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How to Build a No Dig Garden
Creating a garden without using a shovel is really quite easy...The no dig garden is exactly what it sound like... A fertile garden bed with no digging at all. Sucha garden does involves layering clean, organic materials that will literally compost around your plants as they grow.The No Dig Garden is built on top of the ground, so you can build a garden anywhere, despite the surface below. This type of garden is extremely attractive for those sites with poor soil or that are weed infested. It's also a great method of gardening for those that can't (or don't want to) dig a garden patch! Choosing the Site - Pick a spot for your garden that gets at least 5 hours of sunlight a day. Drainage for this area should not be a concern because of the materials that will be used in making the garden. If you are planting over lawn or weeds, mow them to ground level. If you are planting on a hard surface, put down some cushioning organic material first (like seaweed or leaves). Building the No Dig Garden - Start with a layer of newspaper (no colour printing), at least 6mm (1/4 inch) thick. Surround the garden area with some sort of border material. This can be bricks, logs, planks or rocks, but should be at least 20-25CM high (8-10 inches) to contain the organic material within. Lay down a layer of lucerne hay leaving no gaps, to a height of 10cm (about 4 inches). Note: Lucerne Hay (Medicago Sativa) or Alfalfa is a green leafy crop similar to clover, often fed to horses. Layer some good organic fertilizer on top to a height of 20mm (1 inch). This can be just about any sort of good quality material like chicken, horse, cow or sheep manure. Now add a thick layer of straw to the garden 150mm (6 inches) and another layer of fertilizer and then top it off with a 100mm (4 inches) of compost.
Water the garden until it's soaking and let it settle for a few days before planting. Then add some seedlings of the vegetables or flowers you desire. Seedlings do better than seeds in the no dig garden. Here's what will happen next. The seedlings will get a kick start in the rich, compost top soil. The layers of fertilizer will start the 'composting' of the lucerne hay and straw. The composting will generate heat and biological activity that will really kick along the seedling growth. The roots will further break down the straw and hay which in turn will become solid enough to support the growing plants. The newsprint is thick enough to discourage weed growth through the layers, but will deteriorate enough to allow earth worms to chew their way upwards. Over time, continue to layer mulch, straw and compost as the garden bed matures. Never dig or turn this bed over, just layer more and more material as required. Rotate your crops and add fresh compost regularly. Your garden bed will deliver consistent, spectacular results season after season. About the author: Judy Williams ( www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being a media executive and an earth mother goddess. No Dig Vegetable Gardens represents a clean, green way to grow your own food. Her site covers all aspects of growing, cooking and preserving your harvest.
News about No Dig Gardens
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Most plants are tough so they can recover from under watering with only the loss of a few leaves -- unless you wait too long and pass the point of no return. Adirondack Chairs - How to Care for and Clean Them Different from any other chair, the Adirondack chair was first created in the late 1800s by Thomas Lee as a means of making something exceptionally comfortable, affordable, and a chair that could be used in the house or backyard. What makes this chair so unique is the overall design. For instance, the Adirondack chair has a deep seat, curved back that wraps around the body, and wide armrests to hold a favorite drink or book. Although you might spend a little more money for this type chair, keep in mind it will last for years so it is well worth the investment. However, to make it last and last, you need to know the proper method of caring for your Adirondack chair.
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