No dig gardening - my experience.

[MINESAPINT]

I started with my present vegetable garden about 5 years ago. I rabbit fenced an area 25 x 25 metres and after much research decided to adopt the no dig approach. I think I was influenced by Bob Flowerdue. Not happy with straight forward rectangular beds I banged a stake into the centre of the plot to which I attached a rope. I then scribed a series of beds radiating out from this stake. The beds were about three feet wide and I left paths of 18 inches between the beds, obviously all curved. The idea is never walk on the beds which can be reached from the paths. Additionally I carpeted all the paths with about 20 Land Rover loads of old and new carpet offcuts.

The first problem I encountered was the strips of carpets were always blowing away so needed weighting down with barrow loads of cobbles. After the carpets had been down for a year they were firmly adhered to the soil so no need for the cobbles. Next weeds started growing in and among the carpets until the carpets were hardly visible and impossible to weed. The crops initially were good but without digging the soil I found it difficult to get manure into the land to replenish the nourishment. The no dig plan is to lay manure/compost on top of the soil which will be taken down by the worms, this was not working, maybe not enough worms.

So with the carpets hopelessly overgrown with weeds, crops not as good as I might have hoped I decided it was time for a re think. I decided to convert to a more conventional set up with grass paths in straight lines dividing the garden into 7 fairly equally sized areas which I would dig. Firstly - carpets to tip - huge task. Secondly get some manure/seaweed/compost dug into the plot. Thirdly lay some grass paths.

I was not able to completely re arrange the plot in one winter as I am moving raspberry canes to new locations and am keen to ensure a continuous supply of raspberries so only half were moved. I will complete the transition this winter but am delighted with the new look of the garden and much superior productivity.

I am sure the no dig approach works for some people but personally I am certainly happy to be digging again.

General view of new garden:

[JR]

Im a digger too!

[red]

yup we dig. and it works.


thought i would save the no dig experiment for when old age set in.

[Odsox]

Can't say I've ever tried 'no dig' but I must admire your garden ... carpeted garden paths WOW

[shell]

your garden is fabulous,had to show my dh,i can only dream,

[eccentric_emma]

I'm a no digger but mainly out of laziness as we have a very thick sticky clay soil so digging is far too much hard work and doesn't seem to work anyway. I dug a tiny corner of the garden before deciding on the no dig method, and the corner I dug now refuses to grow anything! The rest of it - I just lay compost on top and the worms did their thing and now it's all very lovely and fertile.

I guess different methods work for different people/plots.

Great photo MINESAPINT - more please!

[MINESAPINT]

Emma, I am pleased the no dig experience is good for you. I thought these were worth photographing:

[Rod in Japan]

I tried no digging too, but once you start pulling up weeds by the roots, and getting your onions and potatoes out, you're effectively disturbing the soil to a significant degree anyway, so you might as well do a proper job of it and dig.

Here, the spring rains followed by drought have really packed the soil down hard, in spite of mulch and other cover, so I'm going to have to stick a fork in and loosen it up.

They say that digging destroys the soil structure, and harms the soil creatures, but I have no shortage of big snakey worms, in spite of my digging.

[MINESAPINT]

The one thing I dislike about digging is the damage done to critters. I try to use a fork whenever possible as I feel this is less dangerous to the worms.

[red]

They say that digging destroys the soil structure, and harms the soil creatures, but I have no shortage of big snakey worms, in spite of my digging.

yeh you see it on garden programs 'nevr walk on the soil, ruins the structure' then the next scene they are putting the boot in 'firming' something in.
growing veg by digging is a method that has worked for centuries - the no dig method might work as well, but that does not make digging such a terrible idea. and I always wondered how no dig people get their spuds out!

but each to their own, whatever works for each person in each circumstance. I just hate it when people tell me the method I'm doing that is working is wrong!

[Odsox]

I wonder what the 'no dig' idea will be like in 25 years time.

I'm showing my age a bit now but ...
I remember there was a 'magic' substance you scattered on un-dug soil that made it all crumbly (flocculated)
I also remember another 'magic' substance that you sprayed on lawns and hedges that made them stop growing so that you didn't need to mow/cut more than once a year.
I also remember yet another 'magic' substance that you fed to tomatoes and the like (not fertilizer) that made the toms grow to huge proportions.
At the time they were all touted as the way the future would be, pretty much the way GM is touted now.

Anyone seen these products lately ?

Now I remember why I grow organically

[mrsflibble]

I@m a "stick stuff in growbags" person due to the paved-ness of my garden.

[red]

I@m a "stick stuff in growbags" person due to the paved-ness of my garden.

yeh that was me too, when i first started growing things.

[Peggy Sue]

I wonder what the 'no dig' idea will be like in 25 years time.

I'm showing my age a bit now but ...
I remember there was a 'magic' substance you scattered on un-dug soil that made it all crumbly (flocculated)
I also remember another 'magic' substance that you sprayed on lawns and hedges that made them stop growing so that you didn't need to mow/cut more than once a year.
I also remember yet another 'magic' substance that you fed to tomatoes and the like (not fertilizer) that made the toms grow to huge proportions.
At the time they were all touted as the way the future would be, pretty much the way GM is touted now.

Funny you should mention this Odsox, having been affected by the contaminated manure problem I was only thinking how the advice is the dig it in really well, several times at least six months before sewing- well thats traditional so once again its back to basics!Anyone seen these products lately ?

Now I remember why I grow organically

[ina]

The one thing I dislike about digging is the damage done to critters. I try to use a fork whenever possible as I feel this is less dangerous to the worms.

That's how I always thought. And then, I was digging along the side of my plot with the fork - and found water.

Note: forks do a much better job at making holes into your water pipe.

I have to dig - because I go through so many lazy periods (ah no - too much other work to do ), that if I didn't dig, I'd never get anything planted.