Does tilling actually do more harm than good in the long run? Here's my two cents after 3 years.

I started a raised bed garden in my backyard in Austin back in 2021, and I did the whole double-dig tilling thing that first spring. Soil looked great that year, but by year two it was compacting hard and the worms seemed to vanish. This past season I skipped the tiller entirely, just added a 2 inch layer of compost on top and let the worms do the work. My zucchinis and tomatoes came in way better than that first year. So which is it for you all - is tilling a necessary evil or are we just messing with the soil structure for no good reason?

3 comments

3 Comments

valw3628d ago

My buddy down in San Antonio tried the no-till thing on a whim two years back. He was all about the roto-tiller before that, would go at his plot like he was trying to dig a swimming pool. First year he used the tiller his peppers were okay but the soil got this weird crust. So last spring he just spread a thick layer of shredded leaves and some compost on top, didn't even mix it in. His tomato plants grew so tall they flopped over and he was tying them up with old t-shirts. He said the soil underneath was soft and dark like chocolate cake when he finally pulled the plants out.

clairem4728d ago

Whoa, your worms straight up vanished?! That's wild, I've never heard that before!

the_nina28d ago

Wait, did your worms actually disappear or did they just go deeper into the soil? I had the same panic last year in my garden, thought my whole worm population packed up and left me. Turns out, they just burrowed down to follow the moisture and organic matter when the top few inches dried out during a hot spell. If you haven't already, try doing a little test dig about 6-8 inches down near where they were, you might find them hanging out there. Also check if your soil is staying damp enough on top, a good layer of mulch keeps things cool and moist so the worms feel safe near the surface. Another thing, check for any chemical sprays or fertilizers you used recently, even some "organic" ones can drive worms off if applied heavy.