No-dig gardening is a method where you grow plants without disturbing the soil by digging or tilling. Instead, you cover the ground with organic matter like compost or cardboard, and plants are grown directly into this layer. This approach minimizes soil disturbance, conserves carbon, and promotes healthy soil life. 

Minimizing Soil Disturbance: No-dig gardening leaves the soil as undisturbed as possible, which helps maintain its structure and the beneficial microorganisms that live within it. 

Adding Organic Matter: Instead of digging, you add a layer of organic matter, like compost or cardboard, to the soil surface. 

Planting Directly into the Mulch: Plants are grown directly into this layer of organic matter, where they can access nutrients and moisture. 

Benefits of No-Dig:  Improved Soil Health: No-dig methods promote a healthy soil environment by fostering a thriving soil community and improving soil structure. 

Less Weeding: By not disturbing the soil, fewer weed seeds are brought to the surface, leading to less weeding. 

Carbon Storage: No-dig gardening helps conserve soil carbon, which can contribute to climate change mitigation. 

Reduced Effort: The no-dig approach can be easier and more sustainable than traditional gardening methods. 

Healthy Plants: Plants grown in no-dig beds often thrive due to the healthy soil environment and consistent access to nutrients. 

You can make new no-dig beds at any time of year, as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged.

To start from scratch where you have an area of grass or weeds, lay a double layer of cardboard on top. Overlap the sheets of cardboard to help prevent weeds pushing through the gaps. Dont use shiny printed cardboard, and remove any staples or parcel tape first.

Weight the cardboard down with a 4 to 6 inch mulch (layer of organic matter) on top. If you want to plant up the bed straight away, wet the cardboard before adding the mulch on top.

The cardboard will suppress most weeds, but keep an eye on the bed, removing any weeds that appear as soon as possible before they become well-rooted or seed themselves.

If you’re converting an existing bed to no-dig, it's not necessary to cover with cardboard, unless it’s particularly weedy. Simply spread a 4 to 6 inch layer of organic matter over the soil.

No-dig works well with ground level beds as plants can root directly into the soil below (including soil that’s beneath paths). However, raised are an advantage on heavier, poorly drained soils inclined to waterlog, as they drain better.

They can be planted up as soon as they are made so long as the mulch is well rotted and deep enough, at least 4 inches.

Minimise soil disturbance when planting into or beneath the mulch layer by making small holes so as not to dig over the whole area.