An Australian named Esther Deans developed the idea of no dig gardening. It is a method to rejuvenate badly depleted soil in a garden.

You start with layers of newspaper and adding lucerne hay, straw and compost in succeeding layers. You create a growing medium without resorting to heavy digging and one that is rich in nutrients and which will simplify weeding and support plants to grow.

The layers compost together and significantly encourage earthworms. The garden is maintained by adding manure, compost, etc., and should not be dug up, as this will nullify the good work. No dig gardening has sound foundations. Excessive cultivation of the soil, particularly when very wet or very dry, will damage the structure of the soil, and lead to compaction. Such excessive cultivation can also discourage the earthworms, and they are the best free labor a gardener has.

No dig gardening should not be translated into never-dig. If you begin with a base soil that is badly compacted, then your no dig garden will work well in the beginning, but there is huge possibility that your garden will not continue to perform well.

An initial cultivation of the soil before you apply the no dig system will guarantee a better environment for the worms, and consequently a better garden for growing your plants, over the longer term.

Give the no dig gardening approach a try - you will be pleased with the result.