What In The World Is Lasagna Gardening?
No, it doesn't have to do with growing oregano. Lasagna gardening is a fun term coined by author Patricia Lanza to describe sheet composting. Its an incredibly easy way to prepare your soil for planting. Its completely organic- using no chemicals, recycled materials and less water.
Basically, all you have to do is select an area for your garden (one that gets a good amount of sun) and cover it with cardboard or a few layers of newspaper. You don't have to dig. You don't have to till. You don't have to pull weeds. Just water your paper and begin layering it with compost items. Layer one part “green” (nitrogen rich material) then four parts “brown” (carbon rich material).
Green Material
- grass clippings
- green plants
- seaweed
- coffee grounds
- manure
Brown Material
- dead leaves
- shredded paper
- wood chips
- twigs
- hay or straw
Start in the fall and layer your lasagna somewhere between a few inches and a couple feet high. Water as you go. By spring, you will have rich soil, that is ready for planting. There will be no need for weeding. The layer of cardboard and newspaper kills the underlying grass and plants. The compost breaks down, feeding the soil and attracting worms. The compact layers help to hold in moisture. The lasagna gardening technique will prove to be the easiest way to start your garden.
Questions? I do my best to answer all questions on my blog...
