firm grip on the handle. Use the post of the shovel to get a firm grip on. You can use one hand on the upper handle and one on the post if it works better for you. You will need to steady the shovel with your arms as you dig.

4. Push down on the shovel with your foot while keeping it vertical with your arms. Push it into the ground. Try to get it into the ground all the way to the shoulders if you are digging a hole. If the dirt is dry or hard then you might not be able to. Use the dirt shovel to dig a hole.

5. After you have the shovel into the ground where you want it, rock the shovel back with the handle until you have a scoop of dirt in the shovel. Then lift the shovel up and move the dirt to where you want it.

6. If you are using a garden shovel to loosen dirt, then use the same method only when you get the shovel into the ground, wiggle it forward and backward to loosen the soil. If you want to till the soil, then use the garden shovel to loosen and the dirt shovel to turn it over.

7. To furrow rows for planting use the garden shovel on tilled soil. Dig the shovel in as far down as you need to seed the bed, and move it back and forward until you have soil on both sides. Keep moving down the row until it is complete.

Resources

• What are the different types of shovels.

[majesticdevotio]

on 9/18/2009 good tips for first timers.

[majesticdevotio]

on 9/18/2009 good tips for first timers.