The Disadvantages of Lasagna Gardening
Lasagna gardening, or "sheet composting," is a simple organic gardening method that requires no digging or tilling of existing soils. Instead, you build a lasagna garden by layering different organic materials, such as vegetable trimmings, cardboard and plant clippings, that will quickly decay into soft, nutrient-rich soils in which virtually any plant will do well. While many tout the benefits of this method, there are some disadvantages to trying your hand at lasagna gardening. Does this Spark an idea?
-
High Water Requirements
-
There is a widespread belief that lasagna gardening, like other raised-bed methods, requires more regular watering of flowers and crops than plants grown at ground level. Planet Natural contributor Kate Gardner notes that this line of thinking stems from higher evaporation rates in lasagna or raised beds and the fact that these types of gardens support more plants per square foot. She also points out that it's not a guarantee that a raised bed or lasagna garden will need more water than its neighbor at ground level.
Limited Space
-
Lasagna gardens are only as big as you make them, which can be a problem if you're trying to grow an abundance of high-yield crops. The Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden notes that the close spacing of plants grown in raised beds, like lasagna gardens, reduces air circulation. This can lead to plants remaining damp longer after watering or the rapid spread of disease or pests.
-
Warmer Soils
-
Kate Gardner also states that the higher evaporation rates in lasagna or raised bed gardens is a result of warmer soils than those at ground level. The lack of solid sides attributes to the higher temperatures of raised bed soils, as lasagna garden mounds are small, exposed entities. The warmer temperatures of lasagna garden soils can be detrimental to cool-season crops or plants that benefit from soils that don't get warm or cold too quickly.
Labor and Maintenance
-
Another disadvantage of lasagna gardening is the labor required to build and maintain your raised beds. Collecting appropriate material, layering it properly and constructing walls or an enclosure all take time and effort you don't need to put into conventional ground-level gardening. Consider the extra work involved in lasagna gardening before you start building mounds.
-
References
- Photo Credit Nisian Hughes/Digital Vision/Getty Images
