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I have an area that I can't get a shovel into no matter how hard I try. I was wondering if it is feasible to use a long drill bit and drilled into the ground to loosen the soil. The next question would be, what kind of bit would be best?
It would take a long time to do if the area is more than a square yard.
I would probably try a large masonary bit if a drill is what you want to use.
The rental yards (here) have aerators that punch holes a few inches into the soil. Or you could rent a rear-tine tiller if you want to open up the whole surface.
I recall seeing this done along the hwy about 50 miles west of here. They'd put a bit of dynamite in the hole after digging and light it. Worked like a charm.
Lol .. hmmm .. dynamite. I wonder if cherry bombs would work? I'm all out of C4 and dynamite. I live in one of those really stupid states where explosives are legal for anyone to have!
There are "bulb augers" that you can buy which attach to your drill and will make a wider hole than a drill bit alone. I'm not sure if they're designed for drilling into really hard ground though. Here's an example but there are a million different places that sell things like this (google bulb auger and you'll get plenty of hits) http://www.dutchbulbs.com/store/plantinghelpers/62927
I have been using an auger like the one pictured at Dutchbulbs for years. I use it for bulbs and small plants. For potted plants I use a post hole digger. If the soil is hard you can bore a hole with the auger and then fill it with water several times, let it soak for a while and then use the post hole digger. This technique works great for me.
We have a bulb auger that attaches to a drill, but it works best in good soil--I think I'd just get spun around if I tried it in compacted soil.
Soak the area really well and try the auger if you want, but a raised bed isn't that hard to construct and you can put in a good quality soil-free mixture (peat, compost, vermiculite) or bagged topsoil and know that what you plant will grow really nicely.
