h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: How to Dig a Trench - A64188020
Author: RodtheBrit - U2465093

I developed this over more than a few trials, the last one just a few weeks ago.

Next time I'll be hiring a mechanical digger, preferably with a man attached.

there is no mention of cutting the turf

if you are digging the trench in a grassed area you should cut the turf first and lay it to one side, grass to grass and dirt to dirt, then after you have back filled the trench you can put the turf back on and it will soon re establish itself leaving an invisible repair

Interesting entry Rod, I can speak with experience on (or in) the matter of all things trenching and all things to do with excavation and construction including drainage and engineered footings and piers etc, etc.

Number one rule?
Never use a spade or a shovel or a mattock or a pick or a post-hole shovel or a manual post-hole augur. When a mechanical excavator maxi/medium/mini/micro machines (such as your British JCB) can be used in the great majority of situations.
Avoid using the romantic 'Boning Tools' in all their various shapes(ahem) forms and styles as Lasers have a somewhat more prosaic but much easier style of use and function.

You'll find that adequate drainage includes the installation of a
drainage membrane /geotextile fabric separating
the toplayer of backfilled material from the gravel sub base rather than wrapping it all up in weed-mat: Geotech material is readily available especially in a wet place like the UK(for instance)
If the site is not free draining install agriculture pipes within
the gravel and connect to the storm water system to assist drainage.

Stubborn rocks or concrete? Ask the guy with the Excavator to bring his rock hammer along...by, by rock.

Meanwhile you sit back sipping an or a and marvel at the micro excavator you hired that just fitted through you 600mm(2 foot) opening down the side of the house or even down through your front entrance and hallway (after he double checked the tracks for cleanliness)

Only had a quick skim, if I have chance later I'll have a better read through. Generally good though

I think it'd be worth putting in a sentance or two about finding out what services (leccy, gas, telecoms etc) are already in place, both by service plans and surveys, and/or the simple use of things like Cable Avoidance Tools (CATs) and observing changes in the soils (e.g. marker tape or tiles, gravel that might be a previous trenches fill) before/as you dig your own trench.

Personal experience and that of colleagues/friends has taught me that this is a good idea! (And this goes for both hand and machine dug trenches)

The other one is be carefull of enetering unsupported trenches if you are going deeper. At the risk of sounding morbid, it can be fatal, even in 'apparently' stable ground.

Thanks for your replies.

Taff (post2): Turf. Yeah, I had the half-moon cutter written in, ready to go with it but the hidey-findey fairy popped in for a spell.
Agree turf-to-turf, soil-to-soil, but the invisible repair bit, I ain't quite so sure of!

Keith (post3): I bow to your experience of course.
. The mech method is mentioned...
. I had to include the boning entry, didn't I? perhaps I'll mark it down a bit in favour of the (forgotten - I was so busy digging) laser.
. Geotech material - I'll look at that (hadn't come across it). Gravel sub-base? I've never been so lucky.
. ...connect to the storm water system to assist drainage. Well, in my experience it'd have been impracticable (except once, where 6' or so made it easy.
. , ? Child's play. in the evening is preferable.

Rockhound (post4):
. Plans etc, yes.
. dangerous depths? not by hand. Two spade depths would be my limit - and I'll make a point of that.

- - - -

With a bit of luck I'll get to it this evening.

Rod

>>> Gravel sub-base? I've never been so lucky. <<<

I was meaning that you fill your trench with gravel and cover it over with the Geotech material (instead of wrapping it in weedmat) if your trench was a drainage trench for instance as the material keeps dirt (but not water) from filtering down and clogging up the gravel and the fact that the gravel is sitting on your dirt bottom allows the water to get away. It is the same priciple as a Septic(sewerage) trench.

Boning method is fine it's just that it's no longer used on any construction site or trenching operation as Lasers now do the job ( look here at one of many http://lasertools.com.au/category858_1.htm ) and also 'dumpy' levels or as they are properly known, Surveyors Levels.

This is what they look like http://geodetic.com.au/category1714_1.htm .

Maybe you could just mention that, obviously a trench that you dig at home differs from one that is done by professionals or commercial ones although they all have the same principle: Dug into the ground with all it's attendant risks.

Thanks, folks

So far :

. Keith's gravel / geotech material
Done
. Use mechanical digger
Perhaps I'll add a bit towards the end to leaven my 'not a challenge, is it'?
. Home made is different
Will do.

. Rockhound's plans/surveys, Cable Avoidance and observation
Done

Taff's lawn
Yes. But I need a bit more time for that one (been there, done that) as it ain't that easy.

My, this is hard work! Nearly as bad as the digging (well, except the last one - which I've said probably IS my last!).

Looking good Rod

Wasn't sure if you were only talking about shallow hand-dug, so that's fine

Keith & Rockhound: a bit added as Option 3 under Deeper Trenching.

Keith: May I use your last para from post3?
>>Meanwhile you sit back sipping an or a and marvel at the micro excavator you hired that just fitted through you 600mm(2 foot) opening down the side of the house or even down through your front entrance and hallway (after he double checked the tracks for cleanliness)
<<
modified as <...micro excavator you hired that the operator just fitted through you 2 foot (600mm)...>

Taff: I'll do lawns, 'onest.

Yes of course you may

Thanks, Keith. I've messed it a bit more.

Now - standby, Taff.

Your lawn is done (so you won't need to mow it until spring).

I dont often swing by and I actually enjoyed reading this, only one small thing. When describing cutting the lines for the turf to come up, it's not especially clear. You say 'middle bit' without saying that you're cutting parrallel lines 'just wider than the width of your spade' for instance.

That is all!

Hi there. I'm reading this as a complete layman, just so you know. Just one general point - in an Edited article you cannot use the tag. You can only use .


Your first sentence doesn't work here in isolation. If you tack it onto the beginning of the next paragraph it makes more sense as it's actually leading onto something.
Unfortunately you may have to come up with something else as the introduction to trenches - possibly the dictionary definition or a description of a trench, how long you expect it to take, or even just a humerous quote from something.

"...nothing under the line..." A line tends to mean a very thin, uh, line. The word 'path' may be more appropriate.

How do you know what your preferred depth and fall should be? Is there a link (or a footnote if it's easy) that could show you how to calculate that?

What's a 'suitable' arrangement for an outflow? Actually, what's an outflow, and what makes it different to the drainage??

Whilst I understand the Marking Out section, it's worded awkwardly. You may want to have another stab at that.

In the Lawns section:

"Cut so that the middle bit is a little wider than your spade."
-sorry, I don't understand this bit. I didn't think I was using a spade at this point.
EDIT: Now I get it. You don't mean per cut, but rather you want to cut lines that are about a spade's width apart. This will need a re-word to make that clear.

"Now cut across, between the lines, at about 6 – 8” (150 – 200mm) from the end."
- Do you mean at roughly 5-8" intervals, so each little rectangle is about a spade's width wide and 5-8" long? Or do you only cut across the once?

" Extend the cuts a little (say half the tool width) to ensure the earth is cut ready for you to take a horizontal slice an inch (25mm) or so deep from the grass."
-Are you taking these cuts down the path or across it?

What's 'riddles soil'? And why does sprinkling it on your bits of turf not kill it?

"If you're on the flat or a slight slope it probably won't matter which way you work but if your slope is noticeable, start at the high end, so that loosened earth will tend to fall back towards your spade rather than rolling down the slope away from you."
-Is this the right way around? If I was to dig something I would start at one end, facing it. You may dig by starting at one end with your back to most of it - you'll need to specify which you mean for this sentence to work.
EDIT: Ah, you did in the next sentence. If you could pop the "...you'll be working backwards." at the beginning, it would really help.

"...1/2 inch or so from your line..." inside or outside the line?

What's an adze? Is it the same as a grubber?

If you can re-word so you don't say 'this author' the last bit will be great. I love the idea of stone breeding!

Well done!

Oh you beat me to the nitpicks Vip! I'll re-read it tomorrow and see if anything else stands out.

Thank you Robyn, thank you Vip.

I'll attend to those, hopefully this (my) evening (it's 08:10 here).

Hi Rod!

I've left all you blokes to discuss the mechanics - I never had to actually dig, when I was involved in garden design, but I have a fair collection of adzes, mattocks and trenching tools ( in storage ) So, I think this Entry makes sense, if you were reading it as a layman.

When replacing the sods, the soil sprinkling is good It may be worth mentioning re-seeding around any bald areas.

and add that the turves should be kept in the shade and watered if the weather is very hot and dry.

After discussing your water feature on Ask - I wonder whether a little footnote about re-using some of these stones/pebbles might be worth including? River pebbles are expensive to buy


Would you like to have some suggestions with links?

Great work!


Lanzababy Scout

Thanks, lanzababy.

Rework: so far I'm down to just before Marking Out, having moved the spade to there, under Basic Tools.

Phew now.

OK. Done

(he said, trenchantly and with complete confidence)

Hi

Would you like to mention that after a few days the grass in the turves will begin to turn yellow? They won't be dead, the yellowing is caused by the green chloropyll breaking down due to lack of light, and the grass will recover once it has sunlight again.

Some nitpicks:

made in the earth by digging... Anyway,

----> anyway (Remove the capital 'A'.

So, what is the purpose of your trench, to bury an electric cable or to raise one, a water pipe, is it for drainage or is it just to while away a week or so?

This is a very long, complicated sentence. Could you rewrite it - for instance:

-----> So, what is the purpose of your trench? Is it to bury or retrieve an electric cable or a water pipe? Or is it for drainage or merely just to while away a week or so?


Trenching to bury a water pipe or electric cable?

-----> Are you trenching to bury a water pipe or electric cable?

especially for electrics

------> especially for electrical installations

to figure out your preferred fall and depth.

------> to work out your preferred fall and depth.

The fall is the slope of the bottom allowing water to flow downhill the full length of your trench to the outflow


----->The fall is the slope of the bottom of the trench which allows water to flow downhill the full length of it to the outflow


if your land is flat, you'll need to figure out

------> if your land is flat, you'll need to ensure

(the usage of 'figure' is not UK English) You've been away too long!

or hire a laser level (and, if all else fails, the instructions).

-----> or hire a laser level (don't forget to read the instructions).


or the storm/surface water system that was installed by the builders - consult an expert if in doubt.

-----> or your property's storm/surface water system - consult an expert if in doubt.


string-and-pegs

-----> pegs and line



I'll carry on with some more in the following post! Just need some

In the lawn section:

It will be a lot easier to cut the turf if you mow the grass quite short beforehand.

You need to specify the minimum depth of the turf (two inches?)

Mention the grass going yellow ( as per the previous post )


to need reseeding, will you?.

You've a stray full stop here.

adze = You may need a footnote to define 'adze'

Any cutting tool with a sharp cutting edge.

By the way - any mattocks I've owned have had a pick and an adze. I've personally never seen one combined with an axe. Maybe the sentence describing the 'English pattern' is unnecessary? As is this sentence:

{Note that the lighter weights may have just the adze or the adze with a three-point cultivator and are more likely to be more suitable as hoes than as serious digging tools.}

I should just delete this - it is not essential to your message. Maybe just state clearly something along the lines of

[Choose your mattock with strength in mind. The better quality ones have fibre glass handles; last longer and are lighter to swing.]

If you need to swing it, go steady, as it's tiring work - again, raise the head (higher) with a hand near the head, and allow that hand to slide back to your other during the swing.

----->If you need to swing it, go steady, as it's tiring work. To begin with, raise the head of the mattock to the required height with one of your hands nearer its cutting edge, then allow that hand to slide back towards your other during the swing.





Keep (the point and) edges reasonably sharp, using an ordinary file or an electric file (a narrow loop of abrasive cloth, rotating at high speed) – and go especially gently with this until you have its measure).

----->Keep the point and edges reasonably sharp, using an ordinary or electric file – and go especially gently with this until you have its measure.

(If you feel you have to define an electric file you may be better to do so in a footnote - but I don't think there is a need to explain it)

Make sure you take out that stray [)] at the end of the sentence


Enjoy your trenching.

Not sure this is in the right part of the Entry here. How about right at the end?

paleolithic
-----> palaeolithic


Did Not Like

----> did not like

I think that is all that I can spot - but other sharper eyes may catch some more.