There are many benefits to gardening, but some fun can be taken out of it if you hate digging.
WATCH: Melissa King’s waterwise gardening tips for summer
The good news is you don’t always have to dig when gardening.
Yes, a no-dig garden is possible; ask garden writer and presenter Phil Dudman.
In a past episode of the Better Garden podcast (the podcast isn’t in production anymore, but worth a listen), he tells horticulturalist Adam Woodhams and BHG garden editor Jenny Dillon, “I am a no-dig gardener.”
What is a no-dig garden?
A no-dig garden requires a lot less digging. Instead, you plant straight into your compost and update the organic matter every season. Digging through the soil is not required.
“You don’t need to dig over the soil to prepare your patch for growing veggies,” Phil explains.
“Rather than getting your compost, chopping up the soil, and digging and mixing it through, I put my compost on the surface as a mulch, and I plant into that.”
One downside to no-dig gardening, though, is you need lots of good quality compost to cover your whole garden bed. However, this depends on how savvy you are. Things like horse manure, chicken poo, food waste woody mulch can all be obtained for free or cheap if you know where to look.
The reason this no-dig gardening method works so well is because of the worms present in the garden.
“If you think about worms, they have evolved to the surface to get that bit of humus and leaf mould. When they do [come to the surface], they create channels in the soil, and that’s where you start to get this beautiful structure,” says Phil.
“If you are digging your compost in, you’re busting up your structure.”
No-dig gardening benefits
As well as involving less work, Phil says he gets fewer weeds appearing in patches.
“I get a lot less weeds through not digging the soil because every time you dig it over, you bring old weed seeds to the surface, and they start popping up everywhere,” says Phil.
“When I put my compost on the surface, I’m smothering those weeds’ seeds.
“It’s a lot less work.”
The mulch and organic layers also help retain moisture in the soil, reducing the need for frequent watering.
What can you plant in a no-dig garden?
Creating a no-dig garden is suitable for growing vegetables, flowers, and other plants in small-scale and large-scale gardens.
Many gardeners credit no-dig gardening for creating healthy, productive gardens without the effort required for soil preparation.
How to start a no-dig garden
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you start your no-dig garden:
- Select a suitable location for your no-dig garden. It should receive adequate sunlight, ideally 6-8 hours a day.
- Clear the chosen area of any existing vegetation or weeds. You can mow the grass or use a weed barrier (cardboard or thick layers of newspaper) to suppress weed growth.
- You can dig a small hole to help contain the organic matter, but it’s not essential.
- Lay down a thick layer (about 4-6 inches) of organic matter directly on the ground. This can include logs, branches, pruning clippings, straw, leaves, or a combination of these materials.
- Continue building your no-dig bed by adding more layers of organic matter. Alternate between green materials (nitrogen-rich, like kitchen scraps, fresh green cuttings, or manures) and brown materials (carbon-rich, like straw or dry leaves).
- Aim for a total bed height of about 30 to 40 cm high.
- After adding each layer, water it thoroughly to encourage decomposition and settle the materials. The layers gradually break down, creating a nutrient-rich soil.
- Apply a layer of organic mulch (straw, hay, wood chips) on the surface to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.
- Once your no-dig bed is prepared, you can start planting. Create planting holes in the mulch, push aside the organic matter, and plant your seeds or seedlings directly into the decomposing layers.
- Water the newly planted area thoroughly.
- Add new layers of compost or well-rotted manure on the surface of your no-dig garden every season to replenish nutrients, but no digging is required.
You might also like:
How to grow a vegetable garden
Must have tools for beginner gardeners
Top gardening tools
1. Built Tray Galvanised Wheelbarrow, 80L, $125, Amazon
The Built galvanised wheelbarrow, with its 80-litre capacity, is a heavy-duty and reliable gardening tool designed to make tasks easier with features like a galvanised steel tray for durability, a powder-coated steel frame for resistance against abrasion and corrosion, and comfortable, easy grip handles, ensuring it stands up to the demands of heavy-duty work.
2. Swift RM18 robotic mower, $799.99, Kogan
This robot mower is auto-charging, self-propelled and suitable for up to 600m². Additionally, this mower comes with a PIN Code for theft protection.
3. Spear & Jackson planting and weeding Knife, $50, Amazon
The Spear & Jackson planting and weeding knife is a versatile gardening tool with a mirror polished-stainless steel head designed for minimal soil adhesion and rust resistance. It features a serrated edge for cutting through thin roots and a pronged blade for effective weed and daisy removal.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
