A large rural no till garden using straw mulch
A large rural no till garden using straw mulch

No till in large rural gardens

No till gardening is a system of gardening where the soil is mulched to prevent soil erosion, conserve water and reduce the pressure of weeds. No till gardening works well for large rural gardens.

This is a drone shot, taken in the fall, of the garden pictured above. It is entirely surrounded by pine trees but the gardener doesn't need supplemental water. No till is a game changer!
This is a drone shot, taken in the fall, of the garden pictured above. It is entirely surrounded by pine trees but the gardener doesn't need supplemental water. No till is a game changer!

Jordan Thompson's large rural no till garden near Vermilion, AB (zone 3b).
Jordan Thompson's large rural no till garden near Vermilion, AB (zone 3b).

Large rural gardens can be a lot of physical work and no till gardening can help by reducing weed pressure, conserving water which may have to be hauled by hand, and improving soil health so yields increase.

Joni Marion's large rural no till garden near Aborfield, SK (zone 3a).
Joni Marion's large rural no till garden near Aborfield, SK (zone 3a).

While raised beds are ideal for no till gardens, it is not necessary to create a no till garden. Just lay out the growing beds and pathways, add mulch and enjoy the benefits of a no till garden!

Melissa Weitzel's large rural no till garden.
Melissa Weitzel's large rural no till garden.

Wildlife pressure in rural areas can be a problem. A wildlife fence will help prevent pests entering a rural garden space and protect the garden from wildlife damage.

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