Building and DIY | How to dig a TRENCH by hand. Garage Conversion

[@davidsoulsby1102]

For breaking the surface, a pickaxe or a fencing wrecking bar will penetrate the ground better than the hoe. For the first dig, try a "spit", a thin, long bladed, and curved, you can lift out dirt but also break up the surface and prise out stones. To take out the loose from the bottom is when the trench shovel comes in. These are what professionals use and have been since Victorian times (the navies of lore). I worked with a lot in the 80s and onward. Remember to bend your knees before your back, don't try to lift out huge shovelful's of dirt , just comfortable amounts. At 18 i worked alongside guys in their 60s who had dug for years, laying cables, they just kept going and made it look easy, they outpaced me by a good 25-30% and still had breath to talk and smoke as they dug. It was a delight to watch to be fair. Santa sized guys just eating up the ground. Just on last important point, a spade has a shallow angle to the blade and shaft, used for digging into earth from the top, a shovel has a larger angle to stop you having to bend down so far, don't use a spade to pick up the loose material, it will ruin your back. Cheers.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

This is an excellent comment and brilliant additional information. As a learner I think you. And thoroughly interesting. Best wishes. Mark

[@VileTraveller]

My garden soil is about two-thirds stones, so my best purchases ever were a pickaxe and a mattock. The mattock handles most jobs, I only use the pickaxe for particularly rocky bits. My spade hardly ever comes out of the garage these days! 😄

[@muddyboots2531]

Interesting video! And good to read the comments. Thanks Mark.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Hi muddy. I'm pleased you see the comments. There's often a lot of additional useful information there. Every day is a school day 😊🙏

[@markdyballuk]

i have a trenching spade (i call it a grafter) they are wonderful, it is worth its weight in gold and would have made your trench a lot narrower (where you are just running the electric cable, not your drainage) and would have made your work much easier Mark. I would highly recommend you get one as it would also help with your gardening. I don't mean to be a know it all, just trying to help

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

@@markdyballuk I really appreciate your comment and hope others see it too. Had I been more patient I might have waited and got one from Amazon. Thanks again

[@markdyballuk]

@@MarksHouseandGardenUK happy to help Mark, thanks for sharing your hard work and I look forward to seeing your garden videos too when I have the time. you have a great ability to impart knowledge and it's much appreciated

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

Well thanks again. The feedback motivated me

[@award210]

Another great video Mark no need to go to the gym

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

😊🙏 thanks Ann. You're right about the gym lol

[@yesidtac7863]

Muy pintoresco

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

And thank you again 😊

[@Frostie3672]

You may of already thought of this but you'll need something to cover those trenches over night or animals such as hedgehogs could very well fall in & become trapped.

[@MarksHouseandGardenUK]

No you are absolutely correct. Each and every trench has a sloped escape route for any mammals. We are thinking the same way 🙏😊