How to Build a Lasagna Garden
Lasagna gardens are also known as no-till gardens, sheet mulched gardens or composting-in-place. The lasagna garden method imitates the soil-building process of nature. Instead of disrupting the composition of the soil like traditional gardening methods, the lasagna method reduces the amount of work the gardener must do and allows nature to help the gardener create a healthy gardening environment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide on the location of the bed. Trim the grass where the bed will be located.
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Lay newspaper (at least ten-sheets deep) or cardboard over the area, making sure to overlap the edges of the paper/cardboard to prevent weeds from pushing through the cracks.
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Layer the organic material over the paper/cardboard. Ideally, you will use alternating layers of green material (grass-clippings, coffee grounds, manure, etc.) and brown material (dried leaves, conifer needles, sawdust, hay etc.).
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Build up the layers of material to the depth of at least two feet deep. The material will shrink as it decomposes.
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Allow the material to rest and decompose for two to three months.
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Don’t disturb the bed. When it is time to plant, disturb the bed as little as possible. Simply move aside enough material to plant your seedlings. If you are planting from seed, you might add a layer of compost on top of the bed and use it to plant the seeds as you normally would without disturbing the layers below.
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Tips & Warnings
Build your lasagna bed several months in advance of planting. This gives the organic material time to decompose and creates a healthy environment for you plants. If you build a bed and plant immediately, you run the risk of the bed being to hot (decomposing material generates heat) and you will burn your plants.
Covering a bed with black plastic will help it to cook more quickly.
