|
|
|
Wonkee’s hoof-by-hoof guide: How to dig a hole
|
|
|
|
|
When you have purchased your digging bar, and are ready to use it, Wonkee recommends these few preliminary tasks – completing them first will make the job itself much easier. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 1 – Measure digging area
Measure the area you will be digging. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 2 – Check area safety
Check for the location of any wires, cable lines and sewage or plumbing pipes . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 3 – Select safe spot to dig
Make note of their location, and select a safe and appropriate spot to dig. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 4 – Outline hole shape
Using a marker such as a length of rope, outline the shape and area you want to dig.
Now comes the exciting part. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 5 – Dig outline
Using the chisel edge of your digging bar, dig around the inside of your marker. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 6 – Remove turf
Remove the turf covering the digging area with your spade. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 7 – Dig to correct depth
When you have dug out the entire shape, concentrate on the depth of hole you want. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 8 – Find a digging technique
A useful technique for digging with a bar is to drive the chisel edge into the soil and twist – this loosens the earth and makes lifting it out of the hole easier. However, there is no set rule here – use the technique which you find works best for you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 9 – Break roots
Use the chisel edge of your digging bar to break through any roots you find. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 10 – Remove debris
As you are digging your hole, shovel out loose dirt and other debris using your spade. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 11 – Remove debris
When your hole is deep enough, you may find that a spade is no longer efficient for removing loose dirt from the bottom. In this case, you can switch to a post-hole digger, which has jaws for collecting loose dirt at a depth. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Step 12 – Tamp base of hole
When the bottom of your hole is clear of loose dirt, you may wish to tamp the earth down. In this case, you should have chosen a digging bar with a tamper or mushroom head. Turn your bar over and use the flat end to gently push the earth at the bottom of the hole level. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Congratulations! Your hole is now complete. |
|
|
|
|
|
|