Digging over in autumn? What your soil really gets out of it
Many of us dig the beds over in November because that's how it's always been done. Here's what happens in the soil – and what you can do instead.
For many gardeners the spade is part of the November ritual. But digging over isn’t compulsory, and on some soils it does more harm than good. Here’s when it makes sense and when your soil is better off left alone.
What happens in the soil when you dig
Turning the soil mixes layers that are home to different organisms. Earthworms, fungal networks and fine root channels form a structure that builds up over years. Deep turning breaks part of it apart. At the same time, air enters the soil, which briefly speeds up the breakdown of humus.
When digging still makes sense
On heavy, compacted clay or in a newly taken-over bed full of perennial weeds, digging over once can help. Pick out any pieces of couch grass or ground elder roots as you go. Leave the coarse clods on the surface over winter and the frost will crumble them for you. This only works on heavy, clayey soils; on sandy soils it achieves little and tends to dry them out.
The gentle alternative: loosen instead of turn
Push a digging fork into the soil, rock it back slightly and pull it out again without turning the layers. This loosens compacted spots and preserves soil life. It is quick and usually kinder to your back than digging over.
Cover instead of leaving bare
Bare soil suffers from rain and frost in winter: nutrients are washed out and the surface crust seals. Cover empty beds with leaves, straw or a thin layer of compost. By early November it is usually too late to sow a green manure; next year, sow it from late summer onwards. The cover also feeds the soil life that will do the work for you in spring.
What to note in your garden journal
Write down which beds you loosened, dug over or covered, and compare in spring how the soil feels. Is it crumbly, or does it stick to the spade? After a year or two you will see in black and white which method works better on your soil. In Rootivo you can record these observations in the garden journal right at the bed.