No dig on perennial weeds 2021-2024 results

Land I purchased in January 2021. It had combinations of grasses and plants such as creeping buttercup, bindweed Convolvulus arvensis, dandelions, and more.

The area is 3600 m², just under an acre. Currently I am cropping 660 m², or about 1/6 of an acre.

I explain how with no dig, you can lay mulch covers on vigorous perennial weeds.
The initial mulch effect, with no new weed growth, can last 4 to 10 weeks. Once you see new growth of any perennial weeds, you need to follow up weekly by removing them. For that I recommend using a trowel.
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Two options when starting no dig on weedy ground:
1 Lay cardboard on the weeds with compost on top of it.
2 Spread compost on the weeds with black plastic on top of the compost.

I used one method in some places and the second method in other places. The results here are impressive.
Compare with the video we filmed here in June 2021,

See the playlist 2021-23

Filmed by Edward Dowding 16th August 2024 at Homeacres no dig garden, Somerset, UK. It's a market garden and we are selling vegetables with a value of around £30,000 every year.

Music by: @rorydinwoodiemusic
IG: rorydinwoodiemusic

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[franksinatra]

I'm 65 and have been gardening since I was 20. I just discovered you and your no dig techniques around 4 or 5 years ago. So I gardened the hard way for 40 long years. If only I discovered these great techniques a long time ago. Oh well better late than never. Thanks for intoducing me to your no dig techeqnics Charles. Always a pleasure to watch your videos.

[maxiemills]

Charles, thank you. You are a great inspiration. I am a 66 year old man in Spokane Washington USA.I have a back yard garden. Nine raised beds, three with trellises on the backs for growing beans, and two cattle panel arches over three of the other six beds. This year I grew beets, lettuce, spinich, and carrots in the spring, then beans, tomatoes, peppers, and various squashes both in the ground and in the raised beds. Beans got a virus. Spinich and beets had leaf miners. Everything else has done well. I credit you with answering many of my questions about the garden. Thank you. I feel like you have been a wonderful friend in the garden. Thank you thank you thank you.

[jimchristensen]

Charles you sure set the bar high for us novice gardeners. Your methods along with how great your gardens produce and look gives us lots of incentive to grow and make our gardens the best we can. Thank You!

[sunangel-rivka]

Long time gardener here and I just wanted to pop in to endorse this method. If you are on the fence, absolutely go for it, it will change your life.

A couple of tips, if you want to buy compost the best thing to do is to purchase it ahead of time and let it sit for a few months if you can. Most purchased compost is not ready and if you plant into it you may have disappointing results. Not always... but many times. Number two, when you start your garden try to find large pieces of cardboard, appliance and furniture stores have a gold mine of large pieces that have less seams... of course you can always use all your old Amazon boxes but the bigger pieces let less weeds grow through the cracks. Thirdly, I would discourage putting grass that close to my beds. I do have a lawn but I have a strip about 4 ft wide of wood chip before my garden beds start. This is so that I don't have to keep edging the lawn like Charles does. If you like that look, go for it but realize the grass will never stop trying to infiltrate your beds.

This method is amazing and especially if (like me), you're not as young as you used to be, being free of heavy, heavy weeding is a godsend. Thank you Charles!

[Im-just-Stardust]

Great video! Its amazing how a simple patch of perrenial grass can be turned into a productive organic garden. When I first opened my garden few years ago using those techniques I was not expecting it would turn out into a really really beautiful garden producing monstruous quantities of healthy organic food.

[Gabster]

The found the easiest way is to put all green cut on the beds and let it turn into compost right on the bed. First year I used a lot of cut grass and later switched to Jerusalem artichoke, comfrey, tree spinach (they create a lot of green), dry leaves... Nice side effect is that the beds don't really get dry even in summer and I save a lot of water and seeds that the wind and birds bring cant grow.

[Allotment-diaryUk]

You are my hero Charles.
I took on your methods and haven't looked back.
Thank you. 😊

[anniecampbell]

Thanks for the run through of the way you’ve developed the space and how you manage it. The plants look so vigorous and colorful. Maybe you could convert the ‘left over’ space into a wildflower meadow which, once established, would be relatively low maintenance but would attract the bees and other pollinators en masse.

[martinasmales]

A super video. Perfect for those who are "non believers" & for those who would like to try. I know it works because I've done it on my allotment. It is so much better than digging. Thank you for your positivity. Long may you broadcast😊.

[tinahart]

This stunning Charles, not just your beautiful garden but the way this has been filmed by your wonderful son Edward. Hopefully I will come and see your new bit next year if you have another open gardens. Best wishes and good health to you all. Who needs Gardners World when you have Homeacres to watch 🥰

[rachelsoulsby]

Charles it is so inspirational to watch your videos 19:07 . It has also been fantastic enjoying and harvesting from my own patch, and I realise how much I have learnt from you. You plant your seeds at Home acres and via the internet around the world for us all to grow. Thank you your tips and advice really work even for novices.

[ruabonlife]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing. I have a small veggie patch in Western Australia, which I've taken into No Dig territory from inspiration from you. I love watching your videos.
My soil is acidic, so we are using ground lime pathways to sweeten it, and cardboard/compost. I've been gardening for decades, on and off, and since going No Dig last year, I've had such abundance!
I do need to mulch the soil to cope with our extreme heat, and water often, but all else is your system.

[MVHPlaylist]

The asparagus looks so ordimental. Moving beautifully in the breeze.

[ginavandam]

When I started my garden I spent the whole winter watching your inspirational videos. That gave me courage to start. You still give me inspiration and the spirit to go on even if I fail, the weather is damaging or the f*ing slugs that ruined almost everything this year. I cut 30-100 every evening. I was not alone in this horrible situation that helped. But now I am rolling up my sleeves and planning for next season...how to stop and avoid the sweet Bambies, badgers and slugs. Thanks for all skills you teach and for the joy it brings!!! 💖🌞💐😀👌Nothing compares to gardening...greetings from Sweden🇸🇪

[Sky-Child]

Love how you have been advocating no dig for literally decades and you are still as infectiously enthusiastic. Well done, you are doing excellent work. 🍅

[krazedvintagemodel]

And look what you've become! A fine example! My first garden was double dug to 18 inches deep. Thank you Charles for all you've done and all you share! 🌻🐈‍⬛🌱🪴🌳🏡

[jennyjohnson]

Your videos are always such an inspiration to me. This year has been a real challenge weatherwise and a lot of my crops have failed. Seeing your wonderful space always makes me feel that all is not lost! So much to learn from you!

[turtle]

Your no dig method Sir Charles has changed everything in my gardening world. 😊 I can hardly cope with the abundance even in such strange weather conditions this year. And even in winter I have enough fresh greens now. Dankeschön ❤.

[williamkujanpaa]

I am on my second round of cabbages for the season. I would never had tried this if it wasn’t for your videos and books. We are building a greenhouse from trees on our property and someone’s old 3 seasons porch windows. I can’t wait to extend the season with more of your ideas. Thank you so much!

[smas]

Great advice on starting and or extending our gardens.
About 20 years ago Hubby had at least 15 trees taken down in our back yard. We are still surround on 3 sides by mature trees. When he started our garden he rototilled for few years as garden grew. He still finds fine roots when transplanting. We have adjusted well. Thank you Charles and no dig for 3 years.