Planting with minimal disturbance

Planting With Minimal Disturbance

When practicing no-till gardening, planting can be a challenge for those people that have been conventionally gardening their whole life. Figuring out the best way to plant your seeds or transplants without tilling the entire garden takes some trial and error. Each garden situation is different so your personal context should be considered when choosing how to plant. Some things that can determine the best option for your garden are available tools and time, soil type, climate, season, and available resources. Below are a few options to consider.

• Rake back mulch from growing bed and create a shallow furrow to plant small seeds. After seeds have germinated and plants are several inches tall reapply a layer of mulch.
• For larger seeds, use a sharp stick or screwdriver to poke a hole in the soil for each seed and pack the area with your hand
• Holes for transplants can be dug with a garden trowel or bulb auger and a cordless drill. Mulch can be applied after planting
• After any planting a thin layer of compost or other fertilizer can be applied
• The key to no-till gardening is to keep the soil covered with a thick layer of mulch

Soil Health School

The 2026 Soil Health School is set for September 15-17 near Twin Brooks and Marvin, SD.

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