I wanted to get your thoughts on the no dig gardening method. It used to be super popular, but last year it felt like hardly anyone was talking about it. Have you noticed a drop in interest or usage of this gardening technique? What's your experience been?
3 Answers
I feel like a ton of people got into gardening during and right after COVID, which sparked a lot of conversations about no dig. After trying it, many people have either committed to it or moved on, so there isn't as much chatter. I’ve been doing a modified version of no dig for years, but I’ve noticed it doesn’t really come up in discussions. Have friends of yours been skeptical of it? My coworkers tried it but went back to tilling, claiming it was tough to find good compost.
I've been sticking with no dig for my gardening, but I don’t see it discussed much lately. Have you noticed that some people seem to be recommending double digging now? I think that method just seems like way more work than needed! For me, I follow the Middle Path method where I just make a row, add chicken manure, and cover it with soil conditioner. It’s straightforward, and I avoid using cardboard that might have harmful chemicals in it.
No dig can be tricky; it really demands time and a good supply of compost. It works best if you're patient enough to wait a couple of years for the soil to improve, plus a bit of luck. I tend to use a broad fork occasionally just to loosen the soil a bit, rather than full on tilling. I've had success turning compacted clay into usable soil in a year with the right approach.