Flowers and flower beds

[Bea]

Hello,
I am very new to no dig method and to gardening in general. I have a very neglected garden bought with a neglected house. The first year I tried to dig out all bindweed and brambles. This year many new weeds grew as well as new shoots of bindweed and brambles. I am wondering if I can use the no dig method for creating flower beds and lawn in the future? Currently my small garden is covered in black foil and old carpets to cut the light from the weeds.
Thank you,
Bea

[Don Foley]

Hi Bea,

Yes you certainly can though I personally wouldn’t waste compost on an area I plan to set as lawn.

Don.

[Bea]

Hi Don,
Thank you for your reply. I plan to keep the soil covered for a year. Do you think I should just even it and put the turf on top after?
Thank you,
Bea

[Don Foley]

Hi Bea,

I think that’s the hardest part of setting out a new lawn area – getting a nice even surface and it pays to take your time over this aspect. After a year of being covered all weeds will be dead and you will have a nice clean surface to work with. Once your happy that the area is level or contoured as you require just lay your sods.
As for the flower beds I can attest that the no dig approach made a significant difference for me. The flowers/shrubs in my herbaceous borders were bigger, stronger and the colours seemed to me more vivid. I’m still amazed that simply spreading compost on the surface could make such a difference but it really does.
One final thing. I think you should apply the compost to the bed areas in October/November which will give plenty of time for the worms to incorporate it into the soil over winter, and of course give the frost time to break up any lumps. The beds will then be in perfect shape for planting into in spring.

Don

[Bea]

Hi Don,
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge and experience.
I hope one day my garden will look beautiful.
Bea

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