by Bob Ewing

Created on: April 08, 2009   Last Updated: April 09, 2009

A wise gardener grows soil. When your soil is healthy the plants you choose will be healthy. The no dig gardening method builds soil.

When you stick you shovel into the ground you disturb the soil community that is essential to the health of your garden. You disrupt the earthworms and the other even smaller beings who are your garden's best friends.

So be wise and do not dig. Instead, do the following:

1- use a hose or some twine to mark out your garden.

2- water this section.

3- cover it with cardboard making sure edges overlap.

4- Water the cardboard.

5- Add compost or other organic material, well rotted manure, chopped leaves, for example.

6- Water.

7- Add soil and more compost, then water.

8- Mulch, there are many materials than can be used as mulch, red cedar bark, rocks, compost, leaves, choose one that suits your site and your means.

9- Plant. Just move the mulch back a bit and put the seeds or seedlings into the soil that you expose.

10- The rest involves you keeping an eye on the garden, watering when needed, checking for anything out of the usual, unwanted visitors, diseases, early detection goes a long way to prevention.

Just as healthy soil leads to healthy plants so does another basic rule, it is the right plant, right place rule. When you place a plant where it will get what it needs to thrive, soil, sun, water and food, it will thrive.

Gardening is not about hard work. Yes it does provide both physical and mental relaxation but what is even more important is that by tending a garden you have the opportunity to renew your connection to Nature and when you follow Nature's example you are following a wise being. The forest requires no one to dig in order to grow, why should your garden,

It will need some tending now and then and certainly will take some time to first set up but the rewards are bountiful and the labour minor.

So give your back a rest and your gardening companions, the earthworms and others a break and don't shove that spade into the ground, instead take the gentle and earth-friendly approach that is the no-dig garden.

The less time you spend digging and preparing the garden bed the more time you have to spend enjoying the fruits of your labour and the time saved lets you sit back and watch the birds, butterflies and bees who will appreciate your efforts as they help your garden grow. Gardening is a cooperative effort and no dig gardening encourages cooperation.

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