Talk:No-dig gardening

Re lasagne merger to here

No-dig gardening dates from the 70's and it seems lasagne gardening is derivative method promoted by a specific group though with similar aims. It can be merged as an offshoot method in its own section but it doesn't seem to distinguish itself from the original method, just a localised version. I'd like "lasagne" to have its own subheading to no-dig and I'd be happy to write it in that way. Any suggestions? Julia Rossi 07:13, 26 February 2007 (UTC)

latest change

Maybe the latest change adding sheet mulching pretty much covers the lasagne method. tks Julia Rossi 02:51, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

weather protection incorrect

The weather actually contributes to the processes engaged in the no-dig method to improve the soil. In other words, the soil needs to be exposed to the weather, not protected from it. The mulch is there to

• prevent or slow down weed growth
• prevent evaporation so as to save from tillage and limit waterings.
• in the case of organic mulches, bring nutrients to the soil (weathering - precisely - and micro-organisms degrade the organic compounds, and worms and other such animals burrow the materials).
• I may have forgotten 1 or 2 uses for the mulch...

Thank you for correcting this. Basicdesign (talk) 05:44, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

digging micro-organisms as fertilizers???

I have removed "Digging allows farmers and gardeners to kill the micro organisms and use their bodies as fertiliser." because

• I can't find anywhere a reference for that.
• "Allows" means it's beneficial - unless you're going for irony but I'm not sure it's appropriate.
• I don't think that the bodymass of micro-orgnisms is high enough to make much difference as a fertilizer, even considering homeopathic effects of micro-nutrients thus released.
• on the other hand I have a vague memory of the demise creating something nasty, can't remember what. Probably releases a bit of carbone to start with, but that's not what upsets the plants.

Please do replace it in the article when you have found a reference for it. Thanks. Basicdesign (talk) 06:14, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

Rewrite

Hopefully the article as it stands today will clarify the technique and take care of the apparent confusion above - see the cited references for further clarification on how a healthy soil functions. Red58bill (talk) 05:28, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

Aeration

Shouldn't the broadfork be mentioned, as well as the principle of this tool. The tool breaks the soil and aerates it, without overturning the soil. I think it complies completely with no-till farming, although perhaps not with no-dig gardening. In most cases, the tool is even indispensable for no-till agriculture. KVDP (talk) 12:43, 15 December 2013 (UTC)