I have a #407 in this picture.
http://www.made-in-china.com/showimages/111/100005806/0/Pick_(P402,P406).jpg
It works good on roots.

"Jim Elbrecht" wrote in message
...
"Robert11" wrote:
-snip-

Getting on inyears now, and it sounds like a lot of work.
Is there some tool other than the shovel that I might rent, or... ?

I was using a modified hoe last summer [ground the blade to about 3"
wide] -- then I found what looks like a long-handled adze at a flea
market. It was old and I'll need to build a new handle for it soon,
but it works for this old back. Mine has two 2 1/2"wide blades, one
for digging, and the other for chopping. In my root filled soil that
works well. The handle on mine is about 5 feet long, so I don't
have to work all hunched over.

I have no idea what it was used for originally, but it makes a fine
trencher.

OTOH-- If a Ditch Witch is in your budget- it will make short work of
a trench and not tear up the landscape too badly.

Jim