Create a no dig raised bed, compost on weeds, with tips on planting + see the growth

[@kaymgee08]

A pleasure to watch your videos - and no music, halleluia!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Haha thanks

[@deliastanley3921]

Right?! What a relief 😩

[@joaquingatti9309]

Va÷3sede3s

[@caly6527]

Omg yes such a relief

[@lkececi7513]

I agree

[@marcoursi6062]

" the joyful moment of filling the bed with compost" ......that sums it up nicely...good on you Charles, love your videos and your passion

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Many thanks Marco

[@lisafeck1537]

Tamping it down is a very important bit of instruction. It's true that plants want a firm soil to push through. I'm very impressed with this video, and very thankful for it also.

[@przybyla420]

I agree, I think that’s a mistake most people make as novices probably. It dries out much quicker if left loose.

[@jamesprescott4302]

I've always been frustrated trying to learn to garden. You make things easy to understand and grasp. I'll be sure to buy your books when I can.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear thanks James

[@proudcc]

I am a fan of your youtube videos, didn't find out that you actually published books until just now by watching one of your videos. I immediately got on Amazon and ordered two of them, I will purchase all of the gardening books that you wrote just to collect them, because, I am a fan of yours

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Candace I appreciate your support, enjoy the books!

[@racheltomlinson2257]

I can just imagine the birds giggling in the trees near by, giggling because they see a human paddling the soil, maybe for worms?? . I like the way you constructed your raised garden frame, so much easier than how I was going to do one.Will copy your way. Thank you for sharing, bless you :-)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Rachel and that is a nice thought about the birds!

[@izzyssaltlife]

Planting in a no dig way made me start gardening again, since before trying to till the hard ground was pretty difficult. I'm glad i found your channel. Thank you sir !

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You can do it after all, how wonderful

[@camillerivers1323]

Thanks very much for that tutorial. I’m trying to supplement my family’s food supply so we can cut our grocery bill, but all the options I was finding were very expensive. This shows me how to use inexpensive materials to get started 😁

[@KathleenJean53]

I love this technique, I start with a thick layer of newspaper on raw ground first, blocks weeds for years. The newspapers are leftovers and self compost. Also consider placement of beds in relation to ease of lawn mowing. What a lush place you have there. A feast for the eyes, the soul and the table.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Kathleen 😀

[@alwayslearning7672]

Yes, it confused me a bit that Charles put no paper or cardboard first to block the weeds,which is what I thought was necessary.

[@Elena-zm4fc]

@Charles Dowding What do you think about putting cardboard on the bottom?

[@joanparsley2332]

I live in Allen, Texas. There are lots of rocks and at the soil is so hard. I'm going to try this for sure, after my nap! Thanks!

[@ashercreatives7112]

Joan Parsley I live in Dallas and have just prepped a bit of space in front of my townhome for a super tiny no-dig garden!

[@venitaeck8558]

I'm in Terrell. Just found Charles on you tube. I'm starting my beds later next week, mapping out now. So excited!!

[@appleade57]

Thank you so much Charles. You have demonstrated how easy the process is in reality. I'm inspired to get out there tomorrow, create a new bed and get my hands dirty.

[@appleade57]

Just a quick question Charles. Do you think it would be worthwhile mowing the area really hard beforehand?

[@lloydlobo2053]

"Joyful moment of filling the beds with compost" . Very true and very satisfying! 😊🌱

[@mesasavage]

Lovely channel. I'm really enjoying your videos. I do appreciate how concise everything is. The editing and production choices are all very much appreciated.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@Just-Nikki]

I wish I knew this sooner, it’s so much easier and cheaper than the way I started my beds. Off to start a bed for strawberries and borage!

[@louiseoliver7102]

You have given me the inspiration to make a small raised bed for my kale plants that I have grown from seed.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely to heart, may they grow well

[@bossman6627]

Charles you are my favorite youtube gardener. I feel that anyone who gives a lick about gardening would be inspired by you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear, Bossman

[@barry5787]

Been doing some raised beds over the last few weeks using the same treated eased timber and to give it some extra life I've stapled plastic damp course on the inner and lower edges. Great programs. The beds seem the easy part, the knowledge and applying it to create good harvests, I think is another matter. Need to book myself a course me thinks and see what I can do,

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good stuff! Yes the knowledge, good you recognise that, see Sowing Timeline on my website

[@francismcdonagh5217]

Hi Charles you are an inspiration to all of us, I have made raised beds and used builders damp proof course on the inside works great 10 years on no slugs or pests of any kind as far as I know. Keep doing what you are doing, you are brilliant

[@cathysteele924]

Francis McDonagh, what is “builders damp proof course”?

[@francismcdonagh5217]

@@cathysteele924 Hi Cathy builders damp proof course, is a type of plastic on a roll,very tough stuff it goes underneath block work,in a building to stop damp from the ground penetrating the blockwork,or walls, I have used it on the insides of raised beds ,which had wooden sides,to stop the dampness, from the soil, rotting the insides,of the timber,so the wood lasts years longer.

[@cathysteele924]

@@francismcdonagh5217 Thank you!

[@lukei6255]

Very nice. Clear explanation. I would add: when using timber I install corflute sheet or plastic to the internall sides of timber to create waterproofing and prevent from decay of the timber caused by moist soil.

[@farmerjones5479]

Charles this demo was brilliant and timely as usual. I truly believe that everyone should grow some of their own food. A container, raised bed, or a small plot of land. It is liberating for the mind and body. Thank you and blessings to you and your team.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes gardening can be liberating for both mind and body, thanks for your comment

[@anavelaeshomestead]

If you can get hold of pallet collars, saves having to have to use tools. Pallet collars can be stacked up to the height you want.

[@BonzaiCounterpunch]

So simple. I used to believe that you have to fill a raised bed with a mix of compost, vermiculite, and coir.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes a lot of things are way, way simpler than one often reads or sees!

[@christinafleschner2344]

You be a Magic Gardener,the Way you are showing,speaking,doing make so much Joy!Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice of you Christine :)

[@annharlan8926]

Charles - Brilliant. I'm in 7b in North Carolina USA and had trucks of woodchips brought onto my lawn to turn it to a permaculture. One neighbor kept arguing with me that I needed to put down cardboard/newspaper but just kept going. Put down at least 6 inches. If/when a weed would pop through I'd just dump a bucket of woodchips on it. Viola! It is beautiful and I'll start putting in blueberries, grapes, etc. (perennial plants) in the spring. I'm so proud of it. I love that you showed this with compost. At 61 I feel like I've learned to garden as if it is a completely different occupation as I learned with rototiller, dig, dig again (oh, a few chemicals for bugs and fertilizer). Now I just push back the woodchips, plant in the beautiful soil and occassionally put down a few more woodchips. I never dig anymore. Just put in plants or seeds. Ann Harlan

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear Ann although there can be issues with pests such as pillbugs, when using a lot of wood chip.I mention that for others reading this. In your garden, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[@foodbydonna8632]

Make me want to jump out of bed right now and get some dirt under my nails and feet. Inspiring!

[@mrsgbee8246]

Watched Gardener's World last night and was so excited to see Geoff Hamilton and yourself on the program. I still miss seeing Geoff, he had so many great ideas, and made a significant contribution to my gardening. Watching your channel with interest. I raise chickens and rabbits so I get plenty of stuff to chuck in the beds. Thank you for sharing.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

mrsgbee Yes I miss him too, he was so easy to work with, that was my first time filmed for tv

[@tracyw2117]

I'm glad I found your videos. We're starting our garden soon and now it'll be much more affordable and pleasantly sumple.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So good to hear this Tracy

[@jesshothersall]

So pleased I watched this for several reasons. Easy raised bed obviously. Also as I need a rabbit fence round my veggie patch, I wondered where to put my washing line, which is where the fence needs to be. I noticed you are using a tree trunk, so problem solved, I can go from one existing post across to my huge apple tree, why didn't I think of this? Also realised it's an easy way to make a temporary run for my tortoise on iffy days. He goes free range for the hot summer months, but can't do that in April/May or Sept/Oct, as days can be warm, but nights can be cold enough to kill him, or damage his health (he's African, and can't hibernate). Thanks so much for all of it :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Love this, thanks for sharing and happy to help

[@eliev7844]

Such a good, clear video. Thank you for taking the time to do it. It's much appreciate.

[@Kiburi4]

Thank you Charles, you are excellent at explaining things simply and clearly for beginners. I’m on day 3 of my first allotment as a total newbie - never done more than a few houseplants before - and I’ve watched several of your videos now to try to figure it all out. You’ve made me feel a lot less overwhelmed about what to do next once I’ve trimmed enough space to put a bed in. (I also think my neighbours 3 allotments down are going to ‘adopt’ me, as its very clear as a young girl on my own I haven’t got a clue what I’m doing!!) I suppose my next job is to buy a drill and figure out how to do that too!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Lucy. Hope you can cope with a whole allotment, it's a lot of space, maybe buy or beg some black polythenes e to lay over half of it to kill weeds while you sort the rest. See No Dig Two Ways to Clear Weeds video. Beds with sides like this are only one option, see Start No Dig, no permanent sides. I wish you well.

[@francoiselemeur7325]

Not particularly economical....considering it takes months and months to make just a small amount of compost... Tha t amount here is what....4,5 barrels? I assure yu ,that's costly

[@Robert-vh2cl]

@@francoiselemeur7325 Did it ever occur to you that someone might actually ENJOY gardening and making an initial investment in it?

[@VrindaKishoriStories]

I've been pulling weeds out of my raised bed for days and too scared to place anything in there. But after seeing this I have a new found hope! Might just put a layer of cardboard and a new layer of compost and get on with the growing. Thank you so much! Invaluable.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to read this and go Vrinda, your bed will grow well.

[@gizmohawaii]

Nicely done Sir ! To deal with stubborn weeds I use a re-bar and hammer it into the ground about a foot down.

[@lenyhayward6648]

Great video and information provided. You have a beautiful garden. Thank you for doing this for us all that have learned something here. Blessings to you sir.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@riverunner9978]

I am amazed, I thought it was better to have soil soft and fluffy!

[@barkershill]

All I can say, riverunner is that I have been following Charles’s methods for nine years and although my garden is not quite as tidy as his , his ideas definitely work . I have grown all the common vegetables successfully , even rootcrops like potatoes and carrots

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

I like this Charles howerver many people don't have such a flat area when weeds have taken over for a year of so like my mum's garden. My mother has about 10 car tires dumped in her Garden. I don't know why they are there but Iv been putting them as they are onto the ground then filling with compost for successful raised beds.

[@Spiked2005]

Just started a no border bed at the house for the first time using your theories. Covered the soils with black plastic for the first month due to snow, hail and all sundry of things. Trying potatoes and garlic for the first phase, which I paper bagged for that month with eventually immersing the garlic in a small amount of water, which made them grow like they were on steroids. All the troops are in the garden as of yesterday..........time to see. Thanks for the inspiration

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Have fun with that, sounds promising

[@frankscales7295]

I was very impressed by your irish danceing on the compost Charles, ; -] nice vid as ever

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Frank!

[@fatdad64able]

The saw cuts like a new hammer ^^

[@claudesclassics]

nothing like a new saw go on Charles lash out a little, like your videos keep it up

[@Locke19901]

Hello friendo

[@michaelbalfour3170]

What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss?

[@fatdad64able]

@@michaelbalfour3170 I need you to step out of the car Sir!

[@michaelbalfour3170]

@@fatdad64able you don't have to do this.

[@97grad]

You make everything look so simple. Love watching your videos

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks so much 😊

[@mm-nk3qe]

My lawn soil is hard and i tried to dig but it was too hard for me so i gave up. Thank you. Because of your video i will be growing vegetables your way. Thank you for sharing, much appreciated.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad I could help and plant roots + soil organisms will gradually open that soil

[@mikehurdiss226]

Lovely and clear 'how to' guide Charles. Thanks Mike

[@howardhoyle9619]

Mike Hurdiss canned heat Canned heat

[@howardhoyle9619]

Canned heat livin the blues

[@DaveOnThePlot]

Nice video Charles and good appearance on gardeners world last night trying some no dig beds on my allotment this year. Dave

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That will be good Dave

[@jeffreym6251]

I agree with deep planting. my dad always taught me that. Wonderful video. really enjoy your channel.

[@hasdrubal121]

I'll be starting on a base of grass so I'm excited to see how the no dig method will work out for us. Many thanks 🇮🇪

[@MattsPlotAllotmentchannel]

Great video Charles, Im a total convert now to #Nodig

[@margaretwarriner6445]

Matt's Plot Allotment channel iiii

[@MyBabyReads]

🤴🏼 You should be knighted. Do you have the most beautiful garden imaginable truly magical. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

A funny thought and many thanks

[@isabelladavis1363]

I totally agree with that!

[@jonathancorbyn8203]

Sir Charles Dowding!!!

[@cathyeller5722]

I tried that, even put down cardboard on the bottom. First year was o.k. no weeds, second year bind weeds were everywhere. I have now switched to putting down sheets of old plywood underneath. I can get old half rotted plywood or old sheets of paneling off the side of the road. That is where I got my wood to make the square from also. Walmart sometimes have that wood in the back of there stores outside.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That can happen and it sounds like bindweed has spread in from outside your bed. That's where I would lay cardboard, or in your case wood! And keep removing new bindweed from the bed itself, it will weaken.

[@priayief]

I grow exclusively in raised beds and I've always used the classic SFG version of filling the beds: 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 coarse vermiculite and 1/3 of various types of compost. I had no idea that simple compost would do the trick! Wish I had known that years ago and I would have saved myself a lot of mixing. I really like your simple approach. One tip I would like to pass along has to do with ensuring your beds are square. Simply screw the boards together as you've done, place them on the ground and measure the diagonals from corner to corner. Measure and adjust as necessary. Cheers.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

We did measure the diagonals. sorry it was not clear. And yes I had a message from someone who could not grow parsnips any sense for 8 years with the SFG mix, then tried just compost on top, and had such a crop they were feeding the neighbours too.

[@abigailirvine3414]

Lovely have just seen you on gardeners world 🌺

[@JeeJeanVittoVlogs]

I’m really enjoying your video and thank you for the ideas you shared Sir.🙂👍

[@teamuncle]

A proper gardener. I had a no dig plot for years. Disabled now but lovely to see this practical man at work.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@teamuncle]

m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4W0YZyIotd9mLs

[@barbaracoleman6641]

Thanks for this. When I was a lot younger, I would pull out the Mantis tiller to break up my clay soil and use another tiller to mix the amendments. It was hard work. I was renting that house. When I moved, my plants moved with me. I discovered as I was digging them up that the earthworms had further amended the soil actually pulling the compost a full two feet further down into the soil! I am older now with the stiffness and aches that come with aging. I wanted to plant in the ground with a minimum of fuss. You just inspired me. Time to see if the little earthworm helpers will come to my rescue again.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to read this Barbara and they surely will :)

[@simplifygardening]

Nice one Charles and apt timing with tonight's GW :)

[@wo11ucks]

Your channel is so valuable. Thank you so much. What is the best way to support you for ensuring more youtube content?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, keep watching, do buy my talk for extra info, buy a book, I wish to put a link but have too-weak internet connection

[@franmol01]

hi Charles. I grew my beetroot in clumps this year after watching one of your videos and I have three times more beetroot than I've ever had. a one meter by 700mm plot gave me around 40 beetroots, most of which have been pickled and stored away for the winter. thank you so much for your advice and i'm looking forward already to getting my beds ready for next spring.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice to hear

[@Silvereagledude]

I’ve been using this method ever since I read Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew…..it has served me well….as always, thanks Charles!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear P.J.

[@Steve-dp5ky]

A layer of cardboard / thick layers of newspaper under the compost is what I personally do, as it hopefully it totally eradicates those weeds / grass.

[@pacificdragon1452]

Steve R the

[@shiny_x3]

better to put it over the compost, under the mulch, and just punch holes for the plants.

[@moitan434]

Thank you so much for the advice you give us! Wonderful video.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Moi!

[@helenlatimer9601]

Thank you so much! We really enjoy watching all of your videos and I’m excited to say, that we are going to embark on a no dig veg and hopefully wild flower garden. I’ve ordered your course book 1 and two calendars, one as a gift. Also the sowing wall chart. I hope they will give us the advice we need to make a good positive and productive start this year. Many thanks for all your videos and fantastic advice.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck Helen, that sounds very promising and while you will probably have a few setbacks (don't sow too early!), I'm sure you'll experience a lot of joy, and some nice food!

[@naturesbliss2903]

The guy is just a wealth of information I love his videos

[@veganchiefwarrior6444]

love ya charles, watch that back tho mate! more knees! lol

[@jindriskamachatova5114]

My words :-) When I do gardening I move around like a toddler.

[@flowergrowersmith449]

Fantastic video. Lots of myths busted here!!!

[@imacrapschick]

I wish you were my hubby!!!! LOL. I garden alone!!!! I wish my compost could look this black...gotta love good British soil!!!! I live in the South, USA...all I have is red dirt that can be hard to make into a good quality compost. But, I try and am getting better at it as I go along. Thanks for the wonderful advice and knowledge you share with us. Love it!!!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Jessica and best of luck with your red soil. You can improve it and will.

[@BvanBeeck]

Thank you so much for your amazing tipps. I was builing a few of them yesterday due to the fact, I want finally start to grow my own veggies.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wishing you every success

[@robwasnj]

Love your simplistic methods and soothing presentations. I have to ask though with all the emphasis I see put on soil tests how would one really do this realistically with several raised beds filled with various materials including compost? It seems to me that you can safely just keep adding good quality compost to your raised beds and not really concern yourself with soil tests to analyze nutrients. Any truth to this assumption?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Rob I am glad you like the simple, not simplistic approach. The point of using compost is that it holds nutrients in water insoluble form. Then the undisturbed soil life helps roots to find them, when needed. Soil tests are only a snapshot of what is there and cannot measure availability to plants, in most cases, nor assess the balances needed. Soil life is doing a kind of "nutrient test" all the time, when there is enough warmth for growth.

[@robwasnj]

This will be my first year not tilling my beds but rather leaving the soil intact and just adding compost on top. I had to dig a few small holes for trellises and I can say the ground is full of worms, so many I actually felt bad digging the hole because I must have hit several of them with the spade. No dig makes so much sense, it's how nature seems to have intended things. Thanks for the reply, love your channel and videos.

[@JebGardener]

It's funny seeing the small bed in front of your giant garden. Did you pick the spot just to demonstrate, or you have some other purpose for keeping it separate?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes it was to demonstrate, and the cameras needed somewhere to line up!

[@spsaik]

I think the bed was in the perfect spot.

[@Wings91]

Charles, this is still the BEST video!🙂🌻

[@caroleugeniagraham8634]

Your videos are very inspiring for a new gardener like me. Compost is the key. If I get my good composts going I will have a better garden in the future. Thanks

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Carol. Yes, compost and sowing at best time, then good picking, helps to understand your plants.

[@andrewmoon1898]

When I get the money I am buying the books, all of them. Love this channel. One question though, have you a link for the potato harvest from this bed? Would love to see how it did in such a shallow plot.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Andrew. Here is a link to the page where, half way down, you can see the potato harvest in August 2017. After that we planted coriander and dill. Now the bed has become part of a larger bed!

[@andrewmoon1898]

Hi, I have left a reply to this until trying on a computer, I cannot see the link mentioned. Sorry to be a bother.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

sorry its here www.charlesdowding.co.uk/august-17-update/

[@andrewmoon1898]

Thank you. That looks about the same I dig up from a bigger bed at my dad's allotment but with far less work. Defiantly the way to go when I get my own plot.

[@katatatatafish]

What the hell! I can just do this without digging up ground!?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

yes!! have fun with that

[@katatatatafish]

Charles Dowding I most certainly will 😄

[@colepeltier8472]

Welcome to the real world =) Modernized agriculture is a sham, no dig is as THE CREATOR INTENDED! ha

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

@@colepeltier8472 Iv made raised beds with old car tires. Put them on weeded ground as is and filled with compost. Job done.

[@DrCorvid]

@@colepeltier8472 The no-dig Great Plains soil failed naturally and famously due to compaction, so Universities of Laval and McGill stress the "paramount importance" of mixing the layers a bit as you are laying down more mulch. Their agronomy courses tout ramial or young hardwood mulch as "the" best soil remedy bar none. Horticulture courses stress the importance of having clay and sand components in soil, something that is scarce in the lasagna method of making or laying compost on top of compacted soil. Such a practice works only very slowly and as the courses point out, you'd be turning the compacted beds every 4-5 years or lose 40% of the garlic crops for example due to wet and anaerobic compost where you really wanted soil. The leywords bois raméal fragmenté or RWC for ramial wood chips, shredded ramial wood and so on will get you to the latest and best research into soil building on farm and forest. Even hedgerows are now being chipped onto the raised beds as an asset to the farm.

[@rubygray7749]

I'd give 2 Likes if I could, one for Charles, and one for Edward's excellent work!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ruby, nice for Edward to see that, he is putting plenty of time into editing and researching ways to present the information

[@rubygray7749]

Yours are some of the best productions with the most intelligent and helpful educational, evidential gardening info! I love them.

[@lifestyledesign2208]

Thank you, sir for your uploads. I'll echo what others have said and just say it's a pleasure to watch just good, solid instructional videos without over the music, excessively long introductions full of fluff, filler words and just generally foul language. Great to watch. I'll be looking to apply all the knowledge I've gained from you on my homestead back in Uganda as soon as all this covid stuff subsides and borders/international flights open up in earnest again. Bravo, you have a silent, but loyal subscriber here 😎

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Charles and I wish you success with no dg in Uganda, sounds exciting, a fast paced climate!

[@lurmot]

Nice video. Although I'm not a fan of using treated wood anywhere near food plants. It's really not good.

[@kingraiderr]

i can tell this guy hates digging

[@lilli1259]

Who does?

[@BeeVargaTheHulahooper]

Learning so much from you it's unbelievable! Your channel is outstanding and we are using your videos with my toddler to try and grow all our own food. Moved to Latvia from the UK and loving how useful your content is! Wishing you many many years of health and abundance 😚😚😚

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful to hear this Bee, thanks

[@perlnumquist]

To say I am delighted to discover this method of efficient cultivation would be an understatement. I could not adequately compliment you on your knowledge and the quality of your videos. Others have said this more eloquently than I have. But thank you all the same. This one particularly intrigued me. It seems to have been very effective in turning a square of lawn into a productive vegetable bed pretty much instantly. And so.. I thought I would try this on a community allotment I am developing. I am building raised beds for people with mobility issues. I followed a similar method as is shown her. However, it grass underneath was couch grass and this seems to be a lot more persistent. After six months of covering with black fabric, I lifted it to my dismay to find a very healthy "lawn of couch" had grown up through the cardboard and the 10cm layer of mushroom compost. I assume therefore this works well with lawn grass but stronger measures are required if couch is present in the intended site. Is that correct? Is couch too vigorous to do this with?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sorry to hear this Peri. Yes the couch there is clearly strong, needed say two layers of thick cardboard then the compost over. Run the card out from the bed to make a weed-free edge around, otherwise the couch spreads back in. Perhaps the black fabric lets light through too. You could cover again now with thick cardboard and run it down sides to the green edges for 30cm/12in, weight it with stones for now, then cut holes May to plant say courgettes/squash.

[@romaineathey3663]

I bought instruction from woodprix and I build it very very cheap.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Romaine, now that is clever!

[@paulnjackson]

Not so cheap once you have paid Woodprix. And their paid content is almost exclusively stolen from its original creators who are mostly making it available online at no cost. Their business model is the complete antithesis of the excellent public-spirited, free content that Charles provides. Transparent shills like you appearing here and sullying good faith content makes me sick. Sorry Charles, but they are a bad lot.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Paul thanks for this comment, keeping things straight!

[@romaineathey3663]

cool you like it:)

[@MariaMorales-kr1ps]

I love your method and practical way of gardening. Very easy to follow. I think I will also wear my boots so I can use my 2 feet compressing the soil. I learned a lot from your no dig gardening and other techniques that are very useful to enthusiastic gardener. Share more of your gardening experience. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and I think you mean compressing compost!

[@NikJaKen]

This video just showed up in my daily feed, but it's 3 years old? I don't know why, maybe due to my latest obsession with gardening videos! Loved it and will subscribe for more --

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks. My video don't age 😀

[@dimpletoadfoot8631]

I heard a helpful tip from Gary Pilarchuk, a Virginia gardener, that the "rainbow" or "arch" shape in the wood should be facing outward on all sides to keep it from warping inwards :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Interesting! Thanks

[@reginayanito9143]

I love how he broke up his all denim outfit with a white belt. Also a big fan of the no dig method of gardening! Thank you

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah sweet, thanks :)

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

I have some raised beds i bought from Costco. They are mostly laid out, and i put them straight onto the grass (and weeds), but i think i am going to put chicken wire in the bottom prior to filling because i get something (moles or voles) making random mounds in the yard and i dont want them coming up in my beds. Then, just have to get the compost/soil and get them filled. Well, and then I have to put deer and rabbit netting around them, lol. Hoping to have them ready to go by next spring. Thanks to this great video, now i will know to have the guy i hire to fill them tread on the beds a couple times to firm them down. I wouldnt have thought of that, but it seems obvious in retrospect. Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

A good project Gayle and may your harvests be rich

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

Charles Dowding Thank you!

[@joysanders9315]

Thank you very much. Garden to begin this weekend, all supplies in hand. I will let you know how it goes.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful!

[@katiekane5247]

I'm doing a bed in a depression in our yard. Had to cut a damaged Poplar, got the limb wood turned into mulch & used the trunk as a backstop. Hope to have it in production soon!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Sounds exciting Katie and very local resources!

[@INSTACRUISING]

Amazing! Thank you for this video. It's most self explanatory and easy to follow. Stay blessed.

[@cletusvandamme1388]

You do stuff we've been told not to do our whole life.....and I love it! I wish I found you years ago.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

james holcomb thanks James

[@yergman]

I tried your system to plant seeds and plants with a new trellis system but first I added a cardboard layer. I just beat the thunder and lightning. Using your techniques the majority of my garden is now planted in April instead of May or June. Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks for sharing this bronze fennel. Earliness is certainly one of the many attributes, the beds are ready to sow and plant at any time.

[@yergman]

After applying 24 bags of composted cow manure at 40 pounds each and releveling the beds I am beginning to think you should re-brand No Dig as an exercise or weight loss program.....maybe the Compost Diet?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh yes, in year one, but thereafter you need other forms of exercise. Such as turning a compost heap!

[@yergman]

Ha! Send Adele a No Dig t-shirt and one of your books in exchange for some compost turning music.

[@Miosotis]

This is so cool! So well and simply explained! I am definitely going to try to make my own bed. Still have a spot left in my garden for it...hope it works... Thanks!

[@LivingSmallAndLovingLarge]

I love these beds. They look like it will really be easy to make a few do them.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes and at any time of year

[@LeHosko]

Great feature on gardeners world tonight, I've been subscribed for a few weeks and already working nuggets of your knowledge into my own grow operation, great channel!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Jim

[@Pigearvet]

I have one no dig and the other I til. The no dis is the big producer?? I would have never thought. I through plant scarps and coffee ground in that garden to be fair. Very nixe raised bed. I put landscape fabric at the bottom to chill those weeds. Great video on a very interesting subject. Raised beds have the advantage of drying our quicker, Take care Rob and Nat

[@WhitepepperFarmshomestead]

Just stumbled across your channel and I love it! I just built 10 raised beds and will begin filling on Saturday. It's going to take a ton of soil compost and a lot of work, but I am so excited! I'm glad I saw this, I wasn't planning to compact the compost down.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear and use more compost than soil if possible

[@SoilandMargaritas]

I have been breaking my back doing it wrong all this time.... this changes everything!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah shucks, I wish you well going forwards

[@lisaharrowing1630]

I don’t suppose you know if you can grow food in soil that has had Astro turf on as I don’t know if it is safe I have ornamental plants in borders I have dug up but want to grow more vegetables thank you

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Not sure Lisa. but if it was my only option, I would

[@marshwetland3808]

@@lisaharrowing1630 Better be, as most commercial veggies are grown with plastic sheet mulch. Astroturf is just plastic, right? Yup, plastic. artificialgreens.org/what-is-artificial-grass-made-of/ I would, too. Good for you, getting rid of it. Grass is bad enough, but fake grass a horror.

[@sinemetu9037]

Love this simple method. I just bought some of your books and look forward to practicing the no dig method

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you like them and go well

[@sinemetu9037]

Charles Dowding, thanks Charles... next year I fully intend to come on one of your courses. You have through your videos given me the inspiration and confidence to have a go. For quite a while I have been lacking direction for one reason or another and getting stuck in on the garden was a good thing during the lockdown. However, finding you are the quality videos you and your team produce helped me abundantly. Thanks so much

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

@@sinemetu9037 Nice to hear and I hope we can meet up soon, meantime go well

[@hobbitlady7568]

Lovely. I will use this simple square to make a bed possibly this fall.

[@ratnasrinath3835]

Thank you for this amazing video.....we have very pervasive grass on our property which we are always digging out. I am definitely going to try your method

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad it was helpful and in that case, before spreading compost, I would lay cardboard on the grass first, including around the bed edges.

[@ratnasrinath3835]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thank you...I will do that

[@chocolateciara]

hello Charles, I saw you on Gardeners world this weekend, it's great to see you getting the no dig word out!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I enjoyed being given the opportuniity and I am glad you liked it

[@imaniboult1265]

So easy! I think I will still have to do a bit of digging because the backyard is literally weeds with no grass, but this is definitely helpful.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks, and I see no weed to dig first unless the weeds are woody plants

[@sharonadlam3195]

I have been gardening all my life and have to say that the planting of radish and carrot in the same row is a revelation to me. I currently only have space for a smallish raised bed complex so the fact that I can get two crops out of the same space is a game changer, are there any other crops that you can do this with. I already grow beans using the corn stalks as growing frames to save space. :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Sharon. I recommend interplanting, so plant beetroot a month before garlic finished, fennel between lettuce etc, see Small Garden series for more of that

[@sharonadlam3195]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you so much for taking the time to reply :)

[@louellen7271]

You are my gardening hero! LOVE your videos!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Lou