amount of soil from one end of the bed to the other to
even it out when you are ready to be +nished. This
action also causes a disproportionate misplacing of
topsoil into the subsoil area.
When you are sliding the soil forward from one trench
into another, notice a couple of things. If you spread
compost on the bed before beginning, note that some of
the layer slides 3 to 6 inches down into the trench,
creating a small mound of soil or landslide. This
approximates the way nature adds leaves, &ower bodies,
and other decaying vegetation to the top of the soil,
where they break down and their essences percolate in
the soil.
Always make sure that the upper layer of soil (the top
12 inches) is not turned over during the double-dig. Most
of the microbiotic life lives in the upper 6 inches of the
soil. Also, the natural layering of the soil that is caused
by rainfall and leaching, leaf litter, temperature, gravi0ty,
and other natural forces is less disturbed when the soil is
not generally mixed, even though the soil is loosened up
and distributed somewhat. Aim for a balance between
nature’s natural strati+cation and the loosened
landsliding soil. (As a goal, strive not to mix the soil
layers. Even though some mixing will occur, it is
important to avoid excessive disruption of the soil
layers.)
When you are through double-digging, the aerated
surplus soil in the bed will be enough to +ll the +nal
trench at the end of the bed. You may also add some of
brent
(Brent)
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