‘No Dig’ gardening or not turning over your soil is growing in popularity with organic farmers and some gardeners. It is a term used for clearing the ground and establishing a minimum cultivation area without digging.
The substitute for digging is mulching. The garden may be covered with paper or cardboard and topped with a deep layer of compost. Worms will help drag the organic matter down into the soil.
Plastic sheeting is a poor substitute as it brings nothing to the party but stifles weeds.
Alternate layers of manure and straw can help build up the quality of ‘no dig’ soil.
Water well avoid walking on the plot and plan to plant through the mulches with minimum disturbance.
Benefits of Minimum Cultivation
This form of gardening is less labour intensive compared to dig a spit deep or heaven forbid, double digging.
Using a good layer of straw or compost improves soil structure and builds up over the years.
The soil remains in good heart and there should be less soil erosion and runoff
 Beneficial invertebrates, fungi and earthworms will enjoy the lack of disturbance and repay the no dig gardener with increase fertility.
Minimum cultivation reduces the loss of nitrates and reduces leaching.
Less wear and tear on the gardeners back.
The texture of the soil will become darker and crumbly with a good tilth.
Digging can bring up perennial weed seeds that are best left deeper in the soil where light can’t set them into germination.
