Gardening can be hard, especially when it comes to soil preparation. It includes digging, tilling, and many other tasks that are exhausting.
But what if I told you that there’s a method that doesn’t include all this work? It’s commonly known as no-till gardening and it has various benefits.
In this article, I’ll tell you more about this type of gardening, including its advantages and where to begin!
Let’s get started!
More About No-Till Gardening
Growing veggies and fruits becomes way easier when using the no-till technique. The name says it all, there won’t be any tilling or other methods we use when working with the soil.
It’s primarily focused on using wood chips as mulch. This organic method can help you get the desired soil texture, increase fertility, reduce irrigation, and make weeds less of a problem.
Benefits Of Mulch
Many growers ask me what’s so special about mulches and why they are so popular in gardening. To begin with, this method saves water; water will run through the mulch and reach the soil, and mulch will help with retention and prevent soil erosion.
It will also improve the soil and create a thriving environment for beneficial organisms. Remember that, when tilling, you disrupt the natural habitat of these creatures.
Whenever you irrigate over the mulch, it will release the nutrients in the soil and feed your plants.
If you don’t want to spend all your time de-weeding your garden, then put down a layer of mulch because it inhibits weed growth.
And last, but not least, this method will save you time and effort you would otherwise spend on digging, feeding, irrigating, and weeding.
Best Mulch For Your Garden
There are various types of mulches out there and I have pretty much experimented with most of them, but nothing stands a chance against wood chips.
Of course, if you can’t get this material, you can use other types, such as grass clippings, manure, or straw.
Take your time and research how you can get wood chips because they are perfect for no-till gardens and the result will be worth it!
Types Of Wood Chips
As mentioned before, wood chips are the best choice if you want to start a no-till garden. Chipped branches and leaves make an excellent mulch because they add nitrogen and carbon to the soil.
Here are the three most common types you can use in your garden.
Raw Wood Chips
These are basically freshly chipped tree leftovers that weren’t given enough time to decompose. Local tree trimming companies are the prevailing providers of these wood chips, so it is essential to contact them first.
You can add a layer of raw wood chips over the soil, just make sure you never plant veggie seeds directly in mulch but rather in the soil below it.
Composted Wood Chips
Once the tree leftovers are chopped they should be left for at least 3 months to decompose. So if you used fresh wood chips, you need to put them on your soil and leave them until they’re fully decomposed.
They’ll transform into a texture that resembles soil and you can put your veggie seeds directly in that layer.
Screened Wood Chips
Screened wood chips are the third type you can add to your garden. During the process, they were screened through a sieve and they are a perfect choice for veggie seeds.
If you aren’t into all the digging and would like to decrease the number of gardening chores you have to do, then the no-till method is all you need!