How to backfill a trench using a tamper

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Step 1 – Refill trench

Begin by moving the soil you removed from your trench back into it. If you do not have the soil you removed, use a soil that is native to your area.

Use a shovel to refill your trench and spread it in an even layer until it’s about 10-12cm (4-5″) high.

Step 2 – Use trench tamper

Use your trench tamper to compact the soil in the trench. Use a firm pressure to pack down the soil, but be more careful when directly tamping over pipes or cables so as not to damage them.

This is why a manual trench tamper is preferable over a mechanical one when backfilling a trench.

Step 3 – Repeat

Repeat the process, adding more soil and compacting until the trench is completely filled to ground level.

A mechanical tamper can be useful for larger trenching projects to finish off the levelling, once the trench has been filled.