The author advises against rototilling, as he says it will cause more of a problem with weeds. He suggests using cover crops such as annual rye grass or buckwheat to fix nitrogen in the soil (plowing under after they have enriched the soil), or using cardboard or newspaper (not shiny colored papers which could leach harmful chemicals into the soil) to layer on top of the garden to kill potential weed infestations. Straw bale, keyhole, and hugulkultur gardening are presented as intriguing alternatives. He discusses direct seeding vs. buying transplants, and suggests for reliable plants such as marigolds, zinnias, and beans, direct seeding is more economical. There are helpful suggestions on soil mixes and container gardening, both outdoor and indoor. Recommended for anyone looking for a new approach to gardening. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the ideal Christmas gift to all the gardeners on your list. Easy to read, easy to follow, and think of all the time you'll save! I had already been doing some of the techniques mentioned but this is very comprehensive, with instructions on how to transform just about any space into a no-dig garden. Chock full of great suggestions!

#netgalley

What a wonderful book! The timing of this read was impeccable - I've just been given the keys to a new allotment plot and, unlike others I've had in the past, this one is a completely fresh slate. Cue no-dig gardening and the perfect opportunity to implement the techniques from this book!

As a keen gardener, I'd heard of no-dig, but almost dismissed it as too much effort to set up (even though I knew it would save me time and energy later on) - it almost felt like a too-good-to-be-true option for modern gardening. Not having to spend my entire summer weeding the flower beds? As if!

But, as explained early in the book, not only is no-dig much easier to start than I had thought, it's also got so many benefits for the environment and my flower patch! The guidance is very easy to follow and gives lots of options from quick and easy to detailed and hardcore. I personally sit somewhere in the middle, and as I write this my husband is busy outside making raised bed borders from some pallets we got for free via social media!

This book has motivated me to use my clean slate allotment plot to really give no-dig gardening a try, and I'm so excited to get started.