i am trying to dig up my backyard to put in a pond. the problem is i live in adelanto, ca (mojave desert) and the soil is extrmely hard. i try to let the water soak but it only goes down about 1/2 and just pools at the top. do i have to rent a machine or something?
2006-09-30 13:52:04 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
well i ended up doing somthing similar to what was suggested. i drove a stake into the ground to get the water lower. ive let it soak for about 1 hour and i can already see the diffrence. too bad its only in those areas. i would have to drive the stake in about 10 in intervals. i guess no matter how we see it, it just requires work. by the way, i am in an area that is mountainous and rocky so thats probobly just it. thanks.
2006-09-30 15:28:35 · update #1
I also live in the Mojave Desert, and I do have a garden. Soaking the ground has always worked for me. How long do you let it soak before you try to dig? Try letting it slow soak overnight, then try digging. I have also driven metal stakes into the ground then pulled them out in order to let the water soak in further down. I wonder if perhaps you might be trying to dig on top of a large(maybe huge) rock and the water can only soak down so far. That was the problem for a neighbor of mine. Try digging a test hole in a different part of the yard to see if the water soaks though in that spot. Renting a digging machine would make the job a lot easier. Better yet is paying a guy with a backhoe to dig for you.
2006-09-30 14:35:38 · answer #1 · answered by blindfredd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try a product called gypsum. 1kg to 1 square metre. Work the gypsum into the soil as much as you can, then water it in. Wait for a couple of hours and repeat the process. It can take time, but it really does work. You should be able to buy gypsum from your local nursery or hardware store. We have similar soil here and it's difficult getting the shovel into the ground.
2006-09-30 14:59:16 · answer #2 · answered by jammer 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-09-30 21:43:48 · answer #3 · answered by home.good 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋