Conquer Weeds the No-Dig Way: Insights from Charles Dowding

Charles demonstrates and explains two methods of clearing weeds to grow vegetables, without digging soil or removing any weeds or soil. Mulches were applied at his Homeacres garden during the past 6-12 months, and you see the results: crops taken, while soil is being cleared of weeds, some of which were vigorous perennials.
The polythene can be any colour, usually black and must be UV treated, so that it doesn't go brittle and break in sunlight. Up to 1 mm thick so that light cannot pass through.
Homeacres is in southern UK zone 8 climate, mild and oceanic.
See my online Course 1 for a lot of information about clearing weeds, and more videos charlesdowding...
See my website for more details about no dig charlesdowding...
Filming and editing by Edward Dowding edowdingfilms...., July to October 2016 .
When you make a purchase of products I recommend, please use this link to my page on Crocus tidd.ly/44dEU7d, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support.
MORE FROM CHARLES
To buy one of my online courses charlesdowding...
To buy a book charlesdowding...
To join an in person Day or Weekend course at Homeacres charlesdowding...
To join my channel as a member, use this link / @charlesdowding1nodig
As a member, you can watch a new video each month, which is exclusively for members. Your payments support my promotion and teaching of better, easier gardening. I can offer bursaries for day courses and online courses, through individuals in charge of community gardens/allotments and school gardens. Contact us through my website to enquire about bursaries charlesdowding...
To buy the module trays I designed with Containerwise, use this link containerwise....
The Refill Room also hold stock of the module trays, www.refillroom...
The Farm Dream for buying trays in Europe thefarmdream.c...
To buy t-shirts and hoodies with my exclusive no dig designs, use this link charlesdowding...
For fleece and mesh supplies Charles recommends Gardening Naturally www.paidonresu...
#nodig #weeding #nodiggardening #growyourownveggies #growyourownfood

[@Desflurane123]

I could listen to this dude read names out of a phone book

[@healthyherbalist8376]

💯 All....DAY!

[@elizabethsessions4486]

LMAOOO 🤣

[@AllderHouse]

YES!

[@willowz22]

I think he’s the happiest man I’ve ever seen. 🙂

[@Agui007]

So down to 🌍👌🏼😊

[@arriesone1]

When the world is in turmoil (March 2020) I watch a Charles Dowding video and I am at peace....

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Gah I must try that 😃and thanks

[@siangriffiths3818]

Me too.

[@1mollymom]

I so agree!

[@kice6]

Me too. Thank you Charles. Your good and kind heart really shines through and lifts us up.

[@patrciaclemons8183]

Or when you get a wife!

[@johnnierichardson1771]

I wish everyone were as happy and contented as this gentleman!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, the answer is in the soil :)

[@ESCAPINGTHEMATRIXFORGOOD]

working with nature and being outside calms, sooth the soul and makes you happy ! out side this way of life not so much !

[@alisonforrester4612]

I’m never happier than when my hands are in the soil! I watch your videos over and over Charles.Thank you. I hope ‘no dig’ this year will keep the bindweed down.... took over my allotment in October, looking forward to Spring....

[@magicpitt64]

Charles is awesome!

[@Ginny2708]

I'm in my second year of no dig gardening and it's completely changed my whole approach to growing. It works!

[@parajacks4]

Me too. Getting a wood chipper has meant I’ve always got plenty of compost to mulch with.

[@HFD1234561]

From Kenya, I'm inspired and constantly learning from you

[@patrciaclemons8183]

Whatchu gonna grow in Kenya?

[@Deowane]

I guess you should grow trees with your vegetables to retain moisture and shade

[@rebeccamuchiri8993]

@@Deowane 😀😀 Kenya is not dry, it's a beautiful place. Welcome to Kenya to see our beautiful country. It's only semi arid mostly in northern side.

[@erinobrien8408]

Hey Kenya - Hello from Uganda!! This man's videos have completely changed the way I grow food and herbs!!

[@erinobrien8408]

@@chiefearthhealer8099 Perfectly said! Thank you! 🙏 Namaste

[@jimmymac383]

Charles is very easy to listen to he has years of experience in no dig gardening and I enjoy every video he has put on KZbin and I AM trying to get his books my garden is no dig thanks to Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks and I wish you well James

[@jimmymac383]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks for the reply will keep watching for new videos 😁

[@baganthekerannaghor8161]

I can’t stop watching. Learning something every day. 15 years ago I had a allotment full of long grass to start with . I was a new gardener and had very little knowledge about gardening. But learned a lot from neighbours.Funny thing is when I started it seems crossing a ocean because of the grass. When I managed to discover some of the soil found very hard to dig . then I decided to put compost on the top and start planting. With in few months I started to harvest. No one was doing this kind of garden in that allotment apart from me. I was doing it because I couldn’t dig 😀. I didn’t even think I was doing something amazing. Now I know . All credit goes to you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear, you knew all along!

[@baganthekerannaghor8161]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you . Actually I didn’t know . It just happened because of the situation. I just learned from you that it’s a very effective way of gardening for everyone. And I learned that there is a way of gardening called’No dig’.😀

[@zachking5138]

The Bob Ross of gardening.... Amazing! Captivating, informative, and artistic as always. Thank you Charles 🙏

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you Zach

[@opencoop4268]

Option 3 ;-) sheet mulch. Put down cardboard and then 2-3' of organic material (compost, veggie scraps, straw, wood chips, grass clippings, etc). Of course this way takes a while to break down, but preparing in fall can be a fun thing to do.

[@Tawadeb]

Thanks

[@patricialanza223]

Here I am again, watching and listening to your gentle wisdom. I have to think you inspire so many people with your easy going videos. I know everything you talk about works and folks just have to trust you when you tell them about no digging. When I began my no dig gardens I shocked myself with how successful they were. I don't use plastic or landscape cloth but I do use cardboard or thick pads of newspaper as the worms just love it. But then I don't have anyone to help me move an old tarp or I might use that also. Thanks for all the good advice.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is nice to hear Patricia, thanks, word is getting out!

[@vnickcolvin4971]

Patricia, What did you put on top of your cardboard?

[@patymoonkaraoke]

You epitomize what a human is. I started growing this year, the back yard looks like a Farrm (my last name is Farr lol). I've never felt more connected to my true self, than I do now. Thank you for your humility, inspiration and wonderful info.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah cool thanks, and by Farr the nicest compliment I have received. I am happy to hear that gardening has connected you, we all so need that

[@patymoonkaraoke]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig I see what ya did there. 😄👌🌱

[@iestynjones5796]

Charles, you're an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

[@winnersedgeinternational3642]

You are very inventive and skilled but what can a person do with clay soil?

[@melindalancaster9648]

SHOWDOWN add compost or wood chips

[@alanromeril2772]

New movies

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

He is amazing and so happy I found his channel a few months ago. I have been a gardener for about 6 Years and love to see what he has going on in his garden. He is such a great guy and I love the way he speaks and gives such an inspiration to me to keep doing what I want to do and have my dream garden and property one day like he has. His home and land is beautiful and such Serenity I feel when I look at it and I hope to have that one day myself.

[@TD-wi1zh]

@@winnersedgeinternational3642 I've used the same basic techniques he uses with his "No Dig" gardening, or with the "Ruth Stout" (I think that's the name) methods - basically putting mulch and/or compost down in a thick layer and growing from there. You may wish to add worms to whatever you put down as well, when you start a new patch. I currently have "clay" that is sprouting a great deal of fruit and veg, simply by dumping piles of straw on the ground, then compost on top of that, then more mulch to keep the weeds out and the worms in.

[@ayina114]

Thank you for the info sir. I just started to plant my own vegetables. And watching your video is giving me so many information. I live in tropics. Here many gardeners use plastics and raised bed because the weeds is crazy. Before they use this technique, they use conventional dig method. One of the farmer I know said that he ever dig up to 1 meter and the weed root still going deeper. Then the govt farming division give presentation & guidance to local farmer and know their crops is really great. One thing is that they are kind of lazy making compost, only few 100% organics. Mostly too much depend on manufactured one. And thats the reason why I started to grow my own veggies.

[@christinebeauchamp3115]

Thank you Charles. I love your gentle, easy going manner. I've learned so much from you. This year I established raised beds. . no dig. Also have most of your books and watch everything from you that I can on KZbin. I'm so grateful. . now if I can only keep the bunnies from it. . . You truly are an inspiration. . . I add to what is said below. . Thank you for sharing your wisdom, insight and knowledge.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Christine, and good luck dealing with the rabbits!

[@melovescoffee]

I was always against using plastic in the garden but i changed my stance on that lately. I had a large piece i wanted for the squashes but it was so heavily infested with hops, i could do nothing with it. In desperation i just covered the whole area with weedfabric, cut a few holes and haven't had a problem with the hops there. The squashes were abundant and beautiful. The fabric was as good as invisible most of the growing season.

[@mtolboom]

What was your initial reasoning against plastic? I want to try plastic but i feel it would not be natural. As the ground also needs light and air? UV stable, does this imply it lets in some light?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

From the healthy growth of plants, and fine soil condition when I remove polythene after 4-6 months, it looks that soil has plenty of air. UV is ultraviolet and means the polythene does not go brittle in sunlight, it stays in one piece.

[@irunamuk]

melovescoffee Me too. When I moved in my house the previous owners had apparently put down plastic under the mulch in all the garden beds, years later weeds grew anyway and I spent months digging out shreds of plastic from beds I wanted to plant. Maybe I'll try leaving it on top tho.

[@BigPerm6999]

indeed I have always been against the use of ground cover like this as I considered it a breeding ground for pests such as slugs. I lay poly down for just a couple of weeks and pull it back to find hundreds of slug eggs and slugs and thats the last thing i want to breed right next to my crops hehe, so I collect them up and carry them 1mile+ away from my plot. I refuse to follow my neigbours advise to berry slug pellets with the roots of growing crops, seems a little counter productive to me when I want clean food.

[@GOTTshua]

Give your slugs to chickens.

[@paulnjulia]

Great ambassador of No dig, looking forward to following your guidance over the coming years, my first year has already resulted in my no-dig bed outperforming all other beds on my allotment. Thanks for sharing all your experience.

[@joeclooney1997]

What an admirable chap, a wealth of knowledge about the most important of subjects, great channel

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Couldn't agree more

[@dieterbrummund2273]

I was skeptical about no-dig, but results speak for themselves! Alot alot less work than digging everything up!

[@fishmut]

Dieter Brummund ..? Why where you sceptical, it’s a no brainer unless you like weeding day and night, do it right and you won’t look back .

[@ludmilaevdokimova6968]

Не на русском,но всё понимаю,спасибо.

[@AllderHouse]

Have never watched a video without giving it a thumbs up. Thank you Charles for all you do!!! 👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@ebramcsilla]

I apply this method, covering soil with cut cardboard boxes. I even toss weed on them. It works well, cleans the soil and even provides some compost.

[@mbharatm]

That's a great idea too! Thanks for sharing it! Plus the earthworms will like it as well! :)

[@susanlecuirot1573]

Good morning Charles. I’m a new allotmentier, started last year and following your no dig method. I have recently placed cardboard on my empty vegetables plots ready for next year and had a sneaky peek yesterday! I was chuffed to see there were no weeds but unfortunately loads of slugs! 😮What should I do? 🤦‍♀️ Looking forward to hearing from you 🙂 Thanks in advance Sue Tisbury Wiltshire

[@tetteviben]

@@susanlecuirot1573 bring in the ducks they'll do justice to the slugs.

[@carlomezzatesta4659]

Hi Charlie, I have used an old wool carpet. Not synthetic. The ground can still breathe let water in and block out the light and in the spring just roll it up.

[@ingerhaugland6763]

Oh that looks great! Love how calm and happy you seem, and how clearly you explained everything. :)

[@hitachicm721f]

He's a very relaxed dude.

[@PeacefulCountryLife]

I'd say he's high, but that's just me :)

[@Upgradezz]

The Name Is Irrelevant in a way yeah

[@MK-sk2mi]

He high af🎄🎄

[@patymoonkaraoke]

@@PeacefulCountryLife I see nothing wrong with that.

[@PeacefulCountryLife]

@@patymoonkaraoke who said that's a bad thing ? :)

[@williamcox3412]

Aside from the gardening information, I tune in because Charles is such a class act. Delightful! Time well spent.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks William

[@etiennelouw9244]

Up to this year I was growing a lovely lawn in my back yard, lots of care went into this. Now I decided to start a veggie garden. This lawn is made off 2 tough grasses and the only way to get rid of it is to dig it out so I started doing that and covering the area with cardboard. Being an impatient person I then cut holes into the cardboard and put grow tubes ( made from soda bottles) into the holes and putting my seeds into the grow tubes. It is producing Veggies and some marigold plants and as I go along I am slowly planting more and more. I expect to harvest quite a bit this year and try to grow up to 30 percent of my veggies next year. I am planning to do a lot more like planting fruit trees (From cuttings) as well with 4 into the garden so far.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Very methodical!

This man is constantly happy :-)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Vaclav

[@terribletanner805]

He's phenomenally wealthy. He owns a sixteen-room mansion guarded by a ten-foot wall. He doesn't have to worry about miscreants pulling his plants out, salting his garden and vandalising his greenhouse, for no reason. He never needs to fear the thief who breaks in to steal his carpets, because his floors are decked with only the finest planks of the extinct Yubugata tree, priced at £100k per plank. And, the ten foot wall, of course.

[@margaretd3710]

Terrible Tanner - So what? Even if we take what you say - without showing any proof - as true, so what? What he does with his money is his business. And good for him if he lives in a safe neighborhood! We all want to live where it's safe, so that's not a negative. His information on growing vegetables is absolutely phenomenal. And I, for one, am very glad to watch and learn from him.

[@terribletanner805]

Margaret D - You misunderstand. I think it's great that he lives in a fortress, far away from the delinquents who would seek to destroy every single aspect of his life, just to see him miserable. All I wanted was a nice garden. But they just had to put fifteen randomly-placed anti-social dwellings in the neighbourhood, didn't they? The 'chavs' caught me planting a single rose, and ever since they've been dumping entire barrels of radioactive waste all over my garden. Police can't do anything because "We can't discriminate against them because they've got an extensive criminal record."

[@billastell3753]

I hear you Terrible Tanner. It is easier to be happy when a person isn't weighed down by worry and oppression. I am fortunate myself to live some distance from the bad in people. I wish everyone could be, if not rich, at least feel safe to go about their peaceful interests without abuse.

[@denisebarreto2570]

I use make my compost from my habits of Brazil food,lots bananas, eggs,carrots,etc...I use coffee, and papers from coffee too!tanks for all the sharing

[@PassportToPimlico]

Everyone seem to love the lasagne method of no dig beds but your methods are much simpler.

[@pattiday431]

Since I have clay soul and a bad back I can't dig. I have turned to container gardening, but would love to try no dig. Your garden is so lush and lovely, and you make it seem very do-able.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and have a go Patti, I am sure you will love it

[@TD-wi1zh]

I've been working on a patch of land that is less than an inch of top soil, then clay and rotten rock under that. Very hard to work, and in previous years I've spent up to 2 hours with a rotary hoe to get a square yard of 'usable' space. Since I've learned this method of gardening (much thanks Mr Dowding - though I found your videos by accident they've been life changing!) I've not had to hire the hoe, and have vastly expanded the garden area (and the success rate!) with much less work. First, I put some wood around the edge (offcuts from fence posts that I got for free), then some commercial compost in as a base, planted, and then a mulch of hand-pulled grass or weeds (the lawn mower leaks oil so I won't use that on areas near food crops) and also the droppings from the pear and apple trees (fruit that has fallen that's not ripe or otherwise damaged), and partial-compost from kitchen waste etc. Partly using what I believe is called the "Ruth Stout" method combined with 'No Dig'. Stuff is just racing away, except my capsicum but that's probably because I was watering it too often. As I had very little available compost to start from, I got some large buckets with lids that seal and gave these to friends for their kitchen scraps. I've got 2 large compost bins and about to build #3 and #4. I'm hoping to encourage a couple of these people to start making their own gardens, now they can see how easy it is. BTW, I'm someone who has always had a passionate hatred of eating vegetables, even often identifying as a "meatatarian". To put it simply, I've been taste-testing my own produce to make sure it's up to standard. Most of it is grown for some pensioners, to help them keep their costs down, but I've been finding that I'm also enjoying things I used to absolutely hate. For a start, I know how it's been grown and I know there's no pesticides, no chemicals, clean ground and nothing nasty or 'yucky' gone into making it. One way to get people eating more veges, get them growing their own food first!

[@TD-wi1zh]

Should also mention that this land had absolutely NO worms in it a few months back. I got a few dozen from a friend's land, and now the areas I've been working have abundant insect life.

[@StaceyHerewegrowagain]

Love watching all your videos. You have such great land and give me such inspiration and motivation to have a garden and home like you one day!. Your home is beautiful and I love the way you share all your tips! You have such a way of speaking and bringing a smile to my face!! Thank you for sharing as always, I love the information I get from you even though I've been gardening quite a bit for about 6 years now.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Stacey, I am happy to hear that! May your garden be amazing.

[@bettyescookingchannel]

Thanks for your tips on two ways to clear weeds.

[@debiulrey-crosby4520]

I have used LOTS of old horse manure to cover a grassy/weedy area then covered with multiple layers of straw and planted raspberries. Now after watching this video I'm going to plant onions in all the open areas too (until the raspberries take off and spread). I'm also going to use your method #1 to cover a very difficult area with way too many weeds, especially bindweed that I've been fighting for 15+years. And will plant pumpkins and other squash over the area. Thanks for the tips. Can't wait to see the results.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Exciting, wish you well!

[@KISTOVI]

excellent. Im doing both this year. we have so much of weeds from un cared neighbourghood land. so gratefull for this tehnics

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Well done, nice that you can do both methods

[@marzenamichalczak7559]

Super 👍. Greetings from Poland 🙌 💚 .

[@awinbisa]

These videos are the cure to stress

[@michelles1517]

Very good I covered my garden with tarp and cardboard after 1 month raked the weeds up very easily. Planted my seeds hopefully 🙏 they will grow.

[@owenbrondo]

Mr dowding , you are my happy place! 🥰

[@PawPawMountain]

Thanks Charles, really love watching your gardening methods. You have a Beautiful Garden! Thanks for Sharing with Us!!......David

[@bohemiansoul7856]

Hello , Am from Assam , India..... I love your videos , I always watch your videos , one thing , Your garden is amazing , i like it so much , i have a dream to make an amazing garden in near future.....

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to hear and I wish you every success

[@risasb]

Well explicated. This works fine. We got 24 very good years, tons of veg out of our no-dig before the bindweed overcame us. Right now the affected area is in chooks, and they seem to go after bindweed and even mallow when it is still very young and tender.

[@marielabenitez8355]

Charles, you inspired me, thank you for all!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

My pleasure Mariela, nice to hear

[@L6FT]

You let the snail go. That's some serious love for nature. Best to you :-)

[@xroth4855]

fujisaii he squashed the slug

[@luannalovell]

I free the slugs and snails...to my detriment later lol

[@jimmason1072]

Yes and he put it back in roughly the same spot....🤗

[@buddingnaturalist]

They clean up the understory by munching through mostly dead/dying/aged stuff. As long as you don't have dark areas with leaves touching the ground your plants should be ok. Having said that, there are some terrible invasive ones around the world which need destroying as the local birds/animals do not eat them. Australia has quite a few issues with introduced and invasive species messing up the local ecology..

[@malakingdude]

Im constantly supplimentimg with vermicompost with 50% coconut fiber which makes soil in-opportune for weeds so far. I welcome a ddndilion for salads which grow next to european nettle for the same purpose. We dont have thatvexact nettle growing wild here of itself so soneone sent me seeds. Love your channel I'm always thumbs up and subscribed of course. I enjoy the asdprtnen TV of useful information from you, a nicr brit lady who uses hay and the NJ USA young gent who like a thick layer of wood chips.

[@GreenShortzDIY]

Thanks for this video. I have been using no dig methods, but wasn't sure about the proper ratios. I enjoyed the Homeacres garden tour video as well.

[@julieyee2003]

Just picked up refrigerator and dishwasher cardboard boxes today. Am looking forward to putting down more cardboard this winter. Thank you for the video!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful Julie

[@barbarahollis3246]

just a thought...young dandelion leaves r good in a salad, their light green & tender. I'm now in Florida, but when in Pa., they were the first thing I found under my rotting leaves one spring, I didn't know then, they were editable...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh yes Barbara, and if you like bitter leaves, they are a fine addition to many dishes, probably full of nutrition too thanks to the deep roots. At their best in late winter here when other leaves are scarce.

[@HerrSchwaar]

You dont konw, how i like the englisch garderners . Greetings from Saxon/Germany.😊

[@deborahlacy7031]

Thank you Charles. You inspire so many of us to be self sufficient.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful Deborah!

[@DraeBox]

I learned a lot from this video. Thank you, Charles! I'm just getting into gardening as an adult (did it as a kid, but I was nicknamed "Black Fingers" because the seedlings I'd plant usually failed compared to my siblings'). I have a perfect patch where I've been battling weeds for 2-3 years which is near my raspberry bush/stalk, so I'm going to try this in that patch and grow some onions and perhaps some tomatoes. Maybe some basil too if there's enough room without making the plants fight for nutrients. Thank you again for sharing your knowledge. I discovered you through Epic Gardening and Nature's Always Right, as they credit you a lot for their knowledge :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to read this, and now your fingers/thumb are turning green :)

[@familygarlick179]

To keep my polytunnle worm at night I put 6 5galon water container beetween cucumber and it works well from Roger

[@stephenriley9084]

Charles, Very interesting. I will employ method 1 on an unruly part of an allotment we have just taken over! Regards Stephen.

[@mbharatm]

I love the *relaxed* happy way you share information. Everything from the title music, to the beautiful garden beds, makes me feel good. There is a lot of info out there, but I love the way you share yours!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Bharat, and I am encouraged to hear this because we always seek to bring the beauty of the vegetables and garden into the videos, its important, as well as the information.

[@KompostLiebe]

It works! People sometimes don´t believe it. Most people dont have some square meters of good compost. But your can get a lot of fresher stuff easily. From cutting Trees and Bushes, grass cut, from the chickens or other animals. It´s nice to connect with some neighbors, some are so happy to get rid off there organic "waste". They thank me for taking it :) So i get a lot off fresh material for compost and for area surface composting too.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear and I agree, organic material is best, nice to use the wastes of others!

[@KompostLiebe]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Now I know what it realy feels like, if you get an answer to fanpost! And I want you autograph on my poking stick (or how your call the stick you / we use)! Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

How funny - and it's a dibber!

[@KompostLiebe]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thanks Sir! On my dibber! The dibber is like a paintbrush and you can create this colorful eatable pictures. My English is OK I guess but, i am lacking most off the technical terms, in the Videos. So much to learn and I want to understand everything fluid, so now I train my English and learn about Gardening :)

[@Roman-jh8kr]

I am completely a newbie and spent my first day in my allotment. I was told by my fellow growers not to put grass in the compost bin but you are saying grass cuts are fine for making compost. Is it okay to put grass in the compost bin?

[@wearethegardenmakersuk9963]

Great, just about to embark on a two plot allotment site this will come in handy.

[@denisegarcia2760]

I like your videos, they are very inspiring. A curiosity: Dandelion leaves are edible as salads ... Try it, they're yummy!

[@charlenekociuba7396]

Some time ago, you showed how to use an old rug and that is what use. I lay it down, throw garden and kitchen scraps under, some leaves too which decompose. When I need a new area, I start again. I have an area I called my "no dig" and I put in whatever I can find, ( uphill from road so options have to light). Now I discovered, I have to remove shrubs, vines and maybe a tree or two because the area does not get a good deal of Sun. This is happening next week so I hope things improve. It's a disappointing year as I intended and tried to plant many wanderers like pumpkin, squash and watermelon. This area was forgotten for most of the time I have it because it is uphill, hard to climb. So to try again and fail, well it gives me determination to overcome. Ir'a my retirement plan to grow much more of my own food. I love your videos but there is much more to gardening than having a no dig, the conditions must work too.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

This is interesting Charlene and I wish you well, you have some difficult conditions

[@castleofcostamesa8291]

Thank you very much !! I will seriously consider what you teach as I plan out my Fall lettuce beds. I appreciate it! Love from a Southern California residential food forest

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds amazing

[@allsorts4041]

Love any info on no dig...I do this in my allotment garden :) Darn Weeds!

[@donhainsworth2097]

Thank you Charles very helpful.

[@anilkapur1584]

You make life simple, waiting to implement the plastic sheet method for my quashes in the next season. I have read three of your books and soon will be on the next one. As of now re-reading the points that I highlight in the first three books so that it really sinks in. Will start your online course as soon as winter gets midway here, then I should be free from many of the changes that we bringing to the farm, it will be a more pleasant looking Organic Garden.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad to help Anil, yes there is still plenty to do. Good idea to read two or three times!

[@ClearTheDeck]

Thanks very much Charles. I am excited to be implementing Option 1 on a grassy and weedy patch right now. Here in Canada, I'm a few weeks behind the schedule you describe. This weekend, I rolled back the plastic, top dressed with a compost mix over the dying weeds, and re-covered. One thing you don't discuss in the video is watering with Option 1. I suppose you must water each plant through its hole in the plastic, using a watering can? Something I did was to lay down a soaker hose before re-covering with the plastic. This way, I hope to be able to water simply by turning on a tap (with apologies to conservationists who shun the tap). Assuming it works alright, I thought this might be a helpful "enhancement" to share.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

It's a good idea. Here, even when the summer is quite dry, enough rain filters into the planting holes, also the plastic helps retain a lot of moisture so apart from watering in the new plants, I leave them unwatered.

[@ClearTheDeck]

Reporting back that we had a wonderful harvest from this approx 150 sq ft garden. We harvested 40lb of Waltham butternut and 65lb of Thelma Sanders acorn squash (2 plants each). We also got some yellow beans and snap peas earlier in the season. I am very pleased with our first season's harvest from this previously unproductive space.

[@aminguyen8065]

Thank you for this video. Have a wonderful day .😀👍🌺✈️💐

[@elizabethcartner2005]

I can't say much, just , Brilliant, I will be doing this too. thank f or showing this method.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Elizabeth and go to!

[@LarsEelke]

I tried two methods. 1st- remove top layer with grasses and weeds, then cover with 6-7cm compost. 2nd- Just put 6-7cm compost on top of the grass. Conclusion- no big differences! Slightly more weeds with 2nd method in the first year. The second is a whole lot easier though 🙃 Love the no dig approach

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Great to hear this L D, most interesting, the easier way is, well, easier!

[@auntfanny3266]

Extraordinary! I was only wondering today if this would work against bindweed. I didn't mention it to anyone, didn't Google it, haven't been watching gardening vids, and it just appeared. Spooky! But really great. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice confirmation!!

[@danutahachlica9318]

Bardzo dziękuję za ten film 🤗❤️

[@halinaozynska1778]

Danusiu on utwierdził mnie w moich wcześniejszych poczynaniach.Kopać pod cukinię, która potrzebuje tyle miejsca , że na grządce mieszczą się trzy ?

[@richardwest6593]

Just get some chickens on it for 4 weeks and they will do everything apart from planting up.

[@mariaterezadosanjosferreir4703]

Thank you for a most instructive video. Short and concise but highly instructive to a gardening novice

[@duffgen62]

The video that got me going on my allotment crusade. I now grow Crown Prince vertically. Great fun and rewarding too.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah nice to hear, and your support structure is strong for the weight of fruit

[@mark1952able]

Smart man! Been using old plastic dropclothes for yrs to do the same.

[@pakyeh9]

Dear Charles. I tried the no dig gardening in the tropics of Malaysia. There are some success and some failure.Succes during the dry season and failure during the raining season. I suppose I must make a drain on both sidea of the bad making it a half no dig garden. I suppose you have less rain there and therefore your success.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hello Pak Yeh Yeh and thanks for your comments. Actually I find that no dig works well on clay soil in wet years (say 20cm/month). If water is lying, digging does not help: two old ladies said in a wet winter that their no dig allotments were the only tow not under water!

[@pakyeh9]

Thanks for your reply. It does not work in the rainy season in the tropics. It does work in the semi dry/wet season though. I AM ORGANICS Vlog has experimented and proven this. You probablt correct if the soli is loded with root systems that absorb a lot of water.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for the info, all helpful

[@aguerard8188]

Pak Yeh Yeh .dig a well under the soil and smooth the dirt into a bowl.... before planting. fill with dirt or compost... covers will dry or collect moisture based on how much sun and hear in area

[@aguerard8188]

look for permaculture and forest gardening... tree guilds

[@kevinmilnr1738]

Hello iv just acquired a patch on an allotment, although every patch of growing is growing abundantly there are no worms ,nowhere ,this is quite a big allotment that has been going for over 50 years and always good crops ,can you do an episode on compaction and lack of worms plz ,new to allotment gardening ,enjoy your videos and learn so much

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Kevin and good luck. I expect the worms were killed by fertilisers and chemical sprays and slug pellets. You cn rebuild the population, using mulches of compost, follow my outline to kill weeds where necessary, by mulching.

[@plantmeddoterra2850]

I’ve started a no dig 16x16 at my new home for this summer. I plan on preparing a 50x25 area for next year to also share with my neighbors. I really enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, that sounds great and I wish you fine harvests

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

This was very enlightening!

[@cobbybarzillai-vandapuye6433]

God! I love this man! 😍😍❤️😘

[@irispottery6474]

This is "life" simple but always the best

[@NJ-xp4eb]

Thanks for the tips I was not aware of the damage even small amounts of digging can do to the soil longterm so no dig is perfect I have used old rugs previously with some good success

[@ToxicVaccines_HivHoax]

Great ideas, making hard work easy!!

[@TsetsiStoyanova]

I am only watching this kinds of videos now

[@kiranr5514]

Me too😁

[@fulanodetal9442]

Hola hermosura..tanta carne y yo vegetariano..🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪

[@MontikarnMoungnoy]

🥰The vegetables in your garden are so fresh that I immediately wanted to cook them when I saw this clip.55555

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely comment thanks, hope you can grow some

[@lynnmacro3044]

You said you didn’t know of many creatures that eat broadbands beans; I found last year that badgers love broad beans. When they had exhausted the potatoes on the allotment plots around where I grow, they then tackled my peas and broad beans.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah Lynn I am sorry to hear that, can only imagine the devastation. I did once have a badger smell the peas in my polytunnel and it blasted a hole through the polythene! Difficult animals for a gardener.

[@faustacruzadosarmiento5084]

Por favor subtitulado al español gracias.

[@beckyezra1]

Thank you .

[@batintheattic7293]

I like your style. I dumped the contents of my compost bin on a patch of stony/weedy ground early summer and I sewed it with wild flower, rambling rose, sunflower seeds.. Well - they are growing but so are the nettles and plantain. Frankly - I hold little hope for them flowering this year. However, this year's compost bin will go on the patch in the spring and I will sew again. Wish me luck.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear and try laying cardboard on the ground next spring, before the compost on top, to slow the weeds pushing up from below. Then keep pulling any little weeds you see, develop a habit. Then the fun begins.

[@rosameneses7593]

IT IS REALLY EXCELENT. CONGRATULATIONS. !!!!!!! I want to do this in my place . You make it look really easy and I fall in love with your method. Thank you for showing us this great way to plant.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You can do it! Thanks, and it is easy, once you understand the principles.

[@MinibiteTran]

Gotta subscribed his channel 😋 Oh well no dig then must start composting

[@goatwarrior3570]

Option 3. Napalm.

[@deborahcox1289]

🤣🤣

[@obviouslytwo4u]

I contacted my local tree surgeons and I now go to collect the bark and use it to get rid of weeds I've also planted in the bark allowing the roots to go all the way down to the soil and cover the stem with bark and I have had zero weed problems also no I have had no slug issue either. Just Beatles on my peas and a aphids on my artichoke plants which the Ants are farming, sat there for a few hours watching them was quite entertaining I also learnt the reason for aphids it is a sign of over fertilizing giving your plants too much food your plants excrete it through the leaves which parasites smell, so in Theory they pump it out of the plant to save the plant.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Jamie good to hear that

[@cristinaleonard60]

Thanks very much!! I love how you explain it very simple and practical!! You do not make a big deal!! All that make sense! Hugs!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Cistina, yes gardening can be simple, great you like that

[@anisahkasim3305]

Can I ask, how do you water the plants then? Into the hole?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Anisah, water from rain percolates into the holes, often enough as the polythene holds moisture. Put the sheet on when soil is moist. Yes sometimes, simply direct water to the hole with hose or can.

[@psytek1978]

wa bout where doesnt rain from may to october? welcome to sicily!

[@Gardeninggirl1107]

same here in so California - it's only rained a couple times so far this year.

[@jamesbeautyman8435]

Hi Charles With the current status with getting hold of compost with the no dig way could you still use cardboard and put normal soil on top would that be just as good.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is a way, only soil has much less goodness and more weed seeds than compost. Good luck with finding whatever you can.

[@iangauntlett1047]

Another excellent video. Two questions: 1. Squash are thirsty plants. How do they get water? Only small holes in plastic for planting? 2. Do you leave the plastic on for subsequent years or only first to suppress weeds?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good questions and enough of the rain which falls goes into the planting holes. Also plastic conserve existing moisture. Remove it at the end of summer, after taking harvests so it's for one summer, and then roll it up to reuse somewhere else if it's needed

[@iangauntlett1047]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you. I’ve been struggling with a patch of “horror” for years so we’ll give it a go.

[@lucindamarks8439]

Hi Charles! I'm from South Africa, and I just love your garden!!!!!Good for you!!!!Lucinda

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Lucinda, cheerful comment!

[@denisela3403]

So how do you keep the bugs out?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Which bugs do you mean?

[@supinwesamula8214]

Nice

[@HonestlyTho-ThePodcastShow]

does anyone know what plastic does to the plants

[@jimbojim4767]

Just blocks out the sun light so they starve to death basically

[@mbharatm]

This'd be HDPE, so it's not going to leach in in anytime less than 5-7 years at the minimum. Since the plants cover it up in a few weeks, it doesn't really even get the usual amount of sun required to degrade it over time. So I'd say you don't really have to worry on that front. Buy good high density tarp though!

[@wildrangeringreen]

except for the glue in the cardboard... and possibly the ink in the paper...

[@EmmaSolomano]

Newspaper and cardboard aren't natural, although organic matter they're processed and have bleaches, inks, etc. they won't cause any likely problems, but neither will plastic.

[@mat77084]

How do the plants get water through the plastic?

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Really helpful video - this is the year I'm determined to do No Dig properly and at the moment there are humongous weeds

[@nigelperry8863]

So, the best answer is to make a depression around each plant to catch the water. Or, lay irrigation piping before you put the plastic down. Either way, it's the best way to grow stuff, and eliminate bindweed in particular, the bane of my life!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Depends on your average rainfall, if v small in summer either idea could work

[@TexanInTheUK1]

Will this work on stinging nettles? I have about 1/3 acre forest of it to remove.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes option 1, polythene, ideally from late winter to late summer.

[@TexanInTheUK1]

Charles Dowding Thank you. I'll definitely be doing this as I'm fed up with wasting my time pulling it out by hand. Cheers!

[@MarcellaSmithVegan]

Dry them and sell them as a dried herb! Lots of folks make Nettle Infusions and such as a way to knock down allergy reactions including dark rings under the eyes. Of course wear gloves during harvesting and dry them out on a tarp or such

[@TexanInTheUK1]

+VeganMarcella andMore That's a brilliant idea. Thanks!

[@MarcellaSmithVegan]

I just bought 2 pounds of Dried Nettles for $40. If you make it look professional you could sell them easy on Ebay

[@luannalovell]

you r such a cutie :) and I love your vids

[@danesstang9307]

Stalker

[@luannalovell]

@@danesstang9307 twat

[@dosadnizub]

You can use heavy cardboard for the same purpose, added benefits are: 1) it's somebody's trash 2) it allows rain-water to reach the ground in the form of diffuse moisture - it doesn't beat up the surface and it protects it from the sun 3) eventually, after a year or so, it turns into compost itself

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes for sure, cardboard is useful to kill weeds. I plant when the season is right so most new veg go in between March and May, then all the second plantings in summer and autumn.

[@theseedsoflifebali]

Thank you for your generosity of information and sharing your simple ideas, always. I watch your videos everyday and use your tips on my permaculture farm in bali 🌞👩🏽‍🌾

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You are so welcome and nice to hear it's working in a tropical climate 😀