How to Plow a Garden Without a Plow
Not everyone has the resources or opportunity to use a plow or tiller on their garden, yet it is necessary to prepare the bed for seedlings and seeds. If you don't have a plow, don't worry; there is a way to loosen your soil by a process called double digging with nothing but your standard shovel. It is recommended to repeat this method both in the spring and fall, adding nutrients each time. In the spring, this loosens the soil for the roots and prepares it for the growing season ahead. The fall gives you time to pull spent plants from the garden and add manure to give a healthy dose of nutrients to the next year's crop. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Prepare your garden spot for digging, if you haven't already. Mark off the area and be sure all excess sod or grass is removed. Spread out your tarp next to one side of the garden.
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Dig a one-foot-deep trench along one side of the garden to create an empty row. Place all of the soil from this first row on the tarp for later use. Remove any rocks as you find them while digging.
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Begin on the second row. When the soil is removed from this row however, place it in the space left from row one. Break up this soil as much as possible. Large clumps can get in the way of roots and even cause misshapen crops.
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Repeat the process for row three and any rows following by always placing your soil in the space provided from the previous row.
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Move the tarp to the other side of the garden after your last row has been dug. In the last row, add the soil that was taken from row one.
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Spread a good two-inch layer of garden soil or compost across the top of the soil, if desired. Turn the soil well to work the additional soil in.
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Tips & Warnings
Having a friend to help can make a world of difference. When you need a break, let your friend continue moving the rows while you rest and vice versa. This will certainly speed up the process when compared to working alone.
