You can create a garden anywhere when you choose to do no dig gardening. No dig gardening is exactly what it implies, gardening without digging. In a no dig garden, you basically add a layer of organic matter above the soil and plant your garden. The garden is the compost that feeds the plants. People usually refer to no dig gardening as raised bed gardening. No dig gardens are becoming increasingly popular.
If you live where the soil might not be conducive to whatever it is you would like to grow, (the most common choice is a vegetable garden) or you want to grow a garden on top of clay or a stony area, no dig gardening can be your answer. Anything grows in compost.
Just like regular gardening, you must choose a site first. The spot should be level and have no less than five hours of sun daily. Don’t worry if the soil is not good or the weeds are invasive, as this is of little consequence to a raised bed garden. Starting a garden on top of lawn or weeds will simply create more compost material in time, as long as you do not expose the vegetation to sunlight. This is part of the joy of no dig gardening.
You will most likely want to outline your garden space by creating a border around it. For this, you can use old bricks, logs, stones, etc. The raised borders hold the garden inside so it doesn’t stray and nothing or no one can encroach. Next, lay down a layer of lucerne hay (alfalfa) to a height of about 10cm. Put a layer of organic fertilizer on top of that at a height of about 20 mm. Add a level of thick loose straw on top of that to 20cm, another layer of fertilizer, and finish your no dig garden with 10 cm of compost.
Your no dig garden will be richer if you plant seedlings instead of seeds. Seeds have a tendency to disappear in the mix. Seedlings are easier to keep track of and you can plant seedlings well in the rich mixture. Try peas, beans, lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, or sweet corn. Wait before you start planting root crops until you have a more mature garden. Besides, you’ll have to dig to remove those.
There are no size or shape restrictions in raised bed gardening. Make your garden as large or as little as you want. Try to avoid walking on it or in it, as this will compact the layers and impact your harvest. Keep building your garden up because it will tend to settle down. Practice crop rotation when you re-plant, continue to add compost and be sure to mulch around replacement plants.
Keep in mind that no digging means your garden is easier to make, but you will have to work at maintaining it if you want a nice yield for your efforts. Always organic materials in your garden. Never use chemical or man-made fertilizers or pesticides. No dig gardening mirrors nature’s way of growing, so staying organic is of the utmost importance to the philosophy of no dig gardening.
Martin Aranovitch is an online publisher with a strong interest in green living. To learn more about ways to go green, save money and help the planet, go here: Green Living Tips.
Popular Questions
What is No Dig Gardening, and how can it help you grow a garden anywhere?
No dig gardening is a method of growing plants without turning or digging the soil. Instead, you cover the ground with layers such as cardboard, compost, and mulch to suppress weeds and build a fertile planting area. This approach works on lawns, compacted soil, patios, and other spaces when suitable containers or raised beds are used.
How do you start a No Dig Gardening bed on grass?
Mow the grass short, then cover the area with overlapping sheets of plain cardboard to block light from reaching the plants. Add a deep layer of compost or well-rotted organic matter on top, followed by mulch to protect the surface. Water the layers thoroughly and plant shallow-rooted crops immediately, while deeper-rooted plants may benefit from waiting until the underlying grass has decomposed.
What materials are best for No Dig Gardening?
Use plain brown cardboard, mature compost, well-rotted manure, leaf mold, straw, or other clean organic mulch. Avoid glossy or heavily printed cardboard, fresh manure, and materials containing weed seeds or chemical residues. Keep the cardboard well overlapped and add enough compost to give seeds and young plants a loose rooting layer.
Can No Dig Gardening work in a small space or on hard ground?
Yes, No Dig Gardening can be adapted to containers, raised beds, balconies, courtyards, and compacted ground. On hard surfaces, use pots, grow bags, or a raised frame filled with compost rather than trying to create a bed directly on concrete. Choose crops suited to the available depth, keep the growing medium moist, and refresh the compost or mulch as it settles.
