*The information contained in this double pack has been taken from Modules 1,2 and 4 of my online course, No Dig Gardening, so if you have purchased this course, or just these modules, you will already have the information. For any queries, please email anna@charlesdowding.co.uk

Please note, these are digital products and only accessible via the website. They are not downloadable.*

When I started gardening in 1981, I was well aware of what some gardeners called ‘the weed problem’. I could see my mother spending a lot of time dealing with weeds, and started to feel there had to be a better way to garden, with more time to be creative. 

This led me to no dig! In this double pack, I show how the two big topics are intimately interrelated. No dig is now receiving the recognition it merits. Yet until only recently it was mostly not considered viable!

I explain the simplicity of this wonderful approach. How much time and effort it saves you, and how much weeding.

Simple and universal 

For no dig you can use any kind of compost, not necessarily perfect in texture. It speeds up soil organisms’ access to food, and boosts fertility. Sometimes this is referred to as feeding soil, but, strictly speaking, we feed the life in the soil.

Surface mulching, with compost in particular, is effective on all soil types. I give examples from my four market gardens, the first of which was on stony soil, then there was clay, and now silt. 

Learn how no dig makes it easy to manage soil differences. Largely because you don’t get too involved with any soil work. Instead, encourage the life in soil to do that through surface mulching with organic matter.

Weed control is far easier with no dig

You save so much time, every month of every year.

It’s not a problem if you have a weedy site when starting out. Appropriate mulching in year one enables you to experience the joy of weed-free soil. Not 100% weed free, but highly manageable – I show you how.

Identify your main weeds to know better how to mulch, what types of mulch to use, and how to stay weed free in all seasons.

Two types of weeds

Learn the important differences between two main types of weeds, and details of the most common weeds. In particular, I explain the characteristics and differences of annual and perennial weeds.

It helps to name and understand each weed. That informs you about how to mulch or remove the ones you find, and how urgently. Understand how their growth tendencies affect what you need to do, in order to achieve clean soil for easy growing.

Going weed free with organic mulches

Eliminating perennial weeds is possible with no dig, and here is the how-to, using mulches of organic matter only. I explain why it’s so successful in eliminating what are often seen as difficult, if not impossible, weeds. 

I also show you how to use non-organic matches such as black plastic. I don’t recommend using it a lot, but it’s a helpful tool to have in the locker!

Knowledge pack contents – includes text, photos and video

About No Dig

• Advantages and recent history of no dig
• Simple, time saving, productive
• No dig on different soil types  
• Comparing dig and no dig for 13 years – what the differences reveal 
• A three strip trial and continuous cropping 
• Myths – what you don’t need to do

Weeds

• Know your weeds – the two types
• Organic mulches
• Non-organic mulches
• Staying weed free