Is my new mantra, although I do still do a bit of hoeing and a little light dibbling with a hand fork but the spade is pretty much redundant.
I’m on London clay but three years of consistent surface mulching has made an appreciable difference to how the soil responded to the recent heavy rains. Yes, the ground is wet but springy rather than soggy.
I spent the last two weekends mulching the beds – take a look…
I’ve only recently learnt that raspberries are acid lovers and prefer ericaceous soil, so they get a top dressing.
The rose and flower beds were weeded, I left the nigella as self-sown seem to be the only variety that will grow for me!
The asparagus bed has a deep mulch of WRM. It’s 2020, which means a full harvest (om, nom, nom)
The pear tree bed has been neglected mulch-wise, no particular reason but it was very noticeable from the condition of the soil – rain-splattered clay. Looks happier now. The crocosmia moved in by itself.
Allotment Life 
I’m the same and the difference in the soil between the old half (3 years of mulching and the new (clay dug every year) is really noticeable. Also we have less weeds on the mulched beds…
Good post and pictures. I rarely use a spade, just a fork and hoe. I mulch round the raspberries and add plenty of compost to the vegetable patches. xx
Yup that works for me too. I was lucky enough to do a course with Charles Dowding a few years ago, and it completely changed how I manage my allotment.
I love your plant label there btw – is it home made, or bought? what made from?
Hope you have a great growing year! all the best
It’s a slate label purchased from EBay in pack of 4
Thankyou! I’ll look out for something similar