Single Digging

This cultivates the soil to a depth of one spit: A spit is the depth of one spade, about 225 to 250mm.

A trench is dug and the soil excavated in front of the dug trench. Working backwards, another trench is dug to a depth of one spit and the soil turned over and deposited into the first trench. This is carried out until the whole area has been dug over.

Incorporate any amendment material, as required. If the base of the trench is hard and compacted it should be forked over to produce a loose base. If the soil is a light sandy soil, then a spade will easily disturb the base of a trench.

Single digging is suitable for general ground preparation and especially for planting ground cover shrubs or plants, bedding plants, bulbs, and for turfing an area.