Talk:No-dig gardening

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Re lasagne merger to here

No-dig gardening dates from the 70's and it seems lasagne gardening is derivative method promoted by a specific group though with similar aims. It can be merged as an offshoot method in its own section but it doesn't seem to distinguish itself from the original method, just a localised version. I'd like "lasagne" to have its own subheading to no-dig and I'd be happy to write it in that way. Any suggestions? Julia Rossi 07:13, 26 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

latest change

Maybe the latest change adding sheet mulching pretty much covers the lasagne method. tks Julia Rossi 02:51, 28 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

weather protection incorrect

The weather actually contributes to the processes engaged in the no-dig method to improve the soil. In other words, the soil needs to be exposed to the weather, not protected from it. The mulch is there to

prevent or slow down weed growth
prevent evaporation so as to save from tillage and limit waterings.
in the case of organic mulches, bring nutrients to the soil (weathering - precisely - and micro-organisms degrade the organic compounds, and worms and other such animals burrow the materials).
I may have forgotten 1 or 2 uses for the mulch...

Thank you for correcting this. Basicdesign (talk) 05:44, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

digging micro-organisms as fertilizers???

I have removed "Digging allows farmers and gardeners to kill the micro organisms and use their bodies as fertiliser." because

I can't find anywhere a reference for that.
"Allows" means it's beneficial - unless you're going for irony but I'm not sure it's appropriate.
I don't think that the bodymass of micro-orgnisms is high enough to make much difference as a fertilizer, even considering homeopathic effects of micro-nutrients thus released.
on the other hand I have a vague memory of the demise creating something nasty, can't remember what. Probably releases a bit of carbone to start with, but that's not what upsets the plants.

Please do replace it in the article when you have found a reference for it. Thanks. Basicdesign (talk) 06:14, 6 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Rewrite

Hopefully the article as it stands today will clarify the technique and take care of the apparent confusion above - see the cited references for further clarification on how a healthy soil functions. Red58bill (talk) 05:28, 10 March 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Aeration

Shouldn't the broadfork be mentioned, as well as the principle of this tool. The tool breaks the soil and aerates it, without overturning the soil. I think it complies completely with no-till farming, although perhaps not with no-dig gardening. In most cases, the tool is even indispensable for no-till agriculture. KVDP (talk) 12:43, 15 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]