No-dig method to preserve soil structure

The no-dig (or no-till) method, popularized by Charles Dowding, maintains soil health by never turning or tilling the soil in raised beds. Instead, amendments (compost, mulch, cover crop residues) are layered on top and allowed to integrate naturally through earthworm activity, microbial decomposition, and root channels. Tilling disrupts the delicate fungal networks (mycorrhizae) that help plants access nutrients and water, destroys soil aggregates that provide drainage and aeration, brings buried weed seeds to the surface where they germinate, and kills beneficial organisms. In a no-dig raised bed, soil structure improves every year as undisturbed fungal networks grow stronger, earthworm populations increase, and organic matter accumulates in stable forms. Practical application: clear finished crops by cutting at soil level (leaving roots to decompose in place), spread compost on top, and plant directly into the compost layer. Do not fork, spade, or rototill. The only time digging is warranted is to harvest root vegetables or to initially break up severely compacted soil in a new bed. After 2-3 years of no-dig practice, gardeners consistently report less weeding, better water retention, healthier plants, and easier planting into the soft, friable soil.