We have plans to build a raised bed organic no-dig vegie patch right at the top of the block, as this is the sunniest part of the block.

We dug the trenches for the garden posts, and after massive rainfalls, I was amazed to see the trenches totally full still after 2 days!

My concern is that the nutrient rich water run-off from the no-dig vegie patch will not soak down deep into the soil, but will run down the block to the natives. I am wondering whether this high nutrient content will kill the natives??? I imagine rich organic compost contains far too much phosporus for ozzie natives?

Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Giles

have never heard of any such problem occuring, but then it may depend on the gardener whether they are locked into applying doses of chemical fertiliers or use more natural soil feeding processes.

on a slope like that my guess is you are going to lay the gardens along the contours? the best way.

we never fertilise our gardens they get nutrients from all and any rottable garden scraps being added to the garden on an almost daily basis, as well we use green type mulches ie.,. sugar cane, spoilt lucern or pasture grass hay's as mulch these add nutrients as they continuously break down. plus the remains of spent vege' plants get mulched right where they once stood.

len

No I won't be using chemical fertilisers, just compost based garden food.

Thanks again,

Giles

Perhaps you should consider excavating a small swale channel across the slope to catch any run-off from your vege patch. Any weed growth should be easy to contain if it is confined to this channel. You might even be able to find some appropriate native grasses or herbs to plant in this channel and hopefully successfully compete with the weeds.