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Dibber

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Tools and techniques

Whilst using a strong metal pointed dibber to plant crocuses in heavy clay, I found an alternative use for it.

If you push it in, wiggle it down and lever it out, it loosens up the impacted clay under the surface. When you get a clod out, you stab at it with the dibber to break it up. Then trowel out the soil.

Great for preparing small areas for planting.

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    Creative - but much easier with a stainless steal hand fork I'd have thought.  SS is good in clay and the ones with round tines are especially good.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    Nope. I have one of them. It's the pointiness that gives you a pilot hole. My fork wouldn't go in.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • wakeshinewakeshine Posts: 975

    I have terribly clay soil so thanks for that tip. Very hard to dig, I have wrist and hand pain most of the time after trying to. I am thinking of geting some clay breaker. Does anyone know if this works?

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    I've never heard of it

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    The trick with clay soil is to pile on layers and layers of compost every autumn once the garden is hibernating and there's been enough rain to soften the lay then leave it for the worms to work in.   Over the years you'll end up with lovely, workable soil and amazing fertility.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    You're absolutely right obelixx. I add a few inches of compost every year but once you dig down below the wormface, you come upon solid clay.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,087

    How often do you need to do that?  I don't believe in digging once a bed has been cleared of perennial weeds and stones.   After that it gets a light forking for veggie planting or hoeing for the ornamental borders and only dug when I need a planting hole.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,905
    wakeshine says:

     I am thinking of geting some clay breaker. Does anyone know if this works?

    See original post

     Hi wakeshine. It is good and now is almost the time to use it. That plus rough digging to allow the frosts to break up the soil is ideal.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • madpenguinmadpenguin Posts: 2,543

    I remember having to break up my clay soil with a lump hammer!

    “Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505

    That's when I'm going to use it obelixx. When I'm planting  out something and i need to go deeper than the improved soil.

    My garden has pockets of improved soil. These have got bigger and more numerous through the years much like my wrinkles.

    In London. Keen but lazy.
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