No-dig borders are much less prone to compaction than traditional borders because the soil structure is not damaged by digging.
Without the additional height and edging material of raised beds to divide them, borders can become fluid and the vegetable and ornamental garden can merge into one another.
There is no need to stick to the rigid rows of the traditional vegetable garden, and the principles of choosing plants for their function and planting in layers still hold. For example, you might choose a perennial cavolo nero cabbage, kale or chives, and plant annuals such as carrots in between. The kale roots will anchor the soil and provide some shelter for the carrot seedlings, and as you pick the perennial’s leaves, the smaller plants will…