No dig philosophy

This is the place to discuss not just allotments but all general gardening problems and queries which don't fit into the specific categories below.
(formerly allotments and tips, hints and problems)
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tremone
Jerry - Bit higher than newbie
Jerry - Bit higher than newbie
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Location: Inishowen, Co.Donegal, Rep. of Ireland

No dig philosophy

Post: # 30747Post tremone »

Could someone explain what this is, it sounds enticing

Rgds,
Tremone
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

Monty
Jerry - Bit higher than newbie
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Post: # 30751Post Monty »

Okay. No.

But.

Your quote thing is wrong.

"It is better to close your mouth and let people think you a fool, than open it and remove all doubt."
Weeds make me mad.

Diana
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Post: # 30759Post Diana »

basically, it does exactly what it says on the tin.

It's also know as lasagne gardening because it envolves builting up layers of material through which you plant.

There are lots of websites that will tell you what to use as layers, you can use manure, homemade compost, spent compost, seaweed, spoilt hay, leafmold and uncomposted kitchen scraps to name but a few things.

There are only a couple of rules:
no layer should be more than 3" deep
the penultimate layer should be cardboard or newspaper (3 or 4 sheets thick)
the final layer should be weed free - so straw is good here.

Do a google or have a look at these sites for more info:

http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/b ... arden.html (good for ideas)

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/mag/Artic ... ution.html (excellent strp-by-step with pics!)


One last thing - if you have a slug problem, be very, very careful - they love no dig!

Hope that helps

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supersprout
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Post: # 32123Post supersprout »

Hi tremone, no-dig suits my physical capacity :roll: and seems to suit my soil. I mulch about 8" deep, with different things - spent hops, compost, veg waste, leaves, straw, hay - whatever I can lay my hands on. I don't dig, don't water except for watering in seedlings, and seldom weed. There must be slugs somewhere under all that mulch, but they seem to busy to bother with my plants (fingers firmly x'd) My no dig plottie looks like this (on a good day :wink: )

Image

Image

If you're interested, there's more about mulching at http://www.organicgardening.com/feature ... 89,00.html

:cat:

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