How To: Create ‘No Dig’ Beds
All of our beds here at the farm have been created using the ‘No Dig’ method. The theory is to protect the organisms, microbes and natural structures that exist within the soil through minimal soil disturbance.
Rather than digging over the soil when making new beds, you simply build up layers of materials to kill off grass and weeds and create a new, weed-free planting surface.
Here is the method we use:
Layer cardboard over the area you have designated as a bed (our beds are never too big to reach across without standing on the soil).
Apply a generous layer of compost (at least 15cm deep). We use recycled green waste compost which is weed-free but you can use any organic, well-rotted compost.
We then cover our beds with weed-proof membrane (optional).
Let the worms do all the work for you!
We wait several months before planting into our new beds to allow for the weeds and grass underneath to be killed off. Et voila - a new bed to grow lots of new plants in!
The benefits? Less weeds, better plant growth, higher yields. What’s not to love!
Have any of you given this a try in your garden? I would love to hear how you got on.
Happy growing!
Rachel x