What to Use to Dig a Small Trench for a Retaining Wall

Hand Tools

• For short, small retaining walls that require trenches of the same nature, hand tools are adequate. A spade, pointed or wide-mouthed shovel are useful for cutting through turf and creating the trench edges. Shovels transport soil out of the trench and a spade or flat shovel keep the edges even and square. If roots are encountered and must be severed or removed, a Pulaski provides a practical means to do so. In rocky or hard soil, a pick or mattock is helpful.

Machinery

• A handful of machines are used for digging trenches or trench edges. Chain trenchers and turf cutters only cut a narrow trench, but may be useful for cutting edges or loosening turf. A mechanical tiller can loosen the soil and may cut a wide enough swathe. Although a larger piece of machinery may not be necessary, it may be most efficient if a large volume of earth must be moved from the planned wall area or large rocks must be moved. In this case, a skid steer loader or tractor with a trenching attachment quickly excavates the trench.

Trench Leveling Tools

• Once the trench is dug and roughly shaped, the bottom must be finely graded to level. Use a garden rake to smooth the bottom. A laser level or two wooden stakes with a string and string level ensures that the bottom is even. Use the garden rake or mattocks for any needed adjustments.

Additional Tools and Considerations

• Contact local utilities before digging to mark the locations of buried utilities. Wear proper safety gear, including gloves and shatterproof safety glasses if striking tools are used. The size of the planned wall and depth to the frost line affects the depth and width of the trench required. Soil type a also plays a role. In sandy soils, the trench may need to be dug wider than the foundation and forms placed keeping the sides from collapsing.