Fall tilling, spring tilling...

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by TomNJ

Aside from the need to soften and fluff the soil for seed germination and root crops, I till to add organics at the root level in the soil. If one doesn't till, how do we incorporate compost, cover crops, and other organic garden debris deep into the soil where it can decompose and the plant roots can benefit? Serious question - I'd like to learn.

TomNJ/VA

Tom thew idea if I'm not mistaking is the stuff lays on the ground and rots.
When it rots the worms will carry the nutrients into the soil as worm droppings.
Also some of it will leech into the soil.

I do know that compost will do just fine sitting on top of the soil for many plants like tomatoes and such.

I actually use compost and peat moss as a mulch on some plants.
Over time the soil will build up higher and higher.
This is a great way to do things but one has to bare in mind that if you use too much insecticides and such you can turn the whole idea upside down.
You will kill the microbes and wildlife in the soil and end up with nothing.

My yard is a perfect example of the so called permaculture idea.

The soil on top is loose and full of critters.
The armadillos come in at night and eat the grubs and scratch and dig in the soil.
The small leaves that fall from the trees stay in the yard and serve as much and fertilizer for next year.
In the winter annual rye grass sprouts and the roots loosen the soil more.
It also helps stop the weeds from coming up.

As for the nutrients needing to be deep they dont need to be.
Almost at ground level or an inch down is good enough.

This is what I have observed many times over and through experimenting.
Time after time the plants with the better soil on top out performed the ones I dug holes for and added good soil deep down.

Worth