Is my soil supposed to sound like this??

[eastdevonhobbyist]

Take a listen to this. Is it normal?

Am I looking at compaction? Just dryness? I'm concerned because i need to plant over 1000 trees into this soil by hand and my full weight jumping on a rabbiting spade gets the spade about 10cm in. The soil is much deeper than that as you can see but if the spade hits a small stone, about the size of a chestnut, it cannot push it out of the way to get past. The soil texture, once you dig it out is quite nice, it easily crumbles apart, but with a squeeze can stick onto a loose ball.

Grateful for any advice!

By the way, I wanted to post this in the soil health forum but was quite surprised to see there isn't one :S I'm no farmer, but isn't that, like, the most important thing?

 

[spin cycle]

just dryness IMO.....this is wrong time of year for planting trees.....wait til nov otherwise you'll have to water virtually daily to stand any chance ...again IMO

 

[eastdevonhobbyist]

just dryness IMO.....this is wrong time of year for planting trees.....wait til nov otherwise you'll have to water virtually daily to stand any chance ...again IMO

OK, thanks, yes the planting will be in winter. I'm just trying to experiment as much as possible now so I don't get 1000 bare root whips turn up and THEN find out I can't plant them.

 

[spin cycle]

OK, thanks, yes the planting will be in winter. I'm just trying to experiment as much as possible now so I don't get 1000 bare root whips turn up and THEN find out I can't plant them.

IIRC if you've 'bare whips' you won't need to dig a hole like that....just put the spade in....move side to side to make a slot.....place whip in then use your heel to close the slot from each side

 

[eastdevonhobbyist]

IIRC if you've 'bare whips' you won't need to dig a hole like that....just put the spade in....move side to side to make a slot.....place whip in then use your heel to close the slot from each side

Correct, but I have a tree planting spade, and if i jump up and down on it I can get it in about 10cm. I'm concerned thats not deep enough. I'll try again after a spell of rain to see if its softer.

 

[Chae1]

Hire a mini digger for weekend.

I was struggling to get electric fence posts in the ground the other day. Tis dry.

 

[Bones]

Take a listen to this. Is it normal?

Am I looking at compaction? Just dryness? I'm concerned because i need to plant over 1000 trees into this soil by hand and my full weight jumping on a rabbiting spade gets the spade about 10cm in. The soil is much deeper than that as you can see but if the spade hits a small stone, about the size of a chestnut, it cannot push it out of the way to get past. The soil texture, once you dig it out is quite nice, it easily crumbles apart, but with a squeeze can stick onto a loose ball.

Grateful for any advice!

By the way, I wanted to post this in the soil health forum but was quite surprised to see there isn't one :S I'm no farmer, but isn't that, like, the most important thing?

what weight are you?

 

[Blaithin]

Dry soil here has a tendency to just cave in holes, not stay up and allow you to knock on it. Could be a difference in soil types, could be a bit of compaction.

If you have until November you could try experimenting with a small plot of tillage radish (or some other quick root). They’re quick growers if I recall and will help break up any compaction good. Bonus would be decomposing tubers will help feed the baby trees!