Thursday, 4 September 2008 9:35 PM
Low water use garden - Part One
Soil Preparation
First Prepare the soil. Try to do this ahead of time, weeks or months if you can. I'm a big fan of a sort of "No-Dig Garden". This is where you layer materials on top of the soil without digging them in. This method is perfect for areas where the soil is too hard to dig, where the area is weed infested, dry areas, or physically you are unable to dig.
Here is a basic version of the No-Dig Garden I have used with great success.
If there are weeds or lawn, simply mow as low as you can.
First lay down plenty of gypsum and manure. This will break down into the soil providing nutrients, enabling the soil to hold more water, and encourage worms to come to the surface.
Then lay down a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard. I prefer cardboard as its thick, easy to get (from recycling depots around Canberra), and quick to lay (using big sheets). The Cardboard will last long enough to kill all the weeds and not let others germinate. It also provides a great layer to prevent evaporation.
Cover this with a thick layer (7cm-10cm) of mulch, preferably lucerne or straw, or a thick layer (7cm-10cm) of a wood chip or bark type mulch will do. This will hold the cardboard to the ground and keep it moist so it rots down. The mulch will also rot down once the cardboard has gone.
Thoroughly wet the area to settle the mulch down onto the cardboard.
After a month the soil underneath will be moist and ready to plant into. After 6 months the cardboard will have composted into the soil which will now be dark and friable.
Continue to layer compost and straw onto your garden as it rots down and always keep it well mulched.
Your garden bed will deliver consistent, spectacular results season after season.
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