Healthy Regenerative Lifestyle
Top-Down Gardening
What is top-down gardening and the benefits it provides? If you want a weedless garden then read…
David Proctor
We may not live on a farm, but we can grow where we live.
Weedless Gardening
by David Proctor
April 11, 2019
Urban Farm Lifestyle Magazine Published Weekly
We think of weedless gardening, is after the tiller has been run to till under the weeds and loosen the soil. But what is really happening is that you are planting weeds when you till the soil.
The best way is to not till or at least limit tilling by establishing permanent paths and areas for plant beds in the garden. This way the area that you have your plants in does not become compacted.
The next thing is to use a good organic mulch so the weeds do not see the light of day. This will also feed your plants and help maintain moisture in the garden for your plants.
This first type of no-till gardening will be discussed by Dr. Lee Reich, a former plant and soil researcher for the USDA and professor of horticulture, author, and longtime avid gardener.
“Weedless gardening! That’s an oxymoron, an impossibility, right? Well, my gardens may not be 100 percent weed-free, but they are 100 percent free of weed problems.”
“I’ve achieved this happy state in four ways:
To read more, Click this link>>>
Weedless Garden
The next method of no-till gardening is dubbed “Lasagna Gardening” because it is done in layers like lasagna. Start with newspapers or cardboard and place that on the ground where you would like to garden.
Next start alternating layers of straw and manure or compost. This will break down, giving your plants nutrients and at the same time controlling the weeds.
Once your plants get some height to them, top the lasagna off with compost and straw.
To read more about this article that Teri wrote…
click here>>>
Sheet Mulching
The third method is the well-known gardening method by Mel Bartholomew, the square foot garden.
The concept is to lay out a weed barrier, build a frame that is 4×4 and place a grid on top that has1 foot squares. This is a very efficient method of gardening, as developed by an engineer.
To read more about Mel’s method
click this link>>>
Square Foot Gardening
These methods do not mean that you never have to pull a weed again, but the pulling of weeds will be reduced or almost eliminated.
It sure beats using a till method to turn the soil plus these methods will give the earthworms and other microorganisms a chance to do their thing.
Check It Out!
Mel Bartholomew – Introducing Square Foot Gardening 3:19
Quick Tip
1. Do not till the soil.
2. Set up areas in the garden for planting and walking
3. Cover planting area with compost, minimum of 1″ depth.
4. Use drip irrigation for an accumulation of half an hour per day.
5. Do not use hay for bedding unless it has been tested for persistent herbicide.
Bibliography:
“No-Till & Compost, and Still Problems.” Lee Reich. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
“Maintain a Weedless Organic Garden.” Mother Earth News. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
“Create an Instant Garden with Sheet Mulching or Lasagna Gardening.” N.p., 03 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
“What Is Square Foot Gardening?” Mel Bartholomew. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
Spates, Cheryl, et al. “Weedless Gardening – Growing A Greener World.” Growing A Greener World®, 7 Mar. 2017, www.growingagreenerworld.com/weedless-gardening/.
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