The well-cultivated garden

06/06/2002
The well-cultivated garden

In France, gardeners have a saying: "Une binage vaut deux arrosages." That translates as one cultivation (hoeing) is worth two irrigations. Not only is this one of the most often quipped sayings between gardeners, but French gardening practice puts words into action. Cultivation with hand tools--not mulch--is how French gardeners keep their garden beds spotless. Mulch is just about nowhere to be seen. Even all the plantings in the public spaces of Paris are hand cultivated!

Let's go back to that wise old saying. Why is it true? Well, for one thing, weeds compete strongly with garden plants (whether trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, or annuals) for water as well as nutrients. Gently cultivating the soil around your plants of course eliminates existing weeds as well as drying out the ones that are just germinating. In addition--and this is a fact well-known by most gardeners in the arid southwestern U.S., shallow cultivation creates air spaces in the superficial soil layer that prevent the wicking of water from deeper soil to the surface where it can evaporate. American gardeners sometimes refer to this as a "dust mulch."

Finally, frequent shallow cultivation keeps the soil light and airy, so that roots have easy access to all the oxygen they need for metabolic processes (which include the uptake of water).

The rich tradition of French gardening tools reflects this belief in the benefits of cultivating the soil. I'm willing to bet no other country on earth has as many different cultivating tools. Every region has different tools, reflecting local preferences and ways of working, as well as the types of crops and gardening indigenous to the region. I used to think it was a bit overdone--just another indication of the French going overboard for diversity--until I started using these tools myself. I have to say I never discovered the joy of using a perfectly designed tool, impeccably suited to the task at hand and the product of centuries of tradition and refinement, until I started using French tools. It's amazing how the perfect tool adds to my pleasure in the garden.

Not only that, but cultivating by hand is a mentally restful activity that is excellent exercise. And, it affords you a chance to carefully observe and inspect your plants. You'll notice pest attacks early enough to intervene organically, and have some of your best new design ideas--all while cultivating your garden.

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Products of Interest:
Reversible weeding rake
Effortless push weeder
'Rosier' weeding fork
'Rosier' weeding fork