Hey everyone! I recently bought my first home last year, and I'm excited to start working on my garden. I really want to add some in-ground beds around the outside, but I'm a total newbie when it comes to gardening. I've got a few questions about how to get started:
- How deep should I dig for the beds?
- What kind of soil should I put on top?
- How wide should the beds be?
- Is there anything else I need to know?
Thanks a lot! Here's a picture of my garden for reference: https://imgur.com/a/VvjgT3v
2 Answers
It’s great to hear you're diving into in-ground beds! You actually have two main options for your approach:
1. No dig method - which is less labor-intensive and keeps the soil structure intact. Check out this guide from Charles Dowding for a quick overview!
2. Digging - which involves turning over the soil and amending it, as explained here in another guide. I really recommend both methods; they have their benefits!
Definitely! Yes, with no dig, you typically just remove the grass layer and put new soil on top. Digging, on the other hand, requires you to dig deeper and amend the soil completely. There's a lot to consider; it's great that you're exploring your options!
If your home is a new build, you might need to bring in good quality topsoil and compost, as many new builds have poor soil underneath. Ideally, aim for at least 10 cm of good soil to work with, as what’s underneath can sometimes be just rubble.
Yes, it’s a new build, and the soil quality is pretty bad. The grass has struggled a lot, and I'm dealing with dead patches and rot. Going to have a busy year getting it healthier!
Thanks for the insight! I’ve been seeing a lot about raised beds online, so it's nice to find info on in-ground options. Can you explain the main differences between no dig and digging? Is no dig just taking off the top layer of grass and adding new soil?