No More Back Pain: The Advantages of No-Dig Gardening

Has tending to the garden left you exhausted and desiring a break for your back?

Then it’s about time you try the no-dig gardening method. Digging is supposed to keep the soil smooth and clean out the weeds. Every so often, it ends up causing more damage than good to the garden.

How is no-dig better, you ask? Because it’s the natural and easy way of maintaining plants. The plants grow unsupervised in wild spaces. It’s messy (no one’s exactly cleaning the place), but it’s organic and more robust than our regular crops.

Didn’t you find a forest with a vast rototiller and a gardener to tend the place? Me neither! The moral of the story, let nature take a go in your garden. It’s safer and healthier (with the added advantage of no toil).

Why should you Switch to a No-Dig Garden?

The no-dig garden gained popularity for its simple and efficient method. It’s an organic way of growing plants with minimal soil disturbance.

Tony O'Neill with used compost

Starting a no-dig bed is similar to making compost. You take wood chips, green and dried leaves, coffee grounds, and animal manure. Put it on your garden soil, let it decompose, and turn it into compost.

The preparation of these garden beds takes longer than that of a conventional garden. Once it’s ready, the rest of the process is faster. Weeds are always an issue in the garden.

In no-dig, you must try to clear weeds before sowing, as you can’t dig the seeds later from the ground. Whatever weed seeds are left will end up deep into the soil layer as put more mulch on the bed.

They never see sunlight, don’t sprout, and eventually become part of the compost. The soil lays undisturbed in the garden bed, and the microorganisms live and thrive underneath.

They bring water and nutrients to the roots of plants. Digging can destroy their communities. No dig means the ecosystem prospers free from outside disruptions. Your garden soil is also home to multiple worms like earthworms attracted to the compost.

The earthworms make their way up and down the soil to eat from the compost pile and create a tunnel that helps aerate the soil. They also leave castings that work as fertilizer.

The no-dig methods allow plants to have deeper and stronger roots. With proper care, garden pests stand little to no chance of destroying your garden.

Slugs are beneficial in a compost pile but can create an issue inside the garden, especially if you live in a relatively hot place. Raising chickens or ducks can help care for this problem without using pesticides. Check out the video below for help with slugs in the garden.

Due to the continuous layer of mulch and compost, the soil gets more fertile every year without any outside help. 

Work Smarter, Not Harder:

No one wants to work daily, but a farmer’s job is never quite done. Starting a no-dig garden saves time and energy, helps the soil recover, and strengthens the plants inside out.

It’s a major source of organic food with no digging. What else does a gardener need? If you don’t have a garden in your house, then try using the community garden. Rent an allotment and grow your veggies in no time.

Advantages of No-dig Garden:

Historically Significant Method:

No-dig gardening is not particularly new. It’s been practiced since the early 19th century by Parisian gardeners. They used huge amounts of horse manure in their gardens and gardening beds.

It gained popularity after Albert Guest wrote Gardening without Digging. Published in 1929, the book pointed out that a no-dig garden reduces the amount of work by 40%.

Efficient Time Management:

Gardening is a long and tiring job. You spend hours and hours digging and plowing through the garden. Especially during the cold weather, the no-dig garden is a blessing for farmers.

The worms plow by going through the soil and saving you the trouble.

Avoid back pains:

Forget about the no pain and no gain theory. Hours of digging don’t just take time. It takes a toll on your back, and you start having back pains quickly. The prospect of not having to till or dig is inviting, especially to elderly gardeners.

Add a planter or raise the plot to the knee or waist level to simplify the process. It’ll eliminate the bending and make gardening fun for everyone.

Organic Approach:

Have you ever seen a mechanical tiller in a wild field of plants? Say in a forest? The plants grow and flourish better than in regular farmlands. That’s because nature puts its safeguards to protect the plants, help them grow, and adapt to their surroundings like the no-dig garden.

Better Soil Structure:

Rich soil isn’t the only perk in the no-dig garden. The worms eat from the top compost pile and reach the bottom layers. They’re the natural rototillers in the garden who love and enjoy their job. The improved soil structure means strong roots and better support. The plants are anchored deep into the soil and stand tall against strong winds.

 

Tony O'Neill with hand full of compost

Improved Soil Fertility:

The soil in your garden is alive with microorganisms. Though we can’t see them with the naked eye, they play an important role in soil fertility. A no-dig garden means the soil life is flourishing undisturbed.

They eat from the compost pile and leave off castings that work as an excellent fertilizer. Unlike chemical fertilizers, there is no side effect, and the plants are healthier and tastier than ever.

Soil and Rainfall:

Like any other garden, plants in no-dig spaces require water consumption. In rainy places, damp soil can create a lot of problems. The rainwater washes away nutrients in the soil and leaves it raw and damp.

In no-dig, the topmost soil layer isn’t exposed to sun and rain, making retaining nutrients and soil life easier.

No Toxins:

Commercial crops require huge amounts of pesticides and herbicides. The chemicals are toxic and impact the crops we eat. No-dig garden uses an organic approach to gardening. They are making use of everyday matter to feed and protect the garden. There are no chemicals involved and hence no toxins. 

Improved Crust:

When you don’t disturb the topsoil, a crust is ultimately formed. Please don’t mistake it for a compacted soil patch. Rather, your soil has a firm structure and a natural defense mechanism. You can also walk through the beds and save yourself the pain of bending over plants to reach the middle.

Soil life forms:

A no-dig garden is a home to fungi and other beneficial microorganisms. Their ecosystem is vaster than ours and functions way above our understanding. The fine threads of the fungal mycelium can spread over long distances.

They capture water and nutrients and carry them back to the roots. Digging/ tilling disturbs the microorganisms in the soil, and they take some time (a season or two) to recover. The no-dig garden is free of any such interruptions.

mycorrhizal fungi

Weeds:

Weeds are buried deep in the no-dig garden. The longer it stays undisturbed, the deeper seeds go, and there’s very little chance it’ll ever sprout. Eventually, the seeds mix with compost and fertilize the garden. You should also clear the weeds before planting in the garden.

Compact Soil:

A misconception among gardeners is that no tilling means the soil becomes compact, as tillage is supposed to loosen the soil and improve aeration. The problem is that digging only facilitates the soil’s upper layer (10-12cm). Over time, the lower ground turns into a hardpan.

The no-dig garden soil doesn’t compact if properly attended, and clear footpaths are defined through the various beds. The worms ensure that your garden bed is firm and aerated inside out. 

Soil Aeration:

The mulch on the no-dig garden bed invites beneficial worms, specifically earthworms, into the garden. They live under the soil and burrow up to eat the mulch. These worm tunnels allow air and water to pass through the upper layer into the deeper levels. A regular water supply and nutrients are maintained at the plant’s root.  

No Limitations:

Compost material may not be abundant in your house, but you can find it anywhere. Your garden can supply grass clippings and leaves (dried and green), and you can use the leftovers of fruits and vegetables from the kitchen.

Your local coffee shop will happily give you the spent coffee grounds, and no one will charge you for manure. You only need to research and find out where you can find what.

Pest control:

The soil and plants in the no-dig garden are far healthier and fight pests independently. With less human interaction, plants depend more on soil life forms and have their defense mechanism.

Digging exposes insect eggs, but a well-laid, no-dig garden keeps the bugs away in the first place. Slugs can do considerable damage to the garden if left unattended.

They usually thrive in a moist atmosphere and avoid dry places. Having ducks or chickens in the garden can also help with the pest issue.

Interplanting:

Many plants require nitrogen-rich soil to grow. A no-dig garden is a nutrient-rich garden. You can plant any combination of plants without worrying about the nutrients, water, and oxygen in the soil.

Better Drainage

We’ve greatly complemented the worms, and they’re the real garden heroes. Their small tunnels to lurk through soil allow for better oxygen consumption, and water can easily trickle to the roots. Not too much water, nor too little, just the right amount.

Soil Temperature:

The permanent layer of mulch on top of the soil helps maintain a low temperature underneath. Especially during summer or if you live in a tropical place. Weeds also don’t germinate if the garden bed stays cold and crisp.

Frequently Replanting:

A no-dig garden takes a little longer to be prepared for sowing. Once the soil is ready, you can start replanting back to back. The soil is rich with nutrients due to the permanent compost layer, and a new crop can be added without digging and preparing the soil.

Low Cost:

Are you worried about the cost? It’s almost free! The organic materials required in the no-dig garden can be found in abundance. The carbon (dried leaves, wood chips) and nitrogen (old fruits and vegetables) compost materials are a part of every household. No one will complain while giving away animal manure or spent coffee grounds. Just find a regular place and stick to it.

Backyard garden:

A no-dig garden can be made anywhere. Even in your backyard on a concrete floor! It doesn’t take hours of labor, and you can visit the Backyard Mart, and the delicious fresh vegetables are ready to be plucked for free. Most of all, you know where your food is coming from.

Higher Yields:

Your no-dig garden may take some time to prepare before planting. Don’t be hasty, as sweet is the fruit of adversity. Once sowed, The quality and quantity of the yielded crop will improve every year.

Safe and Healthy Food:

Growing your food is a good idea. Not everyone can pursue it because it requires a lot of work. No-dig is a simple yet efficient way of growing vegetables in your backyard without much ado. It’s organic food that’s free and grown in a natural environment.

Attract more Earthworms

An earthworm’s favorite food is the mulch on top of your no-dig garden. They love to eat from the pile and make their way up and down the soil. These tiny worms work as plows and improve soil aeration and fertility.

Compost:

Worms love compost. They feast on various brown and green compost materials and dig deeper into the ground, leaving castings and enriching our soil. It’s a simple cycle, you feed them, and they feed you.

If you struggle with composting, the video below will explain it in easy-to-understand terms so you can master the process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making a No-dig Garden:

Maintaining a no-dig garden may be easy, but starting one isn’t. To begin, you need a well-structured and clean soil patch. It’s often advised to divide the garden into beds to make clear paths and avoid compaction. A raised no-dig bed is popular where soil quality isn’t good enough. Maintaining a no-dig garden is easy enough if your soil is ready.

Divide and Mark the garden beds:

Farmers prefer no-dig because it’s easy on the back. Dividing your garden into beds and defining clear footpaths is another step towards making that happen. A clearly defined path means walking between your crops and not over them. It’s also easier to reach the middle plant without bending over.

Gather the compost material:

Your no-dig garden bed requires lots of compost to prepare the ground. Gathering compost material can be quite fun. The compost consists of two major components: the nitrogen-rich green component and the carbon-rich brown component.

Green compost materials include grass clippings, leaves, rotten fruits, and vegetables. The carbon-rich materials are coffee grounds, manure, dried leaves, and wood chips.

Wood chips are something people often pay for, but you can call up your local tree service and ask if they can give you the wood chips instead of dumping them. The rest of the materials are easy and abundant to come by. 

Tony O'Neill with a mound of compost

Prepare the ground:

Preparing the ground is the digging part in the no-dig garden. The soil needs to be smooth and plowed using a spade. If possible, start the compost in the fall; it gives your garden enough time to let it age and reach its full potential.

Clean up the Weeds:

You won’t be able to clean up the weeds once the seeds are sown. There are two ways to handle the weed issue. Clean the soil before planting or bury the weeds so deep that it never germinates.

Pile up the Compost Materials:

Add compost materials layer by layer, starting with the cardboard box or wood logs in the bottom layer. Add other compost materials and manure, and cover it with mulch. The compost takes about three months to take a dirt-like form, so it’s time to sow seeds.

Let’s Plant:

When spring hits, your garden soil must be nice and ready for sowing. Simply dig a small hole and put the seeds in. There’s no need to dig deep, as the worms in your garden soil (attracted by the compost) are already dragging it down. Your job’s done, now wait and watch your plants live.

How do you start a no-dig allotment?
You can start a no-dig garden today with zero investment and quickly create the perfect garden bed. The first step is to dig an almost 20cm hole in the ground or build a cardboard wall about 20cm high to retain the materials. The materials are easy and cheap (even free) to come by, and all you need is,

Carbon compost materials like wood chips, dried leaves, and pruning.

Nitrogen materials like rotten vegetables, fruits, grass clippings, and green leaves.  

Compost or manure.

Coffee grounds.

Mulch.

Start with the wood chips/logs and put those at the bottom of the bed. Alternatively, add a layer of brown and green materials into the hole. Drip some water between each layer to retain moisture. The manure (if added) needs to be buried deep into the soil. Add compost, coffee grounds, and soil to the upper layers and cover it with mulch. You’re done; now let nature take the reins.

Does no-dig gardening work?
No-dig gardening works, and it’s a pretty smart way of gardening. If you’re planting in a compact soil patch, it’ll take time to recover whichever method you use (no-dig or dig). The secret is to let the soil get healthy naturally instead of tearing it down with your spade.

What is a no-dig allotment?
An allotment is a community garden. Personal, non-commercial gardening space is available to the public. You can rent a plot for an annual price, clean the place, clear out the weeds, and grow your favorite plants. A no-dig allotment uses the no-dig method of gardening in the allotments.

When should you dig your garden?
The best time to dig varies according to your environment. Early winter or fall is the best season to dig your garden, specifically from October through December. In mid-winter, the ground is often damp or frozen. Plowing in such weather can be a pain; you can avoid it by being prepared upfront.

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