By Ali Manns
A new resident joined the household this month. One of the hairy, four-legged variety that licks (a lot) and chews (everything). Our dog Rain needed a sibling, and we found him his match at the local shelter. The 5-month-old Kelpie got named Sunny in the adoption process and the two are now inseparable playmates that spin like a tornado of hair through the house.
Sunshine and Rain also shadow me as I work in the garden. Only problem: junior apparently didn’t get the memo about my No Dig approach to making garden beds. If it’s new to you too, set your spade down for a moment and have a read, before you hurt your back.
Work smarter not harder
While I’m a firm believer in working with what you’ve got, sometimes you must admit what you’ve got just isn’t good. In my case, my backyard soil is riddled with shards of rubbish, potentially polluted and definitely devoid of life. For you, it might simply be dense heavy clay that is defeating your growing efforts.
In all cases, instead of digging down to prepare your garden, you will be well served by leaving the soil intact and building upwards. By adding bulky, nutrient-rich materials on top of your forsaken patch, you can accelerate nature’s creation of new, healthy topsoil. It’s better for your back and better for the soil structure. Life will develop within it and healthy plants from it.
Layers upon layers
Firstly, you need multiple layers of cardboard to kill off unwanted grass and weeds beneath your new bed. If you are starting a bed from scratch on a lawn you can first mow the area very low. I get my cardboard for free locally from a small supermarket that sets it aside for me on stock night. Remove any labels and tape before placing it in thick overlapping layers on the ground. This ensures no light gets through to the weedy plants beneath. Soak it thoroughly with the hose, or time this step to coincide with a rain shower.
The next layer should be a balanced mixture of the brown and green materials you’d usually put in the compost bin. It will gradually decompose along with the cardboard to provide a slow release of nutrition and organic matter to the developing soil.
Next is a layer of manure. This can be old bedding from any chooks or pocket pets at home, or cow manure, chook poo pellets and the like from the garden centre.
Then, spread a layer of that compost you’ve been making all year. You can plant into this layer if it is deep enough and the compost sufficiently mature, or you might want to go higher again with a further layer of purchased soil. Right on top be sure to add a thick mulch to keep the moisture in. Plant away and annually refresh.
At my place, I’ve added wood chip paths around my beds. I’m hoping puppy picks up the cue and keeps his paws out of my veggie patch. It is no place for digging of any kind.
