Should no dig beds have no digging at all?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by marjoriesseedling, Apr 23, 2015.

  1. marjoriesseedling

    marjoriesseedling Apprentice Gardener

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    I am starting a four bed rotation. One bed that I had genorously applied manure, with the hot recent weather, now has a hard crust. I have not walked on it for six months. It looks like it needs digging over with a fork, but this seems contrary to a no dig arrangement. An alternative would be to buy a Wolf Garten Soil Miller, which is like a mini manual cultivator.

    Any ideas please?
     
    marjoriesseedling, Apr 23, 2015
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  2. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    The idea with No Dig is to pile on the manure before winter, let the earthworms do the hard work, they come to the surface and take down the manure into the soil. If yours looks like it needs forking over before planting then do so, it takes a year or so for No Dig beds to establish as far as I know.
     
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      JWK, Apr 23, 2015
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