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Winter is a good time to plan for better garden soil. Soil is the soul of your garden. As goes the soil, so grows your plants. In my new book, The Complete Guide to No-Dig Gardening, I talk all about growing vegetables, herbs and flowers without tilling, turning or disturbing the soil. There are many good reasons for gardening this way.
No-dig doesn t disturb the billions of soil creatures in your soil or the natural structure, so plants grow better, there s less weeds, water and air flow better and it s less work for you. And it sequesters carbon in the soil. No dig beds are usually raised. Either add a combination of compost and topsoil or layer organic materials in the bed as you would a compost pile. As the materials break down they create rich soil. In weedy areas place cardboard under the bed. If mice and voles are a problem in your beds, attach ¼ inch mesh, hardware cloth to the bottom of the bed.