Easiest way to dig french drain?

This is a dirt and shovel project. Digging is digging. Easiest way is to have someone else do it. Preferably someone who has excavation equipment.

The best way to see how to do this is to watch U-Tube videos...Look up swales - they might be easier.

I hope you can find a teen to volunteer or even hire to help you dig a foot or so deep trench to lay your french drain. It is a lot of work for a woman. We dug ours with a shovel. The easiest way would be someone with a trencher. I know how to run a trencher, but not everyone worked their way through college running one so I don't expect you have had experience with one. They are not hard to use, if you wanted to rent a trencher. They are no more complicated than running a riding mower. A rental place could show you how if you are a brave soul and want to make life easy to put in the french drain. I was able to run one the first time I tried. Good luck and let us know how it comes out. I hope you can hire a young man to help you. Be sure to contact your utilities companies before digging. There may be phone lines, cable lines etc buried in your yard. They need to flag the places not to dig before you begin the digging.

We had new exterior french drains installed two years ago -its not an easy job. They used a mini backhoe. The trench was pretty deep. Hope you can find some help.

We recently extended a water line for irrigation from a dock pump, digging can have barriers like rocks and roots. Several tyes of shovels and mattock might be needed. Desperate we even used a reciprocating saw to cut tree roots.

http://www.hgtv.com/remodel/outdoors/how-to-install-french-drains

thank you after some of these answers, might consider hiring someone

If the french drain is not placed deep enough... it will not drain the area enough to protect your foundation/basement area. Also... using a trencher, and not having the skill or practice doing it... you can damage your walls or foundation.... best get help with the digging by hand or use HomeAdvisor.com or AngiesList.com to find a good contractor to do it properly.

Best way to dig a french drain is with help. I would help you in a heartbeat Mali86 if I lived near you. Working with others makes things go quicker and makes it more fun. You are biting off a lot, you may need help.