[mumofstig]

I don't  use a spade except when planting potatoes - but compost (sometimes manure)gets forked into the top few inches -  does this count as digging? 

I don't care what people do with their plots - I guess it depends on your soil and your back as long as people and plants are happy is doesn't matter does it!

[pdblake]

...as long as people and plants are happy is doesn't matter does it!

That's the important bit. As long as the plants are happy so am I, not sure they're bothered about the other way around though.

[Growster...]

Funnily enough, I still can't decide whether to dig or not...

I wouldn't mind getting a light power tiller though, like a Mantis, as that would take away the job I like least, which is the intermediate 'knocking down', before raking to a tilth. I find that hurts the old back more than anything, even with a trusty Growstada,,,:0)

If I had a choice, I'd probably come down on the side of a definite maybe...;0)

[mumofstig]

Growster - here's hoping your fence is pointless (not your posts, of course) 

[Stewpot]

No digging plots in my himble opinion, is for people that don't like work!

[Ice]

No digging plots in my himble opinion, is for people that don't like work!

That's a rather narow minded attitude.  Lots of us, me included, have physical problems that mean digging is out of the question.  I suggest you engage your brain before putting digits to keyboard.

[ThatsNice]

No digging plots in my himble opinion, is for people that don't like work!

That's a rather narow minded attitude.  Lots of us, me included, have physical problems that mean digging is out of the question.  I suggest you engage your brain before putting digits to keyboard.

Couldn't agree more Ice! I have a long standing back problem which is mostly ok, but digging in the traditional way would cause me problems. I am the only bread winner in my house. I cannot afford to be off work. So it's a no brainier for me.

[Growster...]

Growster - here's hoping your fence is pointless (not your posts, of course) 

Nice one, Mums!

And only half an hour ago, Mrs G and I decided that we would lower the pyracantha hedge behind The Turrets a foot or so...

Ouch...:0)

[mumofstig]

very ouch indeed   

[Agatha]

I do part dig, part no-dig.  Soil is very heavy clay with lots of perennial weeds (the previous people used to rotovate every year, so have 'propagated' lots of thistles, docks, nettles etc for me!) but as I gradually get areas of the plot less compacted and more weed-free I am moving those areas over to no-dig.  Partly because the plot gets waterlogged very easily and there simply isn't enough time to dig over the whole plot in the small windows of time when the soil is workable, but also I do think it is better for the soil structure, worm count etc.

[Gwiz]

No dig for me also.
Two damaged discs one either side of the same vertebrae.

[Trillium]

I'm the same - thinning discs in lower back force me to be careful in what I do, so it's no dig for me as well. Even better is that no dig works better for me - almost no weeding, no watering in our very dry summers, and the worms are thankful.

But you can't just plant into any old unprepared soil. I use the Eden method of very heavy mulch over a layer of manure and compost, and also have 2 ft high raised beds in other areas that are also heavily mulched.

Here's an interesting video: LINK

[RichardA]

Can I ask -- does the massive use of compost and manure and especially wood chip make the soil increasingly acidic year after year

[Jamrock]

No digging plots in my himble opinion, is for people that don't like work!

Not a very bright post. Many no dig growing systems have been shown to work just aswell if not better than traditional methods. Double and deep digging is unnecessary after the first year for most types of soil and even on heavy clay no dig systems are possible. I am 25 years old, 6ft tall, 15 stones in weight. I play football and cricket at weekends and have a very active lifestyle. Yet I dont deep dig my established beds because it will be counter-productive to what I am trying to achieve and totally unnecessary

[JayG]

Can I ask -- does the massive use of compost and manure and especially wood chip make the soil increasingly acidic year after year

Compost and rotted manure should be reasonably neutral - organic acids are produced during the rotting down process but are then in turn broken down (so wood-chip and other unrotted materials would have a temporary acidifying effect.)

The main cause of acid soils is simply a lack of lime in them.