When to start digging? Maybe just un-turf?

It is March here, in zone 5b - it has been unseasonably warm, and I have most enjoyed it. The ground is nice and soft, and I'd like to start digging my new garden I have planned out as soon as possible.

I have heard people say not to start digging "too" soon, as it may hurt the soil, and the organisms growing in it.

So, how about if I just flat spade off the existing turf for now, and then start digging in April? Could I at least do that, to help prepare the new bed and laying it out, and get some work done on some of these nice days?

I've posted this in the landscaping forum as well.

I can't see how you would "hurt" the soil. I work the soil in my raised bed vegetable garden as early as I can every year with no negative effects.

I work in my garden as early as I can dig in the soil. You can even move perennials when the soil is workable. In fact, it is best to move some perennials as soon as the pop their little noses out of the ground in the spring. Of course it is too early to plant annuals. But you can always start cleaning up the beds and weeding. I am in northern Ohio - zone 5. We had warm weather two weeks ago 72* one day. A lot of plants started coming up. Then two days ago we had 8" of snow. It won't last though. Supposed to be 50* this weekend. My soil is thawed out and I'm getting out as soon as I can !

Get out there and go for it! Taking off any large amount of sod takes plenty of time and effort. If you work on it a bit every day you'll soon have it done and get a nice bit of exercise at the same time. Sure beats sitting inside looking out the window at it.

My goodness child...............go get them hands and knees dirty........ya know their beggin' for it.......I can just see those little toes starting to wiggle and dance.......time to begin!!

"eyes"

Lol! I've been doing the "avoidance" thing - like creating my indoor greenhouse. It is supposed to get to 65 on Sunday so I will set that day aside to go out and play in the dirt.

Ok, ok! I did it! I should have split it up in two days - back is killing me, but I couldn't stop once I started. It was a beautiful day today. They said it was going to get to 68, but I don't know how warm it got - didn't check. But it was nice, and after a week of therapy, maybe I will get back in there and level it.

Hubby wants to paint that garage - white with dark green around the window. That will help alot.

Good job!! You can always plant some wonderful vines up the sides of the garage...........rustic and beautiful. Need some MG seeds?

"eyes"

I have some President Tyler MG seeds that were given to me. Don't MG's need quite a big of seed? It gets very shady back there. The biggest eyesore is that metal shed - it's all rusted - and we can't paint it. I wish he'd just get rid of it. There are flowers already planted around it, and it does look better, when those get going. I have some hostas that need to be divided that I am going to put in this new garden area, and in the sunnier spots, along that fence, some cannas. I want some tall plants back there so I don't have to look at the neighbor's yard and 3 dogs or 4 big barking dogs.

Karrie20x - Your photo reminds me of me when I was young. I would have dug up that plot and looked for something else to do ! You dug up quite a bit ! Nice looking dirt too... I remember one March when I just couldn't wait to get outdoors. The ground was still frozen - so I tore down the old shed ! Aren't you glad you got outside ? Lean against a heating pad for awhile - you'll feel better.

lol! last night I took a hot bath, then watched tv with a heating pad against my back. Hubby says I shovel wrong and am twisting my back when I do it. I've always shoveled this way - the way he wants me to do it would be hard - I think my foot would miss the shovel or nick the side of it.

I wish I could tear down that old shed - but he uses it to store stuff in and would get very upset if he came home from work and saw it gone. It is such an eyesore.

I have a neighbor who strung nylon cord over his shed, and planted hyacinth beans and they completely covered the shed with beautiful puple flowers and beans in fall. Seeds were planted in mostly shade but by the time they reached the top of the shed were in sunlight.....just an idea.

"eyes"

Karrie, nice job, or better yet, job WELL done. Keep up the good work, and believe me, any MAN would love to have a woman participate and help out as much as you and sooooo many others do. Keep on Gardening, it's beneficial and theraputic at the same time. Have fun and run with it. Danny

I think now, 2 days later, another hot soak, some deep heating rub and a good night's rest is in order. (owie!) 2nd day is always the worst.

We are going to paint that old looking thing that the government says we can't tear down (grandfathered). If hubby doesn't get to it, I might consider "eyes's" idea and simply have to water the roof until it "naturally" falls down, lol!

Karrie20x - We have a rule at our house. If you criticise how a job is done - it is your job from now on. Tell your DH to dig up the turf ! Sounds like he knows just the right way to use that shovel ! LOL !

Oh, he wasn't criticising the job I was doing, he was just worried about my back! He thinks the way I do it (I use my right foot on the left side of the shovel) is hurting me. Yes, I am still sore from Sunday, but it's slowly getting better.

Your right foot on the LEFT side of the shovel ? I thinkI'd fall down in the dirt ! LOL ! Glad you are feeling better. Are you ready for round 2 ?

lol - I have always shoveled that way. I'm afraid I'll miss the shovel or nick the side of it otherwise. Still sore, but have to do round 2 this weekend. Maybe I'll get the old man out there doing most of the hard work for me this time (if I can drag him off his computer).

Karrie, it sounds like you are trying to be a pretzel. Take your hubbys advice and learn to put your foot on the other side of the shovel. Your back will thank you. You've got a good start on the yard. I was thinking maybe you could fasten some kind of framework with some fishnet kind of material on the side of that rusty shed and it would be a great place to grow vines. Maybe an old volleyball net, or even chicken wire. Why can't you paint it?

Mary - that is an EXCELLENT idea. I just love the ideas I get in here!

I've also wanted to cover it up. Hubby says it's an old metal shed and not paintable. I know where I can get netting - not a problem (perhaps even dark green).

Far as learning to shovel differently? lol! I will give it a try, but last time I tried it the "right way" , I just didn't get the same "umph" behind my foot shoves. I dug twice as fast and even deeper and further the way I do it. But if it is the culprit of tearing up my back, I will see if I can conform to the "right way". Problem is, if it takes me 3 days to do 6 hours, I might choose the suffering. I'm one of those people that can't stand putting down an unfinished project.

Am I the only person that shovels this way?

ok - here is a pic of what I did.

http://karriesplace2kplus.tripod.com/creating_a_new_garden.htm

Now what I'm going to plant. I've had some pretty good ideas in here.

Mary from Baker, OR suggested some fishnet over that metal shed, to help something grow over that to cover up that unglodly mess. (like MG) I agree. That part gets enough sun.

I have some sun in little parts of that, and am planting some cannas. I have 2 hostas in dire need of dividing, so will place them where they need to go. Going to propagage some rhodes for along that fence, and then fill in the blanks with nice little goodies so many of you nice people have sent me and I've been busy germinating. Tomorrow and Sunday I will finish up on germinating. I may move some of my plants outside to make room, but make sure they are safe.

Today hubby helped me out (back is still aching from the way I shovel) and graded/leveled it out so I could divide my hostas that had many many eyes peeping at me. I set up the path that will lead to the window (hubby wants that too). Can't wait to get that eyesore painted.

I figured out why I have always shoveled that way. I have never weighed alot, and was short when I was younger. I grew in height, but not in bulk. When I step on a shovel, nothing happens, lol! I have to kick down on that thing and beat it to death (as well as my back) to get anything done. I am trying harder to do it the right way, as I really don't enjoy this pain that I have to deal with the way I have been doing it. May have been fine in my younger days, but this almost 40 year old body that has a bad prior back injury isn't tolerating that any longer. :)

Ok Karrie20X - It is bad enough that you are young ! But thin too ! LOL ! You are really making excellent progress. I can't wait to see the new garden planted.

Tell my back that, lol! :)

Karrie--I understand the back thing. I started doing yoga for my back and it is the only thing that keeps my back healthy short of doctors and meds, which I can't afford! When I know I will have a "back breaking" day, I get up early, take a hot bath to relax my muscles, then pop in a yoga video. When it is done, I feel better, and I never hurt as much as those days I skip my routine.

LimeyLisa Kay

That is a very good idea, Lisa......... stretching out in a relaxing way. I always tell myself I'm going to stretch out before getting out there and then forget, because my mind is on the garden. I need to discipline myself to do that. My back is feeling better today - I think all the work I've done outside thus far has really started whipping me back into shape. (knock on wood) :)