Lazy Gardening Hack to Keep Weeds Out and Grow Cheap Fruit and Vegetables
A gardener known as Phil, or Earth, Nails and Tails on social media, has shared a video on TikTok revealing a lazy yet successful method to keep weeds out of your garden and grow fruit and vegetables inexpensively. In the video, Phil explains how to use the Ruth Stout method, which focuses on soil coverage with wood chips, leaves, and chopped straw.
Phil begins the video by stating, “This is how you could be a lazy and successful gardener.” He goes on to explain that most people believe gardening requires a significant amount of time and effort. However, Ruth Stout, a gardening pioneer from the 1950s to the 1970s, developed a method that allows the garden to work for you and produce amazing results.
Ruth Stout, born in 1884, is often referred to as the “Mulch Queen.” She was the first person to write and speak about this gardening method, which mimics the natural process of perpetual mulching found in forests and wild fields. Ruth discovered that she could eliminate ploughing and weeding by applying a thick layer of mulch (in her case, hay) on the ground. The method focuses on soil coverage using wood chips, leaves, and chopped straw.
In the video, Phil specifically highlights how potatoes are perfect for the Ruth Stout method. He demonstrates laying the starchy food on the ground and covering it with a thin layer of straw. As the potatoes begin to grow, Phil “hills” them up with straw until the total layer of mulch reaches a depth of about six to eight inches.
The video garnered significant attention, receiving over 39,000 views and more than 2,400 likes. Users were quick to respond, with one person expressing concern about their crop being devastated by mice and moles. Another asked how to prevent critters from digging up the potatoes. A third user commented on the benefits of using a thick layer of mulch, stating that they haven’t needed to water their plants this year and everything is thriving. Lastly, someone humorously questioned whether the straw ever blows away on windy days.
This lazy gardening hack offers an alternative approach for those who wish to maintain a weed-free garden and grow their own produce without investing excessive time and effort. By following the Ruth Stout method, gardeners can enjoy the benefits of a thriving garden while minimizing the need for traditional weeding and ploughing techniques.
Overall, Phil’s TikTok video provides valuable insights into an unconventional yet effective gardening method. By embracing laziness, gardeners can achieve impressive results by allowing the garden to work for them. The Ruth Stout method, with its focus on soil coverage and mulching, offers a low-maintenance approach to gardening that can benefit both experienced and novice gardeners alike.