Rozzie
Chillin' In The Garden
I sure wouldn't til it! I'd have my walking paths and not walk on the planting area, either. Every time you step on the soil, you compact it. Compacted soil is not good. It messes up the air pockets, etc. Also, when you til the soil, you work weed seeds into the ground, giving them a better chance to take hold. You also kill some of the earthworms that you have (though many others will survive, of course).
I'm in the midst of reestablishing gardens at a new place, after a couple of years without a proper garden. Because I am having to turn lawn into garden beds, we do have to dig each bed for the first year (or possibly two). After that, though, they will not get dug and they will only get walked in very minimally. (Any areas I must walk in regularly will have a path of stepping stones to keep me from compacting planting soil). I'll top dress with compost whenever I have enough.
I'm in the midst of reestablishing gardens at a new place, after a couple of years without a proper garden. Because I am having to turn lawn into garden beds, we do have to dig each bed for the first year (or possibly two). After that, though, they will not get dug and they will only get walked in very minimally. (Any areas I must walk in regularly will have a path of stepping stones to keep me from compacting planting soil). I'll top dress with compost whenever I have enough.
