No dig garden

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Feed the soil, protect its structure, and let soil life do the digging!

It is NOT allowed to step on the soil! The paths are marked (mulched) with wood chips; that is where you can walk.

The benefits of no-dig

- Protects soil life: preserves habitats and fungal networks. Let nature do some of the work!
- Builds fertility: surface-applied compost feeds soil life and adds organic matter.
- Saves time and effort: no routine digging or turning required.
- Fewer weeds: cardboard blocks light and suppresses many weeds while it decomposes.
- Uses water more efficiently: healthy soil structure and organic matter help retain moisture.
- Improves soil structure: protects soil aggregates and supports good aeration and water infiltration.

Healthy soil is made up of approximately:

45% mineral particles — sand, silt and clay.
25% water — providing moisture for plants and soil organisms.
25% air — filling the spaces between soil particles and allowing roots and soil organisms to breathe.
5% organic matter — including decomposing plant and animal material, as well as living organisms such as bacteria, fungi and small soil animals.

These proportions are approximate and vary depending on soil type, moisture levels and other conditions.

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Bonus facts and practical tips

- Earthworms: Their numbers vary greatly with soil type, moisture and organic matter. Rather than saying that healthy soil contains exactly 12 earthworms per square metre, use: “Earthworms are valuable indicators of soil life.”
- Cardboard: Plain, uncoated cardboard is best. Remove plastic tape and labels where possible, and avoid glossy or heavily printed materials.
- Compost depth: Forty centimetres is not a universal requirement for the first year. It would also be a very large amount of compost! Around 10 to 20 centimetres is a more practical starting point for many new beds.
- Potatoes: Useful in some situations, but not a magic cure for compacted soil. Deep-rooted plants, organic matter and avoiding compaction are also important.