Blog 4 - Dig a Better, Easier Trench
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2011
- Digging a trench for sprinkler lines or drainage is one of the toughest parts of a landscape project. Jeff shows the technique and which shovels to use when trenching to make the job easier and more efficient.
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This is the first trenching video I've seen with realistic soil. Most videos have nice soft soil that I only see in my dreams.
I've watched several of this guys vids. He knows the right way.
This is the correct method. Cut the sides and then scoop out the loose dirt. Repeat.
I have done this 20 years almost. In Oregon where everything is solid clay and a bit of rock.
I might suggest using something heavier to cut the edges of the trench. So you aren't forcing down with muscle but letting lifted and dropped weight work for you. Save your wrists. And energy.
In super rocky soil I go for a digging bar to get around the rocks and loosen them up.
Minus the rocks I use a specialty weighted shovel. Sometimes called a caprock shovel. Basically a digging bar with a rounded and somewhat flattened shovel head. Which is best sharpened. Goes right through roots.
These cost 70$ or more and can be found at many irrigation supply stores. They are made specifically for cutting trenches and are primarily used by sprinkler guys.
Thank you sir for the videos. You helped me figure out how to design landscapes with the Houzz.com suggestion. And taught me about matching plants.
You do beautiful work.
A lot of comments about how hard I'm working and other tools I should have used. I have worked in many soil types and the one in my current yard, the one in the video is the hardest I have ever seen. It is rocky clay. Even in that condition I am able to dig the trench. Mattocks are really hard on the back. If you get tired it's easy to injure yourself. I learned to do it this way working on an irrigation crew in Texas and you can do this method for hours.When I moved to California and they used mattocks I easily dug faster than the other workers. Swinging a mattock for that long isn't an option. Obviously it is easier to use a machine but sometimes the job doesn't warrant that. If you have rocks in that soil it is easy to take one in the face with a mattock also. As they say, more than one way to skin a cat.
Good job. I guess the only thing is to make it easier is to wait until the ground has had a soaking, providing you don't then end up with sticky clay!
With a Mattock you don't have to work for hours... you can get that trench done in 5-10 minutes... tops
Eat2surf lol bullshit, not on hard soil like that. You can dig it up quick but a 10 foot trench on hard/compacted soil with a mattock won't be getting done in 10 minutes.
Good video and very realistic Jeff. I did dirt work everyday for a couple of years for an irrigation and pool installation company. You did a fine job of showing the proper technique of digging a trench. The only part that makes it any easier is experience stamina mild early morning spring weather and a good contractor grade sharpshooter. Eat2surf probably only trenches through wet sand on the beach to free up his surf board.
Thanks for this video. I may not be physically capable of doing this kind of work but I learned how to avoid blisters on my hands!
Great job sir. I'm an irrigation technician and will tell you that, thats the fastest hand trenching way period. I'm also able to cut trough large roots (up to 10-inch diameter) when no other tools are available in some cases. Btw I have very large forearms due to using a sharpshooter shovel all the time ;)
Hey, thanks for posting this! Wow, 65 thousand views. Guess digging trenches is a hot topic.
Thanks a lot. This technique will help me a lot with my current gardening project.
Very rarely do I leave comments, but this video needed one. Jeff, I'm not criticizing you. I have 14 acres of land which, unfortunately, will need 'trenching' due to excessive rain.
Please, use a mattock to loosen up the soil, then use a spade. The little bit you did in this video, could have been done in less than a minute with the tools I've mentioned. Personally, I'll be doing 'trenching' from my North to South perimeter on my property to release the excess water. Take care !
Good stuff Jeff
All these are helpful. Thank you
Digging a pond now- you did good work! It's a good workout
Thank you, great technique!
good work brother. very helpful. thank you.
For anyone who watches this, don't do what the video says, just use a 5lb pickaxe. Same job, 1/10th of the time.
Good solid advice. Thanks for sharing. Lots of different ways to "skin a cat"-this is a good one.
Thank you for your help
Very helpful. Thanks!
oh my god man WET THE GROUND
I have to dig a 2 foot deep trench to run some electrical line in my yard and this is the only video I have seen with soil like what I have. Hopefully this helps. Another thing I read was to wet the ground ans let the water soak in so gonna try that too.
Perfect video..
Jeff, another idea is to take a soaker hose and lay it out overnight along the trench you intend to dig. The ground will be softer along your trench. Also, I agree with the folks that suggest a mattock to break it up deep. Go 5 feet, then clean it out. Then go another 5 and repeat.
I would have used a digging iron to loosen it then shovel.
It definitely is - I'm glad my soil is a little softer than in the video. I wonder if it would help to water the area first (???)
TheRmyoder no then it’s muddy then it would be harder
I love the fact that Jeff believes what he says and totally analyzes everything from shovel technology to physical fittness. Really entertaining video.....please don't confuse it with educational and informative
How long did this really take?? So much quicker to use a mattock
This soil is about exactly like mine. I thought I was one of the very few that would labor manually
trenching with hand shovels in these conditions. Very Respectfully, Gary Kaasa (TommieCadillac)
Thank u and u look like Tony hawk rock on bro thank you
What is up with that dirt? Its like made out of concrete
- depending on the width a few intervals inbetween, or even semi-randomly along the trench. My theory was it would break up the soil to the depth you wanted with an added step at the start before digging and minus the manic 'smash and grab' not so efficient (im thinking) technique .... in theory it seems like it would make the job quite a bit easier (depending on opinion over digging vs hammering, perhaps). Seems like it would come out with neater results too ... im a digging noob with some exp.
Not necesarily on the back. But yes the mattock is also my first choice (pick+spade head). Wet ground also seems to be a bit easier.
My friend, buy a pick ax and use it to trench/break up dirt. Then use the sharp shooter to lift loose dirt from the trench.
the reason ive come upon this video is that im digging a small trench for someone soon and ive had a thought tht using a spade makes it quite hard. even in this video i can see an easier way of handling the situation than launching a metal blade (shovel/spade) at the dirt till it breaks up... My thought i had and that iw as hoping 'the internet' might confirm, is that using a metal pole + sledge hammer to make sure the depth is correct and to go down either side of the trench with that and-
Is this useful for hunting for for like if you have no place to live? Lol, serious question
You guys run out of water out there?
That soil is an idea killer....it would quickly make you think!
Make another asmr video. This is so relaxing.
When you say "easier", do you mean compared to using a spoon?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm building a trench that's probably 20 ft long a foot to 2 ft deep it's about 2ft wide but it all is wet because of the snow so it turned into damn near clay so it sticks to every shovel every time you go to empty or shovel it sticks I have study had to scrape it with a piece of metal I found on the ground I'm like damn bro this is rough I'm a big built dude but I woke up sore the next day I'll tell you what
LoL. You are in excellent shape compared to me:)
I won't say the above is a bad technique, but using a digging bar is a lot quicker and more effective to break up hard soil because you're letting the weight of the bar do the work and not having to force it down.
Geez, compacted road base is likely easier to dig than that. I have a similer landscaper's shovel but with shorter horizontal grip handle. I also have what looks like a toy shovel for digging (utillities) when on knees. IMO Your technique would also be good for soft soils to cut roots first. Would like to suggest to all that they use an angle grinder to bevel the likely square tip edge formed by machine stamp out of shovel blades for easier digging. High quality shovel may have had heat treatment, so keep shovel edge cool by frequent dipping, maybe vacuum off or towel so not to get electricuted. I'll NOT be buying a trenching shovel now. Thanks for saving me time/money/space to hsng shovel.
a ditching shovel makes clean out easy. I am a professional landscaper and as the guy in the video suggest there needs to be more than one shovel used. I use a king of spades with a 6 foot handle. I can beat a three man crew using mattocks. If you are digging every day, a king of spades will save you time and make the job easier due to leverage.
I guess it is time to hire somebody to do this for me :(
2 to 3 minutes. i spent 2 hours with a spade trying to dig a 6X8 area 1 foot deep
That's easier?
Seems like that drain shovel would be best just for the clean out. Using a lawn edger seems the best to start breaking the top layer first.
I don't see that shovel lasting long using it as a pick.
You should have saturated that soil with water a few days before hand. It's ridiculous to dig in ground that's hard as rock. This is sort of a demonstration why it's important not to attempt to dig in soil that is too dry and hard for easy digging. Use the same shovels, but wet the ground down before hand.
That was a better easier way??????
Get a mattock, and dig with that. Then cut the sides with that trenching shovel
Good morning. Damn. I'm going to stop whining about my soil, because my $9 spade did a 6"x6"x30' trench in an hour.
Whew...I had to go take a break at 3:30...
DItto!-Shows me I'm best to (a) Get a Est. from a Landscaper to do it & (b) save up the $ to Hire them..( I can work OT at my much easier Job & Make $20 hr). Or Do they Rent a Machine that will dig out a Trench upto 6 inches deep?
The thing to remember is some jobs are too small or tight for a machine and some people cant afford them or have access to them. If this works in this soil, it works even better in moist, softer soil. I was out there this weekend with the same shovel digging plant holes. I"m 55 but still dig plenty of holes with this method and shovel, no problem.
Not to sound InSensitve, but If a Homeowner can't afford to Hire a Pro to do the Job right? Maybe they shouldn't do the Job at all.. ie: Before diging anykind of hole, ( even to plant a Bush) one should call J.U.L.I.E . or their Gas Co. , to come out and Flag where The Gas line is. I had a Drainage line created around the House from the Roof Run Off/Drip Line ( Removed Gutters pervious Homeowner put on and wondered why got Ice Dams)Landscaper called Ga Co. 1st, then came out the next day..8" trnch, laid 3" Gravel, then 4" Perf. Thin Wall PVC and then topped with Golf ball size Gravel ..Bushes Planted and can't see a thing..Been 5 yrs and everything works fine..No More Ice Dams and No More Crawlspace getting Water in it . Excess water ( heavy rains) Runs out 20 ft from the House and then into more Perf. PVC and then into a Culvert 60ft away.. $300 cost 5 yrs ago. If one is that Poor? They best Sell the house, they're too Poor to own a Home..
There's nothing wrong with doing work yourself nancy.
Wow it's seem you be better off with a mini excavator
wouldn't a pickaxe be better in this application?
Only for cutting through roots encountered
Seriously... I think you should loosen up that soil with a garden hose before you start
I woulda just up and died in ww2.. “dig a trench private”, “get on your feet private”. If a mob told me to dig my own grave id be buried in a 2 foot grave...
Use a pick axe to break up the dirt its easier
daaamn, if i had to dig in dirt like that, i wouldn't even think of using a D1 that's BS. they wouldn't even have to fire me, i'd just quit and get it over with. 🤣😜🤣😜🤣😜
I can't see how that is efficient. Installing sprinkler systems for over 5 year now isnt idea. If you are planting a garden it is but if you have to trench a 50 yards you'll be there all week.
You need to tiller that hard yard first then dig a trench
why dont u wet up the area real good and just get the dirt out easily
+Sajid Rafique How about using a pressure washer?
+Sajid Rafique thats the way i do this, let the water soak for a few hours or prepare the ground a day or two before working on it by adding water.
Sajid Rafique Because the clay would become sticky and stick to tools, boots, etc. much harder if clay soil wet. Hope that helps answer your question
mateollios 67 You must
I've where there's not high clay content in your soil.
When the clay is wet you have to keep cleaning your shovels. Your boots get full of mud and you scrape them off a lot because it drains you. I learned to keep a bucket of water next to you and dunk it in water before shoveling each time. I dig a lot for plumbing
It seems to me a mattock is easier than this...
Get a trencher bud..lol
Wear gloves..longer handle is easier on your back..
Ever heard of a digging baror a maddox, this is ridiculous
Yikes
Save yourself a ton of work... get a Mattock.
Eat2surf on hard soil like that you'd be working at the same pace if not slower with a Mattock over time. If it I had to choose between being bent over with a 10 pound pickaxe working my back off all day vs standing mostly vertical with a de-handled shovel I'd pick the shovel any day.
dude are you foreal ??lol