No-till gardening: Gardeners are divided over the need to till. Tilling — mixing in soil amendments and loosening the ground with a garden fork or a rototiller — is an established method for starting a new gardening bed.
In the fall, many gardeners also will till to prepare the bed for spring planting. Tilling can cause problems such as soil compaction and contribute to erosion.
Proponents of the no-till philosophy say it’s not necessary to till once a bed is established. Amendments such as compost and manure are “top dressed,” which means added directly on top of the planting bed. Watering and soil organisms such as worms pull the amendments into the soil over time. The method is closer to the way Mother Nature builds soil. Proponents say it prevents soil erosion and saves time and energy.
Have you tried it? Is it working for you?
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