What is the easiest way to dig a trench?

An Easy Way to Dig a Trench

1. Loosen hard soil using a pick axe.
2. Define the sides of the trench using the point of your shovel.
3. Pull soil out of the bottom of the trench with a grub hoe once it becomes too deep to use a shovel.
4. Place all the soil that you pull out of the trench on one side.

How do you dig trenches to divert water?

Dig a trench that is 18 inches deep and 9–12 inches wide. Lay water-permeable landscaping fabric in the trench, followed by 3 inches of gravel….Cover Trench

1. Fill the trench with additional gravel.
2. Line the trench with bricks or stones.
3. Cover the trench with soil—you can even plant grass on top!

How do you dig a sloped trench by hand?

How to Dig a Sloped Trench

1. Place stakes in the ground at either end of the area where you would like a sloped trench and stretch string between them.
2. Cut the sod or the top 2 to 3 inches of soil away and fold it over next to where the trench will be.
3. Divide your trench into segments.

What tools do you need to dig a trench?

What is the Best Tool for Digging a Trench?

1. The traditional trenching tool kit is: trench shovel, drain spade, pick mattock, and rake.
2. If the trench must be dug on extremely rocky or hard ground, a walk-behind trencher may be required.
3. For detailed borders, use a border trenching tool.

How long does it take to dig a trench with a shovel?

It takes about 12 hours to dig 100 linear feet of trench. Measure the number of linear feet you need to dig and multiply that by 0.12 for an approximate labor period.

What is a flat shovel?

Flat Shovel As the name tells us, flat shovels have a flat blade. Any shovel with a flat blade is primarily designed for scooping, and they often have a slightly concave blade, like a squared-off spoon, that makes them better at carrying materials.