Creating a Lasagna Garden: A Step-by-Step Guide

Colleen Vanderlinden is a specialist in organic gardening. She is the author of “Edible Gardening for the Midwest” and “Vegetable Gardening for the Midwest,” and her articles have been featured in publications such as Mother Earth News, Northern Gardener, The Detroit News, and Birds & Blooms.

Project Summary

• Duration of Work: 2 to 3 hours
• Overall Duration: 2 to 4 weeks

• Proficiency Level: Intermediate
• Projected Expense: $0 to $20

Lasagna gardening is an organic gardening technique that eliminates the need for digging or tilling, allowing for the creation of rich, aerated soil with minimal effort from the gardener. The term “lasagna gardening” is not related to the types of plants you will cultivate. Rather, it describes the process of constructing the garden by layering organic materials, which will decompose over time, leading to nutrient-dense soil that promotes healthy plant growth.

Lasagna gardening, often referred to as sheet composting, is an eco-friendly practice that transforms yard debris, kitchen leftovers, and other materials typically found in a compost heap into organic fertilizer, promoting the growth of new plants.

Benefits of Lasagna Gardening

While you tend to a lasagna garden similarly to any other type of garden, you may discover that it requires less effort. Here’s what you can anticipate:

• Reduced weed growth occurs due to the use of newspaper or cardboard in lasagna gardening, which inhibits their growth from beneath, while the mulch protects the soil from above.
• Improved water retention, since compost retains moisture more efficiently than standard garden soil, particularly in cases where the soil is sandy or lacks organic material.
• Reduced reliance on fertilizers thanks to the nutrient-dense compost.
• Nurturing, well-aerated, and productive soil that is simple to cultivate.
• Ideal for composting without the need for a bin.

Drawbacks of Lasagna Gardening

• Transporting the layers of organic matter requires a considerable amount of time and effort.
• You need to gather all the necessary materials to create layers that are sufficiently thick for lasagna gardening.
• The decomposition of these organic layers can take time, and it is essential to maintain moisture in the bed during this period.
• The newspaper or cardboard might contain chemicals or dyes that could seep into the soil.
• Due to the density of the layers, the soil contains reduced levels of oxygen, which may result in insufficient nutrient absorption.

Requirements You’ll Need

Devices / Instruments

• Watering hose
• Shovel
• Horticultural gloves

Materials

• Natural substances like grass cuttings, fallen leaves, leftover fruits and vegetables, coffee residues, tea leaves and bags, garden cuttings, torn newspaper, cardboard, pine needles, well-aged herbivore manure, and peat moss.
• String or cord
• Wood or rocks (optional)
• Mulch
• Plants for your garden selection

Instructions

Instructions

Define the Perimeter of the Garden

Begin by establishing the perimeter of your garden. You can utilize rope, twine, or a garden hose to outline the garden bed. Think about constructing elevated edges with timber, stones, or similar hardscape elements to keep the organic layers secure as they break down. There’s no requirement to further prepare the area, as the layers of materials you will apply will effectively suppress any existing grass or weeds.

Tip

A lasagna garden ought to be situated on a level area that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Keep in mind that compost can produce a strong smell, so choose a location that is a good distance from any open windows in your home.

Arrange the Layers

Create a compost bed by alternating layers of “brown materials” like shredded dry leaves, shredded newspaper, peat, and pine needles with layers of “green materials” such as vegetable scraps, garden trimmings, and grass clippings. The brown materials contribute carbon, while the green materials supply nitrogen. Aim for the brown layers to be approximately twice as thick as the green layers, though exact measurements aren’t critical. The final structure should be about 2 feet high, but expect it to settle significantly within a few weeks.

Tip

Using cardboard or newspaper as the base layer is highly effective, as it effectively suppresses grass and weeds in the garden bed. Moisten this layer to secure it and promote the breakdown process. Additionally, it creates a dark, damp habitat that draws in earthworms, which help aerate the soil as they burrow.

“Prepare” the Garden

Typically, you’ll observe the garden components starting to “cook” and decompose. The principles for effective lasagna gardening align closely with those of composting: the materials should be kept slightly damp to promote breakdown, but not overly saturated to the point of decay. In exceptional situations, like during prolonged dry spells, it’s advisable to lightly moisten the organic layers to avoid excessive drying.

Cultivate the Garden

The duration required for your garden to decompose sufficiently for planting can differ based on the weather. However, once the materials have transformed into a consistent layer resembling loose compost, the garden is prepared for planting. You can dig into the bed just like you would in any other garden. If you placed newspaper as the bottom layer, your shovel will likely penetrate it easily, revealing the soil below. If you opted for cardboard, you may need to create a hole in it at each location where you intend to plant.

Tend to the Garden

To care for your garden, just apply mulch to the bed using materials like straw, grass clippings, bark mulch, or shredded leaves. After the garden is set up, treat your lasagna garden like any other: remove weeds, water as needed, and plant as you wish.

The Ideal Time to Create a Lasagna Garden

A lasagna garden can be created throughout the year, but autumn is the ideal season for many gardeners due to the abundance of organic materials for mulching, such as fallen leaves and garden debris. This method allows the lasagna garden to decompose and enrich the soil throughout the winter months.

By the time spring arrives, it ought to be prepared for planting. Additionally, the autumn rainfall and winter snowfall will ensure that the components of your lasagna garden remain damp, facilitating quicker decomposition.

When creating a lasagna garden during the spring or summer months, it’s a good idea to incorporate additional soil-like materials, like peat or topsoil, into the bed to enable immediate planting. If you begin your lasagna garden bed in the spring, aim to stack a variety of green and brown materials, alternating them with layers of finished compost, peat, or topsoil.

Complete the bed by adding 3 to 4 inches of finished compost or topsoil, and then proceed to plant. Throughout the season, the bed will settle as the underlying layers break down.

Suggestions for Creating a Lasagna Garden

• Each year, refresh your lasagna garden by incorporating additional layers of brown and green materials. Autumn is an ideal season for this, as you’ll find an abundance of fallen leaves and green plant matter. If you require more, consider asking your neighbors for their lawn and garden waste.
• To prevent lightweight items like fallen leaves from being carried off by the wind, apply a dense material, like wood chips, as the upper “brown” layer in your garden bed.
• Steer clear of incorporating specific materials into your compost, particularly organic waste containing weed seeds. If the compost doesn’t reach a sufficiently high temperature, there’s a good chance these weeds will germinate in your garden.
• Avoid introducing any plant materials that are infected with pests or diseases, as they may proliferate in your new garden.
• Incorporate only the waste of mature herbivorous animals in the layers of your lasagna. Waste from carnivorous animals may carry harmful pathogens.
• Avoid adding any meat, oil, or dairy products to your lasagna garden, as these can lure in pests and animals.

Is it possible to start planting right away in a lasagna garden?

The answer is both yes and no. If you initiate your lasagna garden in the autumn, it will be prepared for planting by the spring. However, if you wish to plant right away in your newly created lasagna garden bed, you should incorporate an extra thick layer (4 to 6 inches) of peat, topsoil, and well-decomposed compost. You can obtain decomposed compost from your local extension office, or your community might have a bulk composting option. Additionally, it can often be found in smaller amounts at home improvement stores or garden centers.

Is it possible to incorporate wood chips into lasagna gardening?

Certainly! Wood chips can be incorporated into your collection of brown materials. However, it’s important to avoid using treated lumber or commercially purchased landscape mulch. For composting purposes, wood chips should be sourced from fallen branches and limbs of trees and shrubs.

What are some ways to accelerate the process of creating my lasagna garden?

Lasagna gardening requires some patience, but there are ways to accelerate the process. Incorporating additional brown materials can enhance the decomposition rate, so consider layering substances like topsoil or peat between the green materials. Additionally, applying gardening soil on top can further expedite the process.

What is the amount of tilling or weeding needed for lasagna gardening?

One of the greatest advantages of lasagna gardening is that it eliminates the need for tilling. Additionally, the layer of cardboard helps to reduce the necessity for weeding.