Our Tips

 Sheet Mulching

Sheet mulching is a great no-dig way to suppress weed growth, moderate soil temperature, retain soil moisture and nutrients, prevent erosion and encourage favorable microbial growth in the soil.  

1. Knock down, mow, flatten or cut the current unwanted weeds as short as possible.  If desired, you can sprinkle in manure, grass clippings or alfalfa meal to increase nitrogen.

2. Moisturize the soil if necessary.

3. Apply the weed barrier or sheet to block light.  The simplest and least expensive way is to spread out 4-6 layers of newspaper (cardboard, burlap, can also be used) over the downed weds.  Make sure to overlap the edges 4-6" so no weeds get through. 
The weed matter will start to decompose and slowly add nutrients to the soil.

4. Add a 2-3" layer of nutrient-rich manure or compost.  1 cubic yard covers approximately 100 square feet.

5. Finally spread a 5" layer of coarse mulch on top of the organic matter.  Coarse mulch can be wood shavings, redwood bark, or "gorilla hair" – shredded redwood bark (some counties and municipalities discourage "gorilla hair" because it can be a fire hazard.  Check with your local fire department)

Click here to see a video on how to sheet mulch!

 Minimize Soil Disturbance

Rototilling and excessive soil disturbance, it has been learned, can destroy or severely damage the soil food web.  Deep turning destroys soil structure and displaces soil biota.  Important bacterial hyphae are eliminated and worm tunnels and soil porosity are completely rearranged.

If your soil needs to be turned, then do so lightly with a trowel. In severe cases, with a serious soil structure imbalance, rototilling may be an acceptable way to restart the soil food web.  See the Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening for more information.

 Plant Cover Crops

Helps alleviate soil compaction and add nutrients to the soil. Cover crops, or green manures, involve planting a fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing legume like fava beans to help increase the nitrogen content of the soil.  It also provides carbon which prevents the nitrogen from leaching away. 

Some cover crops, like rye, have aggressive root growth that can help alleviate soil compaction.  Sunflowers also have roots that have a stronger ability to break through compacted soils. 

In late fall, plant cover crop seeds (fava beans, rye) and turn them under in the spring. You also can plant them in different sections of the garden early in the spring. This can be done over several growing seasons. This rotation will improve a large vegetable garden over several years.