Rock solid ground?

I am clueless as how to dig in an area (Bend, Oregon)that is on lava and soil hard from little rain. Dynamite is the only thing that comes to mind but I think that may lead to other problems like gramma (me) in jail.

Rather than dig, could you build a bed up? You could enhance it so the beds would drain well... If it is wet, is it more workable?

You sound like a good candidate for lasagna bedding. Like Podster said, forget digging, create a bed on top. Here is a good link for getting started.

http://ourgardengang.tripod.com/lasagna_gardening.htm

X

I have done lasagna gardening here @ home and love it as a means to no digging. I will apply that method to my Bend gardening but for tree's won't I have to build the bed real real high? Like 3 ft or more?

I like to wet an area down, use a garden claw to work on just the top 1-2 inches. Then use a hoe to scrape that top layer up into a pile. A little more water, a little garden claw a little hoeing. Eventually you break up the area and as you work you can add in your organic matter, mulch, compost, shredded paper, kitchen scraps, perlite, vermeculite, peat, whatever you can find.

I'm sure Lasagna gardening is great. But you still want to break up the ground even if you are adding a lot of stuff on top.

Suzi

Anastatia ~ what type of trees did you have in mind?

arborvitae's & maybe cypress, if zone OK

This message was edited May 26, 2007 10:29 AM

When you are checking into the climate zones on the trees you're thinking of, inquire as to how deep a root system those need. I suspect ( the tree forum wizards would know better ) that the depth of the tap root and root system will depend on the heighth of the tree. May not be doable. Sorry.

Try looking at rental places in your area for a demo hammer aka demolition hammer. It's a junior version of a jackhammer that would probably go through your soil like butter. They come with a wide (maybe 4") spade bit and use regular electricity, not compressed air or anything special.
Look at these pictures for an idea of what might be at your local rental places, (ignore the hairy metal band pictures..)

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&um=1&hl=en&q=demolition+hammer+&btnG=Search+Images

Even the small ones would work a lot better than any pick axe, and they're not heavy. You don't need a great big one to dig a few holes. I don't know about what might grow in that soil though, that's a different issue.

thank you. Stuff grows there but there must be a ton of amending and tilling.