What is No-Dig Gardening?
Anyone with an interest in gardening has probably heard the term 'no-dig gardening'. What exactly does it mean?
The simple explanation is that no-dig gardening is a method of growing plants without turning over or disturbing the soil through traditional digging or tilling. Instead of turning over soil and mixing amendments into the ground, no-dig gardening relies on building healthy soil by layering organic materials on top of the ground. In doing so, no-dig gardening mimics the natural process of soil regeneration in wild areas.
Sounds like Sheet-Mulching?
Followers of this blog will probably remember our post on sheet-mulching, which is a form of no-dig gardening for preparing an area for planting. But its not exactly the same thing. No-dig gardening is a continuous process for improving soil over time as continuous maintenance, whereas sheet mulching is just for establishing a new garden.
Benefits of No-Dig Gardening
One of the primary benefits of No-dig gardening is that it helps reduce our carbon footprint. Turning over soil releases carbon into the atmosphere, and by layering in organic matter you can start to reduce your carbon footprint. While we often think about climate change as being a modern phenomenon, it actually started with the rise in mass-farming agriculture in the 1800s.
The other main benefit is that traditional cultivation can damage soil structure. Drainage channels created by earthworms and beneficial fungi can be damaged when the soil is tilled. Tilling can also lead to excessive compaction of soil in the lower layers.
Turning over soil can also surface weed seeds up into the topsoil, so no-dig gardening can reduce the amount of weeds you need to purge from your garden beds.
Steps to Create a No-Dig Garden:
You can start a no-dig garden any time of year as long as the soil is not waterlogged.
If the area you are using is covered in grass and/or weeds, prepare the base layer by laying down a weed-suppressing material. Non-shiny cardboard, thick layers of newspaper or rosin paper is good for this. This layer will break down over time, but if you wish to plant immediately into the soil, make sure to wet this layer before adding the top layer.
Next, add the organic material layer. Add compost, manure, or mulch on top of the base layer, about 4-6 inches (12-15cm) thick.
Plant Directly into the bed. Create small holes in the top layer to plant seeds or seedlings. Some digging maybe be required from planting larger shrubs or trees but that is fine as long as you minimize soil disturbance across the entire area.
Maintain the System: Keep adding organic material over time to replenish nutrients and maintain weed control. While the cardboard and mulch layer will help prevent weeds, some may still pop up and will need removing by hand, or you can use a hoe for harder to reach areas.
Monitor soil moisture. While a no-dig garden bed requires less watering as the mulch will act like a sponge to hold water and prevent the soil from drying out too quickly, periods of hot weather and drought may require additional watering.
Tips for Success
Try to avoid walking on the no-dig bed to prevent soil compaction. Planning your beds to be no more than 4ft (1.2m) wide will help you to manage the bed from the edges. Avoid working the area after it has been saturated with heavy rain.
Continue to replenish the mulch layer annually with at least 2 inches (5cm) of new organic material.
Maintain a clear edge when the no-dig bed is surrounded by grass to prevent encroachment into the area.
