[ziggywigs]

I find that if you have grassed area to dig and a bad back one of those  five pronged cultivator thingys (looks like 5 metal spikes at the bottom) - the type you twist in the ground...i found it digs to a depth of a fork and you can just pull the weeds complete with roots out.  If the soil is compacted it soon sorts it and much kinda on the back too.

I then find it easier to fork over to required depth.

I've tried the rotovator but found that aggravated my back due to the weight of the machine and having to manoevure it.

I've seen them in B&Q etc but i got mine from the likes of Wilko's cheap and it's been great.  Discovered these when i was struggling to use a fork and my neighbour gave me a shot of theirs....was out the next day buying one.