Lasagna, anyone?

Weedless_ 10/19/2011, 10:08 pm

Since I am starting my garden in fall, I am considering giving "lasagna" garden a try.
Anyone tried?
Basically I built my boxes, and thinking about putting down some peat and compost, and some manure, and then put grass clippings/coffee and leaves/hay/peat/paper intermittently. And let it overwinter. It's supposed to be easy-peasy and my compost will be ready for me in spring. If it settles too much, I can always throw a few bags of manure and compost on top. I figured, I can also add vermiculite later and work it in. Any thoughts? Somebody, please stop me! bounce

EDIT: Topic has been moved to the Non-SFG Gardening Discussion forum.

Patty from Yorktown 10/20/2011, 7:07 am

I have tried a lasagna garden as the base of one of my garden beds. It has been many years now. It takes a lot of stuff to compost down to 6 or 8 inches. I did not have enough the first time I tried it. My pile was about 18 inches high. The plants were happy, however I had a pretty bad weed problem. I would also say the garden was a little happier the second year than the first. Good luck with your experiment.

Patty from Yorktown

Goosegirl 10/20/2011, 7:39 am

I loved lasagna gardening - but SFG is easier. The stuff that you build by layering would be 2 of the Mel's Mix components but it would be difficult to gauge your ratio of peat to compostables (these will shrink so how do you know how much peat to put in to make them equal parts in the end?), then when they are already in the box, it would be hard to figure out how much vermiculite to add to make the equal third portion, and then having to dig it in to mix it all well? UGH!
If you have the room for it and want to layer everything and let it cook over the winter, I would suggest doing it without the peat in its own place - not in your boxes, then in the spring you would have nice compost ready to mix ONCE with your peat and vermiculite, then fill your boxes ONCE with the right mix to start out. Saves digging, saves steps, and creates a nice sheet composting site as well.
GG

Weedless_ 10/20/2011, 11:51 am

You have a valid point there, Goosegirl. I think I may do the combination of my plan and your plan:
I have two boxes, so I can do the sheet composting overwinter in one box, and leave the other one empty. Then when compost is good and ready, I'll mix half of it with peat and vermiculite in the empty box, and then add peat and vermiculite to the remaining half in the first box. If I don't have enough lasagna for two, I can always supplement with other composts.

Now about not having enough stuff for the pile, I am going to call on my husband's coworkers - they'll bring me their grass clippings and leaves.

What do you think?

Goosegirl 10/20/2011, 8:56 pm

Sounds like a good compromise/experiment. Can't wait to see how everything goes in the spring!
GG

FamilyGardening 12/27/2011, 11:14 pm

please keep us updated 0n how it goes Very Happy

hugs

rose

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Lasagna, anyone?

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