Why your garden doesn't need turning to be productive
In short: Stop tilling and start smothering. This guide explains how to use cardboard and compost to kill weeds naturally while creating a nutrient-rich bed for high-yield harvests.
The no-dig method relies on smothering existing weeds by keeping them in the dark until they expire. By laying thick cardboard over a weedy area and covering it with 2 inches of compost in early spring, you create a living mulch that suppresses growth without disturbing the soil structure.
This technique is particularly effective for heavy feeders like potatoes, squash, and zucchini. For example, using this method produced 54kg (119lb) of Charlotte potatoes in one season. While results may be modest in the first year, the system improves significantly over time as the organic matter breaks down.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: No-Dig Gardening for Beginners: Step-by-Step Guide with Cardboard and Compost
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