How to start a no dig bed and compost differences.
I take you though the early stages of mulching/smothering weeds, so that they die in darkness while leaving soil in great condition for growing..
The how and why of no dig.
You see examples of composts you can use, which serve to feed soil life and get plants off to a great start, even while weeds die underneath and out of sight.
** NOTE: At 07:36, the wheelbarrow I mention is full of soil, not compost**
Use any decomposed materials, of varied age and origin. Observe their different qualities, while other options I don’t show here are mushroom compost, leaf mould, and vermicast in smaller amounts.
00:00 Introductory music
00:14 Introduction to video
00:39 Starting from weeds
01:51 Planting straight away
02:14 Planting into compost
02:42 Where to position new no dig bed/beds
03:24 Using black polythene to mulch/cover
03:40 Light exclusion to weaken weeds
04:03 Leaving soil undisturbed
05:19 Light and shade, in terms of where to site plot
05:51 Effect of having trees and hedges near to a plot
06:37 Using soil for uneven ground (and mention of slopes)
07:53 Weed roots – examples of bindweed, dandelion and buttercup
09:07 Introduction to different composts – not a full list as other possible composts are mushroom compost, leaf mould and vermicast
09:23 Homemade compost
10:22 Horse manure
11:16 Cow manure
11:58 Wood chip
12:45 Green waste compost
13:17 Compost bought for propagating- ‘potting compost’ (‘potting soil’ in US)
13:51 Enlarging a no dig bed
14:26 Information about cardboard
15:40 Demo of adding soil to uneven ground
15:59 Demo of laying cardboard
16:11 How to manage edges, including info on wooden sides
17:41 Demo of putting compost over cardboard
18:03 More on wood chip, and info on pathways
18:41 Wetting cardboard according to climate/weather
19:44 The important role of cardboard for weedy ground, and how plants can root through into the ground
20:42 Demo of transplanting pea plants in surface compost
20:54 Summary of no dig method, including more info on planting in new bed
Filmed 15th February at Homeacres and edited by Alessandro of @SpicyMoustache . See his channel for ideas about no dig suburban gardening, see also his amazing reels on Instagram.
https://www.youtube.com/c/spicymoustache, and
https://www.instagram.com/_spicymoustache_/
More information about no dig in many of my books, including Course Book 1 which is named after this online course
https://charlesdowding.co.uk/product/online-course-no-dig-gardening/
See the new area no dig playlist for how the land behind me evolved from weeds to beds, easily. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bej8vpTm1c4&list=PL7WDfop74y-k1a3lMA0ooD5m8bhiKu5sR
To buy my collections of super informative video garden guides with an encyclopaedic search function, visit Retrieve with whom we partner https://charlesdowding.retrieve.com/store/#/
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If I have LOADS of stones, rocks, wood and glass in my soil, should I try to sieve this out before creating my beds?
Can I use natural forest compost from the ground in my forest safely? I have moved and there is no compost being sold in my area. Then I thought, why not use natural compost from my woods to get my new beds started until I’m able to build my compost supply. I’ve heard to avoid compost under the walnut tree. Any other trees to avoid? Any advice for a beginner starting a large amount of beds with no compost supplier available? Due to cost I don’t want to buy bags of compost if at all possible. Also, I have put plastic over the beds and then will be removing and adding the cardboard. Would it be helpful to have a dump truck of black top soil instead or in conjunction with the forest compost? Any advice for a beginner with limited resources getting restarted in new location like me using forest compost would be wonderful! Thank you!! Love your videos!
Great detailed work Charles. I was planning on using 6mil black plastic for the remaining warm months, till November and leaving it down till February and then build beds and plant. Should help with erosion as well. I know it's not ideal, being late in the year, lacking the real hot days… Thoughts? Think cardboard would still be necessary?
Question: How well does occultation work on Bermuda grass, that is some nasty stuff with seemingly, never ending, tenacious rhizomes. Think it will be killed if the plastic is left on till spring?
Thank You for the USA!
Thank you for the videos you’ve inspired me to go ahead and have a go.
Withe compost become the soil very acidic. Wat do you do to adjust the acidity to grow wat need less acidity?
Thank you for your wonderful videos! I have been watching for a couple of years. This winter we are moving to a 1 acre property and I am excited to try the no-dig method, as I have always had raised beds before. Here is my question – will cardboard and compost work to get rid of blackberry roots? There are vast brambles that I need to cut down before starting my garden. Any recommendations? Thanks! (from British Columbia, Canada)
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Wondering if I could compost Russian vine?
Just this week I acquired a new piece of land (120 sqm) that was neglected for years. It has lots of weeds, really lots. The only thing holding me back is lack if cardboard, but at least i have been able to prepare a part of it no dig and plant the same day i got it. I did have to clear the overgrowth (brushes and bushes) though.
Compost i fortunately have plenty, for free, albeit from the council so i am not sure what's in it but beggars can't be choosers
Allow me a question: is there an optimal season to start a no dig bed? i can imagine if you start one in the fall, many weeds are kinda dormant anyway and your cardboard might have deteriorated already when the weeds start growing again. Would it be better to start in the spring?
Some help needed please!
For a new allotment full of dandelions, should I lay the cardboard and compost now and cover it in preparation for spring 2023 when I can plant?
Hello Charles, would this work on Horsetail/Marestail? I have just turned down an allotment plot that has this weed after much deliberation. It is not dense but widely spread. It is also on neighbouring unmanaged plots. Thank you.
No Dig Gardening… What a Fantastic Idea and method. This SURE helps knowing we don't need to break our backs digging and breaking our knees. Thanks so much for sharing your experience ;>)
That is a lot of yogurt.
Hi there can I use garden vegetables mix soil than compost or mix different bags together instead like compost. Top soil . And garden mix
I've been watching your videos for almost a year now. I've had more success with less work than I could imagine. Thank you so much! I ordered your book winter gardening and I look forward to adding in your books to my collections with each paycheck. Your wisdom has transformed my garden, my food, and life.
Thanks Charles – I'm advising on Uffculme Allotments. Often people are taking on wild pasture neglect. We have an almost infinite supply of woodchip. I have been advising newcomers this autumn to cover with cardboard and then at least 6" of woodchip as a mulch. The chip also sorts out the uneven ground resulting from previously dug and undug sections. I'm then advising them to scrape back where they want to put module-raised plants and spot fill with compost as the planting medium. Do you see any flaws in that approach?
Thanks for your helpful tips Charles. Crazy that here in Hobart,Tasmania, we are similar to your climate I just have to remember to swap the months around!
I’m watching this video again because I’m getting new beds ready this spring . I really appreciate it. Well informed.
I live in southeast Louisiana in the USA. I want to use this No Dig method starting with cardboard to kill weeds and cover with compost. Will the cardboard attract cockroaches?
Started a no dig garden for my 78 year old mum and it even got me gardening aswell. Thank you mate for all your free content on this subject. Best regards Don.
What a fabulous channel. So articulate and methodical. Thank you very much, Mr Dowding!
that Dandelion is probably healthier than anything else you plant over it.
The first time you plant in a new bed like this do you lean toward vegetables that are more likely to enrich the soil – peas, for example – or does it matter?
Could you plant perennials immediately into this first-time bed – asparagus, rhubarb, etc – or would you stick to annuals until all the grass and weeds are killed?
Thank you for all the invaluable information.I'm starting no dig for the first time this year. I have covered my allotment for the past few months which was covered thick in weeds. These have now gone. When making no dig beds I see you recommend 4-6 inches of compost. Would 2-3 inches be sufficient to start with or would I be asking for problems later on? Thanks
It's preferable not to plant in compost. The plant roots actually need contact with the soil, that's where the biology lives that's beneficial to the plants live for start. Secondly, for access to moisture, compost acts as a mulch and is the first thing to dry out in hot weather. That said, sometimes there is little choice but to plant in compost, also by the second season the cardboard will be gone so soil contact is achievable.
Hi, Starting my first year on an allotment and have a question about the layout. Our allotment runs down a slight slope east to west at about 12% (7° angle) and was wondering which way we should run our beds. We have trees on the east side which blocks morning sun til about 8am but get full sun from the west until 11pm (That's the Welsh hills for you). I'd like to run the veg beds down the slope but not sure if i'm more thinking about the aesthetics rather than the fact the slight slope and direction of the sun might be a disadvantage as i see a lot people say plant north-south, not east-west.