Go "No Till" and Do Your Garden Soil Some Good
By John Yazo
A gardener's dream is to have soil that's naturally airy, one that she can plunge her fingers into. But tilling garden soil to the point where it meets these conditions can do more harm than good to the soil. A no-till garden is the goal that she, and any other gardener, should work towards.
Your garden's soil is full of life, a complex community of insects and microorganisms.
They're a crucial part of maintaining a healthy soil organically.
Microorganisms aid in the decomposition of organic matter in the soil and add nutrients back into it.
Earthworms, along with soil-dwelling insects, are another important part of the soil maintenance process. They tunnel their way through the soil, tilling and aerating it naturally.
They contribute more organic matter and nutrients to the soil by the distribution of their waste. This is just one of the many natural processes that make a healthy soil.
Tilling your soil can harm, or kill, its worms, beneficial insects and microorganisms. Soil also contains pathways that were made by plant roots and worms tunneling through it.
These pathways allow air and water into the soil. Tilling destroys these pathways, allowing the soil to compact.
Weed seeds that have been long buried are brought to the surface to germinate, adding to your never-ending weed problems in the garden.
A no-till garden (also called a no-dig garden) is one that has a healthy soil structure with plenty of organic matter to feed the beneficial insects and microorganisms that live in the soil.
In return, these insects and microorganisms work the soil for you by tilling it naturally and providing the nutrients needed for plants to thrive.
A continuous top dressing of organic matter like compost will add the food needed for these garden workers to survive and toil hard for you. After a few years, your garden will have become a truly no-till garden, with that naturally airy soil.
Parts of this article are from Tilling Your Garden Soil Can Do More Harm Than Good, by John Yazo
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