As preparation for planting my boxwoods, I must now remove the sod under my guide string, forming a shallow trench about 2' wide. My method of removing sod is different from what you may see on TV gardening shows, which often recommend using a flat-blade shovel (perhaps because they're in a hurry, or they're reusing the sod, or the soil under their sod isn't worth saving). I use a common, everyday, pointed shovel, cut the sod out in chunks (about 4" deep x 10" wide x 10" long), then pound the soil out, so that I don't waste it. I dispose of the sod by placing it in my compost bin.
If I suspected my soil in this area needed aeration, I would add peat moss at this point. But I don't have that problem, since I have a sandy soil.
In Step 4 I turn my attention to the plants....
