>> So I got out my shovel and double dug it. That really got deeper by doing it twice and loosened up the clods. Then I raked it and thumped out and leveled any remaining clods.
I'm struggling to keep some heavy-clay-soil beds loose enough while I build up the organic matter. Soimetimes I don't have time to double-dig the whole bed. Instead I do some spot-turning as deep as I can get without trenching.
I have a spade (trenching spade? sharpshooter spade?) that has a very long, narrow blade. It's great for going down twice as far as some shovel blades - and easily. Then I can LIIIIFT one slice that must go 18" deep. And then use the smae blade to twist or lever the surrounding soil down into the hole.
That acheives a lot of turning and keeping the deep parts aerated and draining, and mixing some compost down deep.
I find that a bed reverts to clay pudding if I don't keep adding compost - more compost than I can make, and usually more than I buy. Unfortunately, the bulk compost in my area is mostly wood products.
