Gardening Without Tilling

Plants prefer loose soil the holds water well without saturating allowing for airflow. Tilling is a common method to produce loose soil. This does help loosen the soil but over time it can pulverize the soil to dust. This tilling the soil too much can cause erosion and many other problems leading to a loss in soil fertility. Fortunately they are alternatives to tilling.

No till gardening does not mean that we don’t not loosen or dig the soil, it simply means that we do not turn it over or disturb the soil more than is necessary. The first time an area is planted more work is required to prepare it and it will provably be necessary to dig the soil in order to loosen it and incorporate some soil amendments such as organic compost.

Double digging in basic works by digging a trench the width of the garden row and set that soil aside. Then the digging tool is used to loosen the soil in the bottom of the trench, but not actually move it. Insert the shovel or pitch fork as deep as possible and work it around to loosen the soil. To continue forward, dig the soil in front of the trench back into the trench so as to move the whole trench forward. Then you loosen the soil at the bottom and your ready to repeat. Although this process is hard work, just think of all the exercise you are getting and remember that this will provably not be required to do again. To incorporate some sort of compost, simply lay it in top of the soil before double digging.

The real secret though to no till gardening is to keep the soil covered at all times. It can be covered with plants, mulch, compost, cardboard, paper or leaves. Keeping the soil covered does a number of things. Most importantly it keeps the soil from rapid drying out which keeps the soil soft. Furthermore it promotes and feed soil organisms such as earthworms that keep the soil fertile and friable. Also it prevents erosion and keeps weeds at bay.

Just plant through the ground cover and your garden is all set. Be sure to add compost, mulch and some other ground cover to your garden every year and you can say good by to the tiller!

If you have not already be sure to start a compost pile. The following is a good resource for composting with worms.