argh! extending a flower bed

ok I need some advice! I have been digging for the past 2 hours to do a tiny extension to my front flower bed (small rectangle across the house in front of the window into a curved, even bed). I've cut the edges and chopped into little squares with lawn edger (this is what I did in the back and it worked superbly) but I am hitting large stones/gravel so cant get the spade or fork in far enough to dig up the grass and the roots are too tough! Help! any advice?

 

right, done it - just needed some brute strength and not me being too wussy! got some top soil to put on tomorrow and am going to mix in some fish blood and bone then put some pretty hardy plants in initially :-)

Phew!

 

Was going to post - dig harder, but you've already discovered that!!

 

yep! It was back breaking but worth it - am also buying a better/sharper spade tomorrow!

 

I usually soak the area the day before for this kind of project. But well done, have a good soak in the bath tonight, you may ache tomorrow hehehe.

 

ah ha! Good advice for the next one - am so used to doing it in the winter/rain it didn't occur to me! Thanks!

 

so 4 supermarket bags full of stones later, more digging - nice soil mixed with fish blood and bone & some slow release fertiliser (quantities recommended by garden centre) and £40 of plants, seeds and bulbs my new front garden is finished! Phew! Should have lots of flowers all year round too :-)

 

We are all slobbering at the jowls for a picture!

 

I dont know how to post one....!

 

I think I have worked out the picture thing - was just being awfully stupid!