I'm planning to plant several bulbs this fall, but I'm struggling with the hard, sandy clay soil that has large pebbles hiding below the surface. Using a conventional trowel feels like too much work for me, so I'm looking for tool recommendations that can make digging holes easier. Any ideas?
2 Answers
I'd suggest ditching the trowel for digging. I use a hori-hori knife or a small transplant shovel for that kind of soil, and sometimes a small mattock too. One trick I’ve learned is to soak the soil a day or two before you dig. It really helps soften everything up.
You might want to try using an attachment for your cordless drill. It does require some wrist strength, though. I tend to smack my wrist with the drill too, but at least I'm not on my knees digging!
I heard a spade bit on an impact driver works better than some augers. Can you explain what's different about them? Did you get one of those long augers?
Totally! A mattock can be a game changer. If the soil is that tough, just digging a little hole won't cut it; you need to break it up for the roots to have space to grow.