Digging your soil, and incorporating organic matter, greatly improves its quality. It enhances both soil texture and structure, increases nutrient retention and aids drainage, as well as promoting oxygen levels.

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The technique known as single digging requires a little effort, but the results are well worth it. Follow our step-by-step guide to single digging, below.

You Will Need

  • Spade
  • Fork
  • Organic matter (e.g. well-rotted manure)

Step 1

Digging soil in a raised bed
Digging soil in a raised bed

If the ground is dry enough, winter is a great time for digging - but keep off any soil that is frozen or waterlogged.

Step 2

Digging a neat trench
Digging a neat trench

Dig a neat trench as deep and as wide as the spade, turning the soil onto the side as you go, breaking up large clods.

Step 3

Adding organic matter to the trench
Adding organic matter to the trench

Add home-made compost, leaf mould or manure to the trench, or use bags of green waste bought from the council.

Step 4

Forking compost into the soil
Forking compost into the soil

Fork compost into the soil, breaking up the base of the trench to improve the drainage beneath.

Step 5

Digging over soil in a raised bed
Digging over soil in a raised bed
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Work your way down the bed, only walking on un-dug ground. Turn topsoil from each trench into the previous one.

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