double digging

British  

noun

1. a method of digging ground in a series of trenches two spits deep, mixing the soil of the bottom spit with manure, and then transferring the soil from the top spit of one trench to the top spit of the preceding one

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Example Sentences

She sounded surprised — she must not spend too much time double digging or spreading manure.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2022

I don’t know anyone who did this — double digging emanated from old English estate gardens with armies of low-paid gardeners — but the concept reminded us of our sacred duty to dig those beds.

From Washington Post • Jul. 13, 2021

Suppose inches-thick layers of compost were spread and, by double digging, the organic matter content of a very sandy soil were amended to 10 percent down to 2 feet.

From Gardening Without Irrigation: or without much, anyway by Solomon, Steve

The plant requires the best ground that can be provided for it, with double digging and plenty of manure.

From The Culture of Vegetables and Flowers From Seeds and Roots 16th Edition by Sutton and Sons

Simon bent double, digging his fingers into his skull.

From The Saracen: The Holy War by Shea, Robert