How to Dig a Trench Underneath a Walkway

Trenching Shovel

• 1

  Dig down to the desired depth on both sides of the walkway, using a regular spade. Dig the hole wide enough to get a trenching shovel blade down in the hole.

• 2

  Dig into the dirt underneath the walkway with the trenching shovel. Dig until the hole fills with dirt, then use the spade to remove the dirt. Continue digging with the trenching shovel until you can't dig any further.

• 3

  Go to the hole on the other side of the walkway and dig inward until you break through to the other side of the trench. Remove all dirt as necessary.

Garden Hose

• 4

  Dig a hole on each side of the walkway, using the shade. Dig the hole as wide as your shoulders and as deep as your arms are long.

• 5

  Screw a brass 3/4-inch female pipe fitting onto the male end of the garden hose.

• 6

  Screw a 3/4-inch PVC male adapter into the female end of the brass pipe swivel.

• 7

  Swab the inside of the male adapter with PVC glue and insert a piece of 3/4-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe. Give the pipe a half turn to set the glue. This pipe needs to be 2 to 4 feet longer than the width of your walkway.

• 8

  Swab the inside of a second PVC male adapter with PVC glue and insert the other end of the PVC pipe. Twist a half turn to set the glue.

• 9

  Screw the female end of a brass 3/4-inch hose fitting to the male end of the 3/4-inch PVC male adapter.

• 10

  Screw a brass 2-inch sweeper nozzle onto the male end of the 3/4-inch hose fitting. The water boring tool is now complete.

• 11

  Attach the female end of the garden hose to a water faucet and turn on the water. Push the sweeper nozzle into the soil beneath the walkway and allow it to bore a hole. The excess water and dirt will fall down into the hole you dug. Keep even pressure on the boring tool as it goes under the walkway. Keep feeding it into the soil until it pushes through to the other side of the walkway.