What's the best way to start a garden bed: lasagna, no dig, or till?

[@kaitlinjohnson2915]

I haven’t finished yet, but I’m in a FB garden group run by horticulture professors and they hate the cardboard method (because of smothering) and advicate using native soil. But people hate to hear it and get pretty mad. Adding all that compost all of the time often isn’t necessary. It’s adding far more organic material and soil nutrition than is necessary. Thank you for saying it!

[@JakeLunemann]

The cardboard is literally there to smother the existing weeds/turf so it seems weird to hate it "because of smothering." Unless you want to use chemicals to kill what is there before you are signing up for a lot of weeding in your first few seasons of the new bed (speaking from personal experience). If you have the time for that weeding go for it but not everyone would choose the labor intense method.

[@katherinelandreth2191]

Something to keep in mind is Charles Dowding is growing a market vegetable garden, and he's growing several crops in the same space all year long. He's not just a home flower garden. So his needs for organic material and nutrients are likely different than the average home gardener.

[@eviekleinwhittingham9237]

Brilliant. The home gardeners challenge is where to source good compost. I do produce my own but only to top dress ornamentals. What I do like about Charles Downing's method is how effectively it gets rid of grass and weeds without back breaking work!

[@genny3357]

yes - I came here to ask how to keep weeds away without some coverage with cardboard (which seems preferable to black plastic landscape fabric)?

[@marythomas1127]

This is my question as well!

[@agood1]

Let the non invasive weeds complete there lifecycle. Invasive a should be pulled. Cover the soil with other plants or mulch.

[@Wordsalad69420]

The main argument for lasagna and no dig is that you're not disturbing the soil beneath. But if the earth beneath is hard clay, there's really nothing to disturb. If you have hard ground that's never been tilled, there is absolutely no disadvantage to tilling it first and then using no till or lasagna. In fact, it's probably better because you break up the hard soil, allowing for deeper roots. Not tilling is definitely the lazy way, but it does not yield the best results always. The two methods are not mutually exclusive in every situation.

[@bernardcribbins7083]

Absolutely correct. It depends on context. There is no best or ideal method. Claims like that need to be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

[@Steven-yx1ic]

I have clay soil, but there is grass on top and trees been growing around there. I am wanting to do the no till method this weekend

[@biblicalprepping]

Thank you so much for these two videos (the one where you built the three beds and this one!). I had NO budget for soil, compost, or manure for filling our raised beds. I truly felt it best to try and use just the soil that is HERE on our small little plot. I found two mounds that previous owners had dumped as the installed a pool and shed. I used those to fill the beds, then added some grass clipping, leaves, and a tiny amount of chicken manure from a local rancher. I did have the soil tested this past spring, and I discovered through that we needed to just add a little lime. Did that and that was pretty much all. During the summer, I did fertilize with an organic fish fertilizer, but that was all. Where I did this??? Vegetable plants thrived tremendously. Working on tilling deeper now to get a good base for root development. THAT part did NOT go so well. The roots ran up against hard soil. You confirmed for me I am on the right track though! Thank you!!!

[@magsj2387]

So Charles Dowding isn’t wrong, we just can’t produce the quantity of compost that he does and the cardboard is only to start the beds ( he has used wool instead of cardboard in the past)so he has beds that for years have not had cardboard just his homemade compost. Question: Can you do a no dig experiment one with homemade compost and one with quality compost?. I love your channel because you are sooooo informative and sometimes I have to watch your videos twice but I’m still learning and keeping an open mind to all information 😊💚

[@PartTimePermies]

I second the side by side compost experiment. I'd include different kinds of homemade compost. We dig out our winter chicken runs after it has had time to mature and use that in our gardens, as well as veg compost, leaf compost or woodchip compost. Each providing different nutrient bases, but mostly from our own property (2/3 forested). Only one from off property would be the wood chips (obtained from chipdrop).

[@kimberleywormerama1501]

I did one no-dig bed when I started my new garden last year as I wanted to try it out, the rest were set up by removing the top layer of turf to expose the soil beneath and planting directly in to it. Those beds did great, the no dig bed killed pretty much everything I put in it. Anything that did grow was severely stunted. I think it was because the cardboard acted as a barrier to the good soil beneath and the compost which was brought in and not cheap didn't supply everything my plants needed. It dried out way to quickly while my natural soil beds don't need watering often (high water table). I'm glad I tried it with one bed before committing more time and money to it. Working with my natural soil is the way forward!

[@kaitlinjohnson2915]

That’s another thing. The cardboard doesn’t break down all that fast in many places and can completely cut roots off from growing as deep as they would like to.

[@AHolston8]

Thank you thank you thank you for doing this work and helping to counter these popular notions. Compost is SO expensive and it’s been holding up our farm plans trying to find the funds for that. I feel more confident that we can till a 1/4 acre, cover crop it, and plant next season! Thank you!

[@dustyflats3832]

She did a good job. There is Way too much hype about compost, lol, Crap!😅. Just add whatever you have like leaves, cover crops, ect. It can take 3-5 years to get garden soil in shape, unless it was great to begin with.😊

[@Joannabcdefghij]

@@dustyflats3832 Not everyone has 3-5 yrs but it is a good reminder to pace ourselves and think for the long term

[@dustyflats3832]

@@Joannabcdefghij not many know how many years we have.

[@MinnTee]

You know you have had an impact when a gardener goes to bed thinking about your video! I couldn't fall asleep! I had watched your video on cover crops at a perfect time for me in southern Minnesota and got my peas in about a week ago. I cannot wait to see them grow and to see what the summer will bring. Thank you for your informative videos.

[@apriloestman8304]

This is SO helpful as most of our beds are native, non-amended soil, and the beds we have amended have mostly worm compost and a little bit of alpaca manure. I've been stressed over trying to source more compost but now I am so glad to see these results. We just received our soil test results back from Logan Lab and I was very surprised to see the results. Overall, it's pretty great without all the inputs that we either cannot afford or haven't been able to locate. Thank you for another excellent video!

[@Blossomandbranch]

It’s amazing how conditioned we have been to think that we need a lot of amendments!!

[@nwilliams551]

I would love a follow up video on which way you would go if you did have rhizome grass. I’m in northeast Tennessee and our 2 acres is 100% crabgrass except where I’ve done “no dig” for my garden beds. After what you’ve seen would you have gone that route or used the lasagna method? I just sent in my soil and am excited to get the test results. Thank you for your incredible channel. I sincerely appreciate how much information you provide and in such a straightforward and clear way. It’s been very educational for me!!

[@laurenkirkpatrick4173]

Same here. I'm in north Texas and have really bad bindweed and other rhizome based grass, along with heavy clay soil. We bought our house last year and are wanting to establish garden beds. The house came with a sprinkler system, so with that and bindweed we can't really till. I'm interested to know what we should do since tilling isn't an option.

[@kaitlynblaylock8744]

When I bought my home the backyard was completely covered with Bermuda grass. Not wanting to spray, I started by renting a sod cutter to get as much of the rhizome out as possible. Then covered with cardboard and chipped tree cuttings (it had leaves and bark). This worked so well! While I am not completely free of the grass (it has been hard to banish from the edges), I'd say its about 90-95 percent gone, and ill continue to weed it out and weaken the remaining bits overtime. In my circumstance tilling wasn't an option so I went the smother route and it worked so well, and was a way better alternative to spraying. Hopefully in the future I won't have to battle the dreaded Bermuda and can attempt the native soil method!

[@MicahBayles]

I have bermudagrass. I started smothering it with cardboard and woodchips last fall. I have a lot of grass, and the sod cutter feels like so much work. I live in the desert. We have been in a drought forever, so I stopped watering the grass. Did not see the point. With the water shortage, weeds and bermudagrass are the only surviving plant life. Would you have had a good result without using the sod cutter?

[@kaitlynblaylock8744]

@@MicahBayles I haven't tried it without a sod cutter on a large scale, but in some patchy spots I did go back in and layered heavily with cardboard and it worked well to smother it. I'd suggest overlapping the boxes quite a bit and then if you are able, do another layer (or two) on top. The grass is so tenacious that if there was even a very tiny gap, it found a way, and even grew between layers of the cardboard in some spots.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@kaitlynblaylock8744 sounds like our crab grass and plantain hostas. One little speck of root and away it goes.

[@kaitlynblaylock8744]

@@dustyflats3832 litterally the worse! And as a bonus they spread by seed too! 😂

[@FarmGirlInProgress]

This is a lot of really great info. I have raised beds because I couldn't till and my yard holds water like a bowl, so I needed something lifted and drained. So I did 12 inch deep beds with a thin layer of rock at the bottom, then a couple inches of my own compost, then filled the rest of the way with topsoil and mushroom manure. This year I topped everything off with my own compost. I also just made three cut flower rows using the lasagna/no till method. I did cardboard, unfinished compost and then finished compost. My compost made here, is from garden/kitchen scraps, weeds, grass cuttings, hay, straw, wood chips and manure from chickens, quail, turkey and rabbit. I may need to get a soil test and see how my soil is actually doing because I just don't know.

[@Mommyslittlegarden]

I absolutely love your channel. I’ve been studying regenerative gardening & your channel has added to my expanding knowledge base.

[@theboojiefarmer]

This matches what I have found via an unscientific method LoL My beds that I did no-dig + lots of compost are my slowest growing beds. My one-till beds with very little compost are my fastest growing. This year anyway 😊 Love your videos; I have learned so much from you!!

[@simd510]

Doesnt tilling it bring weed seeds to surface? How do you manage the weeds?

[@theboojiefarmer]

@@simd510 I mulched my beds heavily and had minimal weeds….the beds that weren’t mulched are horrific with weeds.

[@agood1]

I would get no results if I just packed cardboard on top of my soil and bought compost. I don't even get where people came up with this? What digging has shown me, is I am helping my soil and my land by digging, investigating what is in there, and methodically working my native soil. I am fine with digging because it is uncovering soil life and that it has gone anaerobic and doesn't have correct structure and permability for water, and getting more oxygen. All the cardboard idea is doing, which honestly why cardboard!? To "smother" weeds-its not needed. They need to be pulled if they are that big of a deal. The weeds would be smothered by just making the basic raised mound with compost without the cardboard then covering the soil with a mulch.

[@katipohl2431]

Highly interesting and informative. Respiration is not the only way to measure microbial activity. As a biologist I have used Dehydrogenase Activity tests and tests for soil enzymes such as sulfatase and phosphatase as indicators of microbial enzymes for nutrient mineralisation. Hi and Love from Germany.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Absolutely! We will be doing some microscope examinations here when the temps warm in a couple weeks, I’m sure you’d be interested in that!

[@fraukeg.facchini2691]

How do you feel about straight leaf compost? Super interesting comparison! Do you have any advice on how to use cover crops on a tiny 6x9 foot garden bed without having to give up a whole growing season?

[@Blossomandbranch]

@@fraukeg.facchini2691 yes, we do mostly leaf composting by using it in our walkways and then shoveling it onto the beds the next year! We do early spring cover crops in some beds that we can plant after last frost (tomatoes etc) and then we do a late summer cover crop in beds that had spring plantings in it like peas/beets/snapdragons/etc.!

[@belle6382]

This is fantastic! How do you recommend filling up raised beds, or do you suggest refraining from it? Thank you.

[@_Hannah_..]

You can use old chunks of firewood pieces, or any raw wood 🪵 lying around your place; or harvest from the forest or beside waterways(lakes,rivers,creeks)🌳 🌲 Branches, bark, intact wood chunks, or rotten wood (the rotten wood fluff/soft hand breakable material, as well as bark ~& leaves are Perfect for use on pathways, top mulch for your plants, or used as a component to BuiLD Your SoiL !!!) Also an easy fix to fill your raised beds is straw or sedge bales ( make sure there’s no seed in the straw !) 🌾🌾🌾

[@thecunningkrugereffect]

Looking forward to seeing some results from the comparison beds!

[@jinxly420]

Thank you for all of your informative videos! I also appreciate how you try to apply the most sustainable, practical, and symbiotic principles to your farm. Other than the permaculture channels I follow, the more mainstream gardening videos are heavily consumerist and seem to try to control nature too heavily instead of trying to work with it and integrate their gardening to the natural cycle. Not knocking those people and what works for them, but your ideals more align with mine, so I am glad to have found your channel. ❤ Thank you!

[@breipinzur]

Thank you so much for making this! So many friends have been pushing no till gardens! I feel less bad about doing it similar to the way you are!

[@janalavtizar4426]

I absolutely agree it's counterintuitive to BUY large quantities of compost if you already have soil. I mean, where did our ancestors buy enormous quantities of compost and soil to put in raised beds? It sounds to me as a hype which is costly, other things aside. If you can bend and kneel you can do just fine without them.

[@timmartin4442]

always depends upon the microbial life of the soil. Good compost can bring the microbial life but compost extract and tea sprayed onto soil--can also stimulate that without importing unknown quantities of compost.

[@dustyflats3832]

Lol, I said the same! What is with this craze of spending sooo much money on raised beds? If you have codes to go by or disability then I could see it, but it seems there is a lot of money being spent And made by others about these RBs. I could just hear my ancestors of what they would be saying about all this money spent to grow $80 tomatoes 😂😂😅

[@thishtns]

I think 'our ancestors' had better knees than I do! Raised beds and containers are the difference between loving and hating gardening for me.

[@janalavtizar4426]

@@thishtns to each their own :)

[@Bob-w2b8j]

​@@dustyflats3832 If your soil is not good to start out with then its a good option. For example if you just moved into a house and the previous owner was treating the lawn with something like roundup, you probably don't want to grow directly in that soil, at least for a few years

[@lynneabretz6081]

I'm glad I watched this along with another of your videos abt the phosphorus in compost. Trying to start a new bed with less deer pressure. I almost ordered a dump truck full of dirt/compost, but after watching I pulled out a soil test we had done right when we moved in...phosphorus was off the charts. I took a garden sample and a lawn sample...both extremely high. I think I will definitely rethink my strategy. Also...covercropping...I've know abt it...but never thought to use it for my garden.

[@Blossomandbranch]

So glad you tested it!! Phew!!!

[@turkishdelightness]

Thanks for this awesome video. I have a homestead in Turkey and since we don't have access to the soil test you mentioned this has been very informative. As someone who was very dedicated to the whole no till method and Charles Dowding I faced a lot of challenges when trying to start my plot. I couldn't afford to buy in all that compost and we are in a remote area so it wasn't logistically smart either. Also the compost I made just couldn't keep up with the amounts needed. So I kind of naturally moved towards the method you have detailed and used cover crops and then mowed them down. I was also wondering how you terminate your cover crops and whether you till them in or leave them to decompose in situ? thanks for an awesome video and sharing your knowledge. Best wishes x

[@charliehardwick7625]

This was so interesting! Balanced and extremely well researched. Thank you for your advice, experience and expertise!! ☘️🌾

[@Blossomandbranch]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jeng151]

Whoa- this is very eye-opening. I deeply appreciate all you’re doing to educate & that you are thinking critically about every aspect of gardening. I’m just learning to garden and I knew to be wary of bought soil & compost, but it would not have occurred to me to question the cardboard. But it makes sense- thank you for this.

[@dustyflats3832]

It’s crazy isn’t it? I’m glad you addressed a major expense that is unnecessary for the home garden. I hear so much about soil, what to add ect, ect. A family member has beautiful black dirt and there are so many worms in her yard it’s bumpy to walk on and untreated lawn that is lush. Yet, she wanted raised beds so she had a reputable brand of compost delivered and soon realized it came with a lot of garbage. Now I can understand when you live in town, gated communities that you may have codes, disability, but to think you need raised beds to grow vegetables is out of control. The cost alone to build and fill RBs is quite astronomical! And I had a load of what was to be topsoil delivered and ended up with rocks, clay and garbage. My main purpose though was to cover stumps so it wasn’t as important. If you don’t have to worry about esthetics, growing over gravel or have disabilities I really see no reason for raised beds. It’s a fad and huge moneymaker for some. I’m glad you also addressed that most of us do not have access to HUGE piles of compost. And to tell you the truth some plants by those that do have it don’t look nearly as healthy as I would expect. A person really needs to do research on what they are buying and how sewage is being hidden with certain words on bags of anything you buy for amending soil. There are some major brands that have it and those forever chems and heavy metals are there. The states of ME, MI, WI and FL are detecting forever chems and FL found them in aquatic life. I almost got caught up in the raised bed craze. I do have a couple RBs and once they fall apart will be changed into wide long rows. My Reasons: The weather, ease of use, space. Our EXTREME weather has prompted me to realize the need to hoop all my rows and cut various covers to fit and clamp in place. Irrigation will be a synch to set up without a thousand elbows and valves. And all my space won’t be ate up by paths. I have sandy soil. There was practically no worms. Every year I add whatever I can locally. I’ve turned to composting in place as the pile is rediculously slow and always dry because of desert like micro climate. Planting close is beneficial to a point except it doesn’t allow air flow. My favorite way to start new rows is to lay cardboard and just pile any organic matter I can get on it. In the existing garden I have dug down paths and filled with bark. In a few years I can shift the rows to land over those paths. I read that hugelkulture can eventually provide enough nutrients up to 20 years. I have been using cardboard and all kinds of mulches for awhile and now spotting more worms. It can take 3-5 years to build garden soil. I’ve never wasted money on soil testing. With raised beds it doesn’t make sense because most all will have different soil unless you did them all at once. I’ve seen where you should take samples of each bed and mix them-Really? That won’t tell me anything. My plants grow just fine, it’s irrigating quick enough before heat of day sets in is key and hope to rig that together this year to use rain water. I do use bone/blood meal and I can do home test of PH. PH is critical because if it isn’t right the plants can’t take up the nutrients to begin with. Use your own soil and build it if you can. I for one don’t want an $80 tomato.😊

[@kathrynmettelka7216]

We moved to South Carolina last fall where our house already had bermuda grass, rhizome based to the max, with HOA installed sprinkler system. Tilling would not work, and I didn’t have the materials for a lasagna bed, so I put down cardboard (moving provides that in abundance) and bought the compost used by Jim Putnam and Brie the Plant Lady, who both live nearby in North Carolina. Sometimes what previous owners did determine what the next gardener can do. I would NEVER choose bermuda grass.

[@lindsaywilliams8326]

Makes so much sense. What brilliant content. I have always been a fan of Charles Dowding, and he too has spent a lifetime developing his methods, and I think he has added alot to our understanding. But once you say it it is obvious that we are being ‘sold’ the idea of buying in STUFF rather than using what we have. (I think we are all prone to consumption bias, as well as confirmation bias) . I was planning to buy in a lot of compost for the sandy poor soil in my new garden. Now I am going to investigate cover crops some more before I do.

[@Blossomandbranch]

If folks can compost on dowdings scale that’s great!! Unfortunately typically most of us can’t and end in buying a lot which leads to the problems we see with excess compost, especially high phosphorus!

[@Blossomandbranch]

And yes we have lots of respect for dowding too!

[@lindsaywilliams8326]

@ well I have just bought some red clover seed for my property in Suffolk uk

[@kathyblackwell2156]

I totally agree with what you have said. Thank you for sharing this. My husband is a broad acre farmer and has great crops by improving the soil he already has. 😊

[@Blossomandbranch]

Absolutely! Treat that soil well and it will treat you well!

[@mkitchens8163]

I've always one till, no-till. In the south where most of us have Bermuda grass, you absolutely have to remove the grass. I do have areas where I remove sod and put down cardboard and a few inches of bark mulch if I won't be planting in that bed for a few months. Otherwise, I do incorporate soil amendments into the top few inches of native soil, which is heavy clay, when I first start a bed. In the following years, I cover with a layer of chopped leaves, compost and bark mulch.

[@simd510]

Does tilling get rid of the bermuda grass? In the video she mentioned tilling would not work for rhizome grass and also doesnt tilling bring up weed seeds to germinate?

[@mkitchens8163]

@@simd510 I live in the south and have Bermuda grass, so I definitely lift the sod before I till. It is much easier than tilling and picking out the pieces, because if you leave a root, it will sprout grass. Yes, weed seeds will germinate unless you cover the soil. I usually use clean cardboard topped with mulch. I also use a pre-emerge like Preen under the cardboard if I'm not going to plant right away. If you're completely organic, you wouldn't use the Preen.

[@mayshomesteadchronicles]

Super informative! I have found the one time till method to be the most successful method for making garden beds! And agree that the soil already has most of the things that plants need. We spend more money than needed! It's amazing how much fertilizer and compost we can make with "Trash!" I have made com[post teas and homemade compost at home that is far greater than anything you can find at a store! Thank the Lord for all of the free resources he has given us on his earth. God bless you!

[@amyadams3830]

Yes! I have been waiting for this video. You have confirmed my prediction of the best method. Amended Front Range soil for the win. Thank you so much for following up. I'm so excited to be learning more about promoting soil health. Love your channel!

[@kimmierishe5547]

Another great video! Thank you so much for putting in all the time and effort to run these experiments, get it tested, and then share it with us. I *wish* I could grow my veggies and cut flowers in natural soil, amending only when needed. We live in California Gold Country and our property sits at the end of an old gold mining shaft. We have TONS (literally tons) of large rocks that we are constantly digging out of our garden when we plant things. We also have a lot of moles and gophers that have decimated our lawn and garden beds. 😭 So now, every time we plant something new in the ground, it needs to have a cage around it. And in order to grow veggies and a cut flower garden, it needs to be raised. Unless we had a tractor or something to help us dig out our rocks deep enough to broadcast wire in the ground to protect our crops from moles and gophers, which we do not. So we are kinda stuck using purchased soil and compost. After watching your video it worries me a little that I may be poisoning our veggies with the organic soil I’ve been buying. 🤪🤦🏻‍♀️ But we will keep trying and truckin’ along…

[@dustyflats3832]

We have to fence everything from wildlife. The moles and gophers we had to trap. There were Way too many gophers and found a piece of celery leaf on a rat trap works great.

[@kimmierishe5547]

@@dustyflats3832 Same here. Right now we are concentrating on the back of our property since it’s fenced. Eventually we will move to the front where the deer pressure is. I have a lot of potted plants on my elevated front porch and they’ve been brave enough to walk up my stairs to get to those plants. The moles and gophers drive me bonkers and I feel like we’ve tried everything for the moles, but it’s a losing battle. All of our neighbors (and I’m not exaggerating when I say ALL 😆) don’t landscape their yards, therefore there’s no worms in their soil for the moles to eat so they all come to our yard. Ugh! We’ve tried the scissor things that snap shut when a mole hits it, we’ve tried the thing that shoots blanks to concuss them, we’ve tried the buzzing spikes, we’ve tried poisonous gummy worms, we’ve tried CO2 from our generator into a hose, and we’ve tried flares that emit poisonous gas. A combination of a few of those seem to work best, but there are just so many of them and we can’t fight them all. 😔 Our lawn is caving in from all their tunnels and it’s just a mess. We’ve declared this growing season the year that we are making repairs to the damage they’ve done instead of starting new projects. Blah! LOL I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you! If we see more evidence of gophers this year, I will try your celery leaf tip! 😃

[@Brightwatereq]

I feel like digging/tilling is a natural and instinctive thing initially. Whenever you bring in anything even local you just can’t guarantee it’s native and there is always a chance something that is brought in may contaminate your soil with something that may not have been there. The community in the soil will recover from tilling. Especially if you give breaks and use native plants to regenerate those spaces. I have read it’s beneficial to rotate crops. Then to keep bringing in you are becoming more dependent on outside sources instead of natural ways to enrich the soil.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Exactly. If you can make enough compost for yourself I think that’s great but you can still always oversupply-moderation is key!

[@tammywinter9268]

So are you not a fan of raised beds? I was about to buy the lumber and build some, but then your filling with a raised bed mixture…am I better off just tilling Gods green earth and gardening the old fashioned way like my dad did?

[@dustyflats3832]

@@tammywinter9268 that’s exactly what I’m doing. Wide long rows with permanent hoops so I can easily change out covers as needed because our weather is so extreme and for setting up easy irrigation. I think people are caught up in a raised bed craze. I have a couple we made from scraps and going back to wide long rows. If you don’t walk on your rows and do covercrops or even hugelkulture under each you will save $$, still grow great vegetables and not the $80 tomato.😊

[@ladywhipple]

I have decomposed granite and silt. My husband dug down with the tractor and it’s 7 feet of garbage soil. Not one worm in it. I did all raised beds last fall with the lasagna method and the dirt is so beautiful. Time well tell when I plant the tomatoes and other things. That video was very helpful regarding bringing in compost and other things.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Understandable. No judgment from me, glad you found what works for you ❤️

[@karencski711]

Similar with me. If I had any good native soil, I would not have brought in compost (or as much). So I am putting in a few no dig beds each year. The veg in those has been much better than the stuff I am still trying to keep alive in my beds done the "native soil" way. It's all so situational. Love the detail on this channel though!

[@jesssmart6379]

I tried no dig a couple of times it didnt work for me i have masses of couch grass one of the rhizome grasses you mentioned it doesnt care how much cardboard or compost you put on top it still comes through and it also stops anything you plant from growing very well. I cant till either like you said it would just cut the grass roots into a million peices and id end up with a bigger problem i so wish i could till with a machine tho to make a new bed, it would be so much easier! Instead im out there hand digging/forking pulling out every last bit of couch i can 😅 its hard work but things have grown beautifully i like doing cover crops to and using peastraw for mulch im so glad to see this because so many people think no dig is the be all and end all

[@GetToKnowNature]

This was fascinating and definitely makes me look at my garden plans differently!

[@KelliJasper]

Thank you for this video! I started my mini flower farm this year, in beds I made with the no-dig method last fall. All of my seedling babies are struggling...I haven't done a soil test on the soil as it is now (I gathered a sample before making the beds, but not since making them). I am thinking I have some of the nutrient problems you've described here. I'm glad to know where to start looking for solutions.

[@kathrynhart1515]

Is there a video where you go over dealing with rhizome weeds? I’ve got hawkweed in the area I want to start my garden. 😢

[@mistygeller3193]

Excellent information!! Thank you Bri, so much for everything that you share! I am constantly referring back to your videos as I have various questions. I am really curious what I could plant in my yard where there was at one time grass and top soil. Our neighbor’s intentions were good when he started plowing my father-in-law’s driveway…. However, after seeing him do it once, my jaw dropped! He had taken at least 4” of soil off of the lawn areas along with the snow from the driveway 😣 He had been plowing there for 20-30 years! We have very sandy and rocky soil. I want to do something to improve what we have left.

[@leahmorrisoncreative]

This is FASCINATING! So I’m in an urban setting, which can get tricky with runoff and depending on what my neighbors are using on their lawns/sidewalks and so on. And the only place where I really have full sun is my tiny front yard. The easement by the road being the sunniest. The thing that made me hesitant was all the salt used on the roads by plowing, as well as everything else that runs off into the soil (not much of a curb). So I built some raised bed, bought some compost and have been working these last few years to build up the soil biology as my knowledge has grown. And it is growing slowly but surely, increasing in bacteria, fungi, Protozoa, nematodes (bacterial, fungal, and omnivores), etc. Curious about your thoughts on this? Is there anything I’m not thinking of? I have absolutely loved your videos. I have become a bit of a soil nerd , checking the biology under a microscope, trying to learn as much as I can about feeding and caring for the soil, BUT I have found a gap between the bio-science community and the every day Gardener community. The practical application has been difficult. You take complicated concepts and break things down so simply. THANK YOU!!!!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks so much for the feedback! You could always add a few scoops of soil from an established garden area on your property to speed up the process in the raised beds a bit. I’m a soil need too, it’s just SO fascinating and we are still learning so much! We will be doing a comparison on these beds with a microscope soon so tune back in, fellow soil lover! ❤️

[@kawerkamp]

Thank you for always being curious, critical (i.e., questioning whatever popular/new methods are being advocated at the moment), and scientific (experimenting with multiple conditions to see what actually *works*) as you explore best gardening practices. Love your content!!

[@marm2371]

Wow!!!! What an amazingly informative video. I am a new subscriber and I am hooked girl!! I was debating this as we are digging new gardens. Thank you!!!!

[@sheylaboucher3829]

Thank you so much for that test and comparison. Can't wait to see the growing test. I really like yous videos, they are very helpful.

[@christinegunzel57]

So interesting and so informative - thank you! Looking forward to part three - the plants!

[@adrianteresa98]

This video is great! I learned so much here and I agree with what you're saying... Sometimes you need to break up the soil if you have hard clay like I do. I do need to start making my own compost so I know what is going in it... Thank you! 😁

[@karenlee005]

Such a great video! Great timing as I am working on adding a garden bed. I'm convinced to now get a soil test. As well, I've been trying to find more info on biosolids in commercial compost and what the regulatory labelling requirements are but it is so hard to get clarity on that info. Even our government (Canadian) published reports are either dated and still saying it's perfectly safe which I don't agree at all for the reasons you mentioned. Wow, all of this was so eyeopening.

[@josephhill2010]

Really interesting, i'm in the south west UK, and i've been gradually expanding my garden in a mostly grassy field (with various other persistent plant species like dock, dandelion, creeping buttercup etc). Mostly, i use porous plastic weed suppressant sheeting over ground for at least 6 months, to kill off the grass, then quite often i dig it over to remove the really persistent ones like couch grass and docks, then it'll be no dig after that, and i will use bought compost, but i'm happy with my supply, it's full of fungi, which seems a good thing to me to inoculate the soil. Also, i've got a free supply of horse manure just down the road which is quite handy, and i've used that for top dressing native soil too. Sometimes i've done cardboard then compost too in some places and that's been ok, though i've often had some native soil to put on top too. Another thing i reckon is really good is making microbe and nutrient rich compost teas, or 'swamp water'. My compost addiction does add up though on finances(it's just so nice having some nice dark stuff on hand whenever you want it!!) - i think i need to get into cover cropping more and trusting the soil i have, thanks for highlighting that:)

[@goldenfan2006]

Great to see the numbers side by side! I am working on starting new beds in native soil but want to get the soil tested, where did you send your samples into to get the Haney test done? Thanks!

[@indarafarms]

I had to comment and say thank you !! Thanks for taking the time to do the tests, the comparisons and the clear to understand scientific explanations. Makes total sense and re-confirms I’m on the right path. 🎉

[@myrrhidian3166]

We have "native soil" beds, some which have been tilled just once, and others that have never been tilled (we just removed the turf and planted). The ground is about 1/3 gravel, so we don't have amazing soil to begin with. To add organic matter, we rely heavily on mulches of rotten leaves and dried grass clippings. I'm sure no dig is more likely to create a garden bed that is instantly successful, and since it's easy and just requires monetary input, it's more appealing to novice gardeners. I want to work toward having no outside inputs to my garden, but that means I have to be patient while the soil builds. It doesn't happen overnight, but the productivity of the garden really gets so much better year by year.

[@kawerkamp]

Can't wait to see the video of the growing results in these three bed types!

[@nicolephillips9991]

What do you do when there are those difficult weeds? I'm trying to extend my garden this spring where there is creeping Charlie. I did cover it with cardboard and wood chips last summer but I'm sure it's still there and I don't really want to till that. Any advice? I was planning on doing no-dig there.

[@HoosierBenzo]

Good video, thanks! You mentioned not tilling in areas with rhizome weeds… do you notice a general difference in weed pressure between the three methods?

[@jonieward5827]

Thank you! This is very helpful info I just wish I had it about a month ago 😁. I’ve started two new beds with cardboard and compost/soil mix. But I can do the next two beds with the native soil method maybe, how long would it take to grow a cover crop and then be able to plant in it?

[@andreaarrigo4428]

This is the 4th video I've watched of yours and I am so happy I've found you! Wow. You talk about all the things I have questions about and more. I love the details you get into. So much great information. You are a gem for us home gardeners and aspiring growers. Thank you! Do you do consultations???? :D

[@deiongreen3042]

so glad I found you, this is enlightening information, you mentioned cover crops to help amend the soil, will you have more information about this, I am a newby urban flower farmer so I definitely in the learning phase, many, many thanks

[@Blossomandbranch]

We have a video from a couple weeks back on spring cover cropping with peas, we have an online course that goes more in depth on cover cropping but we will cover it soon!

[@amypearce8242]

Would love to see an update on these beds. I have done a similar thing with my beds over the years (mostly because compost is just too expensive) so this is really interesting to see!

[@laurendobie9257]

So interesting! We are about to turn agricultural land into our orchard and garden, I actually think our native soil (we are 9b in south east Australia) is quite rich and healthy but the whole site is covered in thick couch grass. I think tilling in any capacity would be a disaster and instead hoping that an initial no dig approach followed by a life time of cover crops, guild planting and supporting/growing a thriving ecosystem will get us to a healthy place, though I will do some soil tests of the before during and then forever after..

[@morjulies]

3:40 You hit the nail on the head! I got bad compost last year and it made my garden a nightmare! I am still dealing with the weeds brougt in and things just dont grow in it!!!

[@michelleadams1210]

I appreciate your video, as I have used the no dig cardboard method, and although it suppressed weeds, I did wonder what was happening under there!! I have done it for flowers, but I think my new veggie garden will be tilled. I also looked into cover crops. Great permiculture idea. Thanks so much for going to the effort to educate us. ❤

[@carolstettheimer9906]

That was great. Here's one question. You did mention at the beginning that tilling isn’t great if you have rhizome spreading things to deal. with. I have a brand new house and yard on which the builder put Bermuda grass, so all the gardening I do is going to have to deal with that. What's the best way to start over Bermuda grass?

[@simd510]

Did you figure out the best method to get rid of rhizome spreading grass?

[@Padmeandkitty]

I haven’t had luck with cardboard. I started mine on top of existing grass without tilling. Just piled several inches of my unfinished compost and then finished sompost and some purchsed soil. I had very few weeds anf they pulled right up. I didnt have any grass poke through the 1st year. This year I had a little and it pulled right up.

[@thedreamcatchers3916]

This makes so much sense! Thank you for the knowledge!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sissyshouse793]

Good info! I have clay and rock. Mostly rock. I can't dig into it. I've tried. I have numerous raised beds with cardboard at the bottom for weed/grass control. I'll add the clippings from the first mow and then am having to pay for delivery of top soil and leaf compost. I can't see tilling rock to attempt using native clay although I'm open to suggestions. I'm planning to throw down some cardboard and topsoil/compost at the back of the yard and plant sunflowers. Perhaps once they've died off and the cardboard has decomposed I can till then and mix in some worm tea to amend and use that as a new bed next year. This is my first year and it's certainly been expensive.

[@mhubertcfi]

I use mulch from the landfill in the alleys which breaks down over a few years and kind of a Ruth Stout method in the beds but I live in a really arid area and need heavy layers to preserve moisture. I agree that cardboard is probably not good for life underneath. Grass clippings are applied around the plants as a top layer as well. Love to see the breakdowns of elements in each variety.

[@loridoherty3302]

Thank you! first video I've watched, so I'm sure it's covered somewhere else and I'll start exploring, but have no idea about "cover crops" and want to learn more. just subscribed!!

[@laragunther7423]

so new to this but have so many questions all the way from Australia . Can I ask if you are starting a new bed do you kill it off first ie with tarps and then till. Do you recommend a cover crop to use first. Do you mow that down and then dig it in? After you have grown a crop of flowers do you pull them out by the roots or leave the roots in the ground and plant around them for next crop. Do you add little compost then? I just love your videos and cant wait to watch them ALL xx

[@dls677]

Just this month I decided it’s time to move way from purchased compost. It’s getting too expensive, requires too much time, and is overkill. Cover crops pair especially well with soil that is already decent to begin with.

[@rootedinjoy8821]

I so appreciate your work. I bought in Thornton Dec 2021 and most of my soil was badly hydrophobic, clan pan so hard an 8 inch augur wouldn’t go through it. I cannot believe there was any life in it. I’m working to add organic material as much as I can, got some mushroom compost. I did get some bad compost dec 2021. I have not tested because I’ve added various amounts of various materials in various places. BUT….I would very much like to know what next I need to do.

[@frankjordan8997]

Thank you so much. I am getting ready to put in a new flower bed and this was very informative and helpful.

[@jlp4111]

I had soil conservation trees (tiny 1-6” tall) and shrubs struggling, growing during the summer, dying back during winter. Sent in soil samples after 2 yrs and we were low in phosphorus, which was unusual for our N Utah area. Property was previous farmland. Rented an aerator and aerated the 3.6 acres and then applied 0-45-0, less than half the amount suggested, too much $$ for recommended amount. The trees and shrubs started growing and thriving. Never applied any more pure phosphorus, now have mature trees and shrubs.

[@Bob-w2b8j]

I like the till once option. Here in Florida most of us have "myakka sandy soil" (yes, it has a specific name) and on average it's something like 85 percent sand 😅, so it really needs amending with large amounts of organic matter. The key is just understanding where and amendments that you buy in come from. I have a local landscape supply company and their compost is entirely green materials i.e. shredded trees, so no animal inputs which i think should be okay. Personally id probably just do a one time bulk purchase of that, then do a single deep till to start working it in, then go from there. It's really just initial setup, then you can start making at least a decent amount of your own compost using your own materials from your veg garden

[@supermarble123]

Thank you for taking the time to create the trial, getting the Haney test and looking at the results rather than being blinded by man-made theories about how things work. On that note: If we look at nature having sussed out how to grow things so beautifully, then just a simple check question might be straight away sending warning signals whenever someone comes up with some new method based on his or her thinking rather than observation. The question is this: what does nature do? Does nature ever dump 12 inches of compost anywhere in one go? Just imagine the amount of fresh organic material it takes to make 12inches of well matured compost. Even if it's the best of source material and heavy metals or contaminants and all nutrients would be well-balanced, it's still like force-feeding the soil with nutrients. In nature, if there is any compost at all, where does it come from (hint: not from obscure places, not from large scale human waste management facilities). In other words, if a method doesn't mimic nature very closely, think more than twice.

[@leannecarroll9347]

Such good information. You explain it so well and it makes a lot of sense

[@doesntevenliketomatoes]

I know you mentioned that the till method wouldn’t work for a rhizomes based area… which we have 😢. Previous owners did Lily of the Valley, English Ivy, Bishops Weed, and Ferns. All so invasive 🤦🏼‍♀️. What would you recommend for starting over in those beds?

[@simd510]

Wondering the same..

[@rootsredefined]

Do you use landscape fabric/cloth as a weed barrier? If not, how do you manage weeds? Thanks so much!

[@jbradbury5850]

Great video, I will be sharing with my garden club!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you!

[@ltuerk]

Smart experiment- Thank you for sharing. Right now I’m learning some JADAM practices for feeding and boosting microbial life in my soil. Using local leaf mold to create my own fermented fish and other fertilizers, activated bio char, lactic acid bacteria serum and other brews. Garden like a Viking teaches on YT and there is a book, JADAM Organic Farming. These principles sound so compatible with yours so I mention it. Love what you do and teach so generously. You create a realistic oasis and encourage us when you share it♥️♥️♥️

[@candiediacon6015]

Hello. I live in NE Oklahoma and we have Bermuda grass and Johnson grass. Smothering has been the only method that has worked well for me. I used to till once then cover with cardboard but i stopped tilling because it just didn’t seem to help. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@simd510]

I was wondering if tilling would get rid of the grass, because I thought it brings seeds to the surface that will germinate...

[@megrafferty5832]

Thanks so such for all the great work you are doing!!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you for being here!

[@designsbybriana]

I ended up getting compost from a farmer a few times. I knew he accepted compost from other sources like landscapers, etc. The last time I got compost, he did not screen it so I got a real good look at what’s in his compost. I’m still pulling glass, plastics, you name iit in that bed. I’m still really upset about it so yes, you really should find out what they are using for compost because I’m sure I now have heavy metals because of all the stuff that he originally had in his compost.

[@joshrg22]

What a wealth of information. Thanks!

[@sweetpeasandyarrowaranchdi8327]

We farm and I have animals. I've always put their composted manure on my beds. Tons of it and have never had a problem. I can't afford to buy in barkdust and compost for all my beds. I don't add cardboard under new beds, because we don't get enough rain to break it down.

[@MindfulosophyOrg]

Thanks for sharing your experiences! You mention a regenerative ag podcast link in the video, but I'm not seeing it. Could you post please?

[@eyrerosecottage1970]

I totally agree about using native soil instead of cardboard and large amounts of compost.

[@karenbaker5485]

I love your information. It is too easy to just go with the next trend without really thinking about it. I let my husband turn over the soil in a new bed (because that’s how he has always done it) even though I was thinking it was wrong because of all I’ve heard lately. I need to figure out what cover crop works in central California zone 9b. Thanks for doing the work to test out what is right and true.

[@evitaslittleparadise]

Wow! All that info, thank you! I had been gardening for over 30 years wiith the till method amending with my own compost and my garden is looking healthy. Last year I started a raised bed and had to buy some bags of organic compost since I didn't have enough of my own and also a few weeks ago to fill up the raised bed to start the season. After watching your vlog, I will check where I can get a soil test done, after all I will be eating what I'll be growing in the raised bed. A big thank you ! I love ❤your channel!😊

[@simd510]

Doesnt tilling bring up weed seeds that will eventually germinate? How do you deal with the weeds?

[@evitaslittleparadise]

I plant densely. Weeds are not a problem in my beds at all, there are a few but it's not worth mentioning. The only place where weeds grow is in the lawn which doesn't bother me. I now have a robot that mow the lawn every other day, so eventually....hopefully I might get rid of most of the weeds someday😊.

[@simd510]

@@evitaslittleparadise ohhh so once you till if you plant densely it will keep the grass/weeds from coming back.. makes sense. Do you think that would work for rhizome grasses?

[@evitaslittleparadise]

@@simd510 I'm not really sure....probably not. When I started my garden over 30 years ago, I tilled and cleaned the soil, getting rid of weeds and rhizome grasses. As I remember, the grasses would come back and I would dig them out again until they disappeared.

[@helencole7636]

Very helpful information. Thank you!!

[@neverendingharvest6413]

Thanks for the advice 😊

[@DIYbri]

I think I finally understand why my no dig bed was a total fail last year. 🤦‍♀️

[@Blossomandbranch]

I hear more complaints from folks with yellowing plants in no dig beds! It’s not that the idea behind it is all that bad, it’s just hard to make that much good quality compost at home, so many rely on purchased and that’s where things get difficult with quality!

[@DIYbri]

@@Blossomandbranch Yep! Exactly what I did. Thanks for the help!!

[@banabajardine]

Such an interesting video 😮 thanks a lot for this, and the results are making sense for me !

[@anat.heistart]

I wish you put the updates in the pinned comments or description box. This is the second video I have watched that I can't find the updates on. I enjoy the videos and want to see the results

[@Blossomandbranch]

Unfortunately our farm got hit with a major hailstorm and destroyed the entire front beds seen here. It was a rough year.

[@hedgerow.homestead]

I dislike bringing in do much soil but I do raised beds to keep my dogs out of the garden... I may look into other options for my beds I wants to make

[@reagan9213]

Definitely doing this, I want to find ways to amend the natural soil here, I’m a new gardener and the locals in rural Nevada so far seem to think it’s no good and not worth the work.

[@dianaingles3019]

Thanks for all the info! Question 🐿 starting last year… I’ve had ticks showing up in my cut bouquets… do you have any recommendations?

[@joannakracher9507]

Thank you for doing this test and sharing the results. Interesting... I wonder how would the results change if the compost used in the no-dig method was homemade (this is how I made my beds).

[@Blossomandbranch]

It is probably much lower in salt but many composts, even vegetative ones, can contain too much phosphorus which can build up in the beds, especially if it is added annually.

[@cynthiaschmauder9862]

Thank you for the import soil information! I learn so much from you channel.

[@lexigomez165]

Hello, okay. So this is the first video of your that I’ve watch and I appreciate the info. But I now wonder what to do? How do you correct salt levels? And also what about those with rhizome based weeds?

[@tomasmigilinskas1488]

There are many ways to do this and that, but it all depends on when it is necessary to have a bed for production, the sooner its required - the more labour and cost it will demand. If bed is required for next year, its possible to get away just by covering area by agrotextile or cardboard and having few rounds of cover crops (autumn/winter kill + early spring)

[@tomasmigilinskas1488]

Btw, good channel with pragmatic advises :)

[@TheresevonHackwitz]

I can't thank you enough for this facts!