i got a new toy to deal with the roots

there is a section of my yard that the dogs have ripped up all the grass. it floods dramatically every spring. its sloped incorrectly and flooded the greenhouse on two occasions this spring. its crisscrossed with large tree roots, making it impossible to dig in that area with a shovel. in order to regrade the area, reseed with grass, and create a drainage ditch, i needed a better tool. it was suggested to me that a mattock would be that tool.

this is a mattock


its about waist high on me. i can get a good swing going.


two swings with the mattock digs a great trench! i LOVE this thing. it makes extremely quick work of all those roots. one or two swings and i've cut right thru the roots that are an inch to two inches around.


molly likes digging! she came and helped.








digging is hard work. lots of breaks are needed
















mostly though molly was just in the way. whatcha doing. stop doing that and pay attention to MEEEEEE!




progress


all those damn tree roots i had to chop out just to be able to dig at all. this is JUST the roots from the foot wide section down that strip on the left.




enlarging that foot wide section


dog blocking, to allow the grass seed to take root without being ripped back up or compacted.


more attempts at dog blocking so the grass seed will grow. the roots have all been dug out.


dog blocking


transplanted grass from a new flower garden the front yard