Hi, I know this has been discussed in the past, so forgive me if it's been discussed recently. I learned about Lasagna gardening here on the forums a few years ago, but didn't realize there was a whole book about it! I just found one at Barnes & Noble. Of course, from reading the book, it sounds like the be-all and end-all of gardening. I'd like to know from you experienced gardeners whether or not this is true. What are the disadvantages? Is it really as easy as it sounds? It sounds like a lot of hauling of organic material, but not having to dig sounds pretty darn good!
Becky in PA
Lasagna gardening
Moderator: Chris_W
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Becky in PA
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Sep 18, 2002 8:00 pm
- Location: Outside of Philadelphia
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newtohosta-no more
- Posts: 15270
- Joined: Oct 25, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: Ohio, Zone 5
I've JUST did a lasagna bed of sorts , so it will sit over the winter and should be ready in the spring for planting. I'll have to let you know then how it all turns out. I read a book about lasagna gardening too and thought it was a great idea. I usually go to my local library and check out the books there first.....then if I really, really love them, I buy them for myself. It is a lot of hauling of materials, but most we have on hand anyway. I have heard lots of good things about this method. 
I did a large area a couple of years ago for hostas. I dont think I really did it "by the book", but it turned out GREAT!!! I did about 3 layers each of newspapers, grass and compost. It was about 6 inches high when we finished, and about 3 inches by spring. And all beautiful, BLACK, fluffy dirt 
The hostas LOVE it there. Their roots just keep on going!!!!
The hostas LOVE it there. Their roots just keep on going!!!!"Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." -Langston Hughes
New to gardening
I am somewhat new to gardening and I have never heard of lasagna gardening before. What is it?
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Becky in PA
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Sep 18, 2002 8:00 pm
- Location: Outside of Philadelphia
Hi, Kidzdad--Welcome to the forums!
It's called "lasagna gardening" because you basically build the garden bed in layers. You start with a thick layer of wet newspaper, which smothers the grass. Then you layer on organic matter: mulch, chopped leaves, compost, peat moss (or not!). According to the book I just bought (entitled, strangely enough, "Lasagna Gardening"!), you layer it up a good 18 inches or so. Here's the part that surprised me: she says you can plant in it as is, rather than waiting a season for it to settle and decompose. You can, of course, wait for it to settle, which I think is more commonly done and what I'm planning on doing. At the end of a season, you should have a slightly raised bed of nice rich stuff to plant into. The thing that makes it easier is not having to dig up sod or till the garden--just build it right on top. But, you have to have or gather lots of organic matter to build the layers. I'm planning on building one this fall and planting it in the spring.
I've borrowed lasagna techniques before--mainly if I have a shrub or a rose that doesn't really have a bed around it, I've laid newspapers around it and covered them with mulch to create sort of an "instant bad" that at least keeps the lawn guys from weedwhacking the rose by mistake!
Other folks here have actually done it rather than just read about it, so they can probably give a more "real worls" description.
Becky in PA
It's called "lasagna gardening" because you basically build the garden bed in layers. You start with a thick layer of wet newspaper, which smothers the grass. Then you layer on organic matter: mulch, chopped leaves, compost, peat moss (or not!). According to the book I just bought (entitled, strangely enough, "Lasagna Gardening"!), you layer it up a good 18 inches or so. Here's the part that surprised me: she says you can plant in it as is, rather than waiting a season for it to settle and decompose. You can, of course, wait for it to settle, which I think is more commonly done and what I'm planning on doing. At the end of a season, you should have a slightly raised bed of nice rich stuff to plant into. The thing that makes it easier is not having to dig up sod or till the garden--just build it right on top. But, you have to have or gather lots of organic matter to build the layers. I'm planning on building one this fall and planting it in the spring.
I've borrowed lasagna techniques before--mainly if I have a shrub or a rose that doesn't really have a bed around it, I've laid newspapers around it and covered them with mulch to create sort of an "instant bad" that at least keeps the lawn guys from weedwhacking the rose by mistake!
Other folks here have actually done it rather than just read about it, so they can probably give a more "real worls" description.
Becky in PA
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Becky in PA
- Posts: 348
- Joined: Sep 18, 2002 8:00 pm
- Location: Outside of Philadelphia