No-Till Gardening

Why this method nourishes the soil and grows things better.

A guide to caring for soil and getting the best from your garden

When thinking about our future and that of our planet, I’m sure most of us are aware that we need to make some big changes if we want to change the trajectory of where we’re headed. In many ways it’s not so much about coming up with new technology or ways of doing things but rather a shift back to simpler, more natural approaches. When it comes to gardening, regenerative methods are vital.

One such method is no-till gardening, which has increased in popularity as soil health has come more into focus. Nature provides the perfect model for us when it comes to growing food, and the no-till method mimics this model by recycling nutrients just as nature does. This method of gardening does away with the traditional use of tilling and digging to prepare the soil. Instead, organic components such as compost, animal fertilisers, and wood chips are layered over the soil to create a rich, nutrient-heavy base in which to plant.

It is estimated that 95 per cent of our food is produced directly or indirectly on our soils; they are the foundation of our food system. In fact, we owe our very existence to the top six inches of soil that provides the nutrients our bodies need to survive. When our soils are nutrient-rich, those nutrients are transferred to the crops, and then to the living creatures who eat them. Our health is directly related to the health of our soils.

The key to no-till gardening is regular mulching. The mulch covers the soil’s surface, protecting it from erosion, locking in moisture, and suppressing weeds. As the mulch rots down it provides a constant source of food to the soil while at the same time improving its structure, without the need to dig. The no-till method aims to protect the intricate web of life that exists under the ground; from bacteria to earthworms, fungi to beetles.

Steps to create a no-till garden

Ideally you would set this up the season before you want to plant.

Choose a planting area

The first step is deciding where you want to put your vegetable garden and what size you want it to be. Try to choose a spot that will get plenty of sun.

Gather your materials

You’ll need: old newspapers, cardboard, compost, organic fertiliser such as chicken or sheep manure. Other organic materials such as grass and garden clippings, mulch, bark chips. Many of these materials can be gathered for free, especially if you already have a compost heap or chickens.

Map out garden beds

Once you’ve got your materials ready you can start thinking about what to plant and also the spacing of your garden beds. Lay out the beds with markers such as pieces of wood, including walkways between beds. It’s good to keep garden beds to a maximum of about four feet wide by eight feet long so you can reach your plants easily.

Cover the ground

Start by clearing the surface of any debris. Cover the area mapped out for your gardens with several layers of newspaper or cardboard to smother the grass and weeds underneath. Wetting the cardboard will help it to break down faster. You can also mark out paths between the beds using thick cardboard. This will help to kill off the weeds between growing areas. You can cover the cardboard with bark chips or something similar later.

Prepare the soil

Add a thick, even layer (at least two inches) of compost to your newspaper or cardboard layers. If preparing the garden the season before, you can also add manure as well as or instead of the compost. Next, add in chicken fertiliser and other organic materials such as grass clippings. Then add a layer of mulch such as wood chips, straw, grass clippings, or shredded leaves over the compost to discourage weed growth and hold moisture.

Planting

Your garden beds are now ready to plant into. Simply push aside the top layer of mulch to plant into the compost beneath.