Q&A for How to Dig a Hole

Use the hole borer you have as best you can. Maybe borrow a digging tool from someone you know.

Because there is more to it than meets the eye, especially for city folk who are thinking of planting some big trees.

Dig a hole roughly 4 feet deep, maybe deeper depending on how big you are. This will require a lot of manual labor and time. Then, using a mattock, dig horizontally near the bottom of the hole - not too deep or the wall may collapse. Be sure to cover the top when you are done with leaves and sticks.

No. The root system belongs below ground, the bark above ground. If you bury the bark it will most likely kill the shrub.

With a long square-point shovel and a lot of manual labor.

Use a drill first to break up the soil so it will be easier to shovel out. Then, use your spade to remove the dirt. Be mindful of any electrical, water, or septic lines. You can also use the spade to remove grass first if there is any to begin with, but if not, drill.

Mark a rectangle instead of a circle. If you've already marked a circle, then cover it up and remark it.

Any shovel will do just fine.

Most trenches for electrical lines are around 24 inches deep (60.9 cm), so maybe don't dig any deeper than 20 inches (50.8 cm).

Measure the trampoline in length with a meter stick, so you know how deep you have to dig. Dig the hole with a shovel and match the hole's size to the trampoline.

If you mean a tunnel, use a trowel or a small spade. If you mean just an entrance up, map your bunker, go to the side, and dig a small, not too deep trench, and put a trapdoor over one end, and have the remainder of the trench lead into your bunker. Cover the remainder of the trench that isn't in your bunker with planks and cover the planks with dirt, grass, and leaves.

Use a post-hole digger or gas-powered auger. If your required hole is larger than the hole size made by either of these tools, make multiple holes and then use a flat-blade shovel to remove the inner material and square up the corners if needed.

Excavators come in many sizes. It's possible to rent excavators that have tracks that will retract inwards to be able to fit through a standard doorway. However, sometimes even they are not suitable. If the ground is fairly dry you can use a tool called an air trencher. The tool uses high pressure air supplied by a large compressor to loosen soil and small rocks and displaces a large amount of it from the ground, the rest can be easily removed with a shovel. These can be rented, however it is recommended you hire somebody who knows how to operate one. If this still isn't suitable, unfortunately the only way is using a mattock and shovel.

Use a brightly colored tarp or post a sign so people will know there is a hole there. To keep animals out, you could put a fence around the hole.

Dig when dry. Use the tarp trick. Mix in a little dirt so it doesn’t collapse in on itself.

Ladder or use a shovel as a stilt to push yourself up (this can get you out in a pinch, but it is recommended that you have a ladder on hand).

Usually, the softest soil is just below the topsoil. The deeper you go, the more pressure the soil was subject to before the dig. Thus, it gets more packed in and harder to dig.

Yes, You can. However to make it an effective technique, it is recommended that you dig the first few inches down (where the clay is usually softer) and then fill the hole with water. Let it soak in to soften the clay beneath.