Hey Hoe!

Hello all!

Does anyone have any good recommendations for a digging hoe to help dig up the hard soil which has occurred through years of not touching it.

I’ve seen the Draper Hoe on Amazon.

Has anyone used it?

 

Hi @Hobbynut - do you really mean a hoe? I only use a hoe for slicing roots off weeds and scratching around the top thin layer of soil. For digging up hard soil you could use a fork or if it is really bad, a pickax or mattock.... Ah, sudden realisation, you mean the Draper 'Digging Hoe' on Amazon - not the usual Dutch one. Yes, like a mattock!

 

A mattock would no doubt do the job but it's pretty physical..
I'd try a good stainless steel spade.
The shiny surface cuts easily through compacted clay ground.
It might be good if you could borrow a mattock to see if it works for you, some people love them. A quality spade has always worked for me, but I've got 13 stones of pure enthusiasm behind me to drive it in.. (Mrs JR has tried and just bounces off the thing)
Spades aren't easy on hard ground for lighter Gardeners i guess.

 

I must admit I was confused! Many thanks yes it’s a Mattock!

 

Many thanks for your response! Sadly I’m week and feeble but I shall persevere and obviously not let it get so bad again and will continue with what I have and not spend anymore lolly!

 

Bless you!.. If i lived in your vicinity i would pop round and break up that compact ground for you.
As you say, once it's dug over it'll be easier to maintain.

 

You could always drop hints to younger family members with the offers of Fish and Chips for lunch. Or just try a small part at a time with the final result several days/ weeks away. Being over 70 myself I dig mine prior to planting taking 4 goes I used to do it on one go.
Local allotment chaps may help.

Old joke. Local minister passing by said to gardener who was clearing overgrown patch. Amazing what can be done with a little help from the Lord. The reply was. It was a bit of a mess when he had it all to himself.

My Sunday school teacher from Pantydwr. late.Mrs M A Ingram (truly respected) probably would not have approved of the joke.

 

It made me laugh!
But then again one persons view of a 'mess' is a naturalists view of paradise.

 

Yes that is funny! I have to build up to it and like you I do a section at a time. I think that way I have achieved something And if it is a small section it can be done thoroughly. Satisfaction achieved!

 

Hi @Hobbynut I am also pretty weak and feeble, so I use a border fork, and only attempt when the ground is a bit damp, not like concrete. The advantage of a fork is that you are not trying to force through a large area at once. Slowly, but surely... or to quote a Welsh proverb from my youth "dyfal donc a dyr y garreg"