Spread cardboard or thick newspaper layers directly over weedy grass or bare soil, then cover with 4-6 inches of compost to create an instant no-dig garden bed that suppresses weeds while feeding beneficial soil...

Start conditioning your straw bales 10-14 days before planting by soaking them thoroughly and adding nitrogen-rich fertilizer to kickstart decomposition—this transforms the bales from dry, hostile environments into nutrient-rich growing mediums. Water the bales...