Lasagna bed, so far

Thank you all for your kind words! Lasagna, the kind you eat, is made in layers and not stirred. Same with the gardening type. Layer on layer on layer and don't stir it. People kept asking me if I was going to rototill it all together in the spring and I kept saying that I was just going to dig holes and plant things. In straw? no, it won't all be straw and I can hurry things along with some potting soil. Some of them just shook their heads at the crazy idea of it, but now they see the results. If I had waited an extra year it would have been all broken down but who wants to wait when there is stuff to be planted and a place to do it?

I find it very interesting. But the problem for me here is that if I put the newspapers, they will be completely eaten by termites very quickly. It happened to me when I lined my pond with 'papers before I put plastic and not a piece of paper was found when I removed the lining after a year as it had developed a hole. I tried to think of doing lasagna in a small patch for experimenting, but this pond experience prevents me.

Dinu

Dinu, try the lasagna bed without the newspaper layer. Just make the top layers thicker. Most weeds will only travel a certain distance before giving up and becoming part of the mulch.

Thanks Mary for the update, it's so inspiring!!! I planted in a bed this spring that was not totally composted and I did have to add nitrogen and iron because I had some yellowing leaves. I understand that decomposing stuff uses a lot of nitrogen. But it's beautiful now.

Dinu, the reason for putting in newspaper is that it is a weed barrier and will also decompose. Is it possible that the newspaper just naturally decomposed when the pool liner leaked?

Dinu, I think that's what happened too. I have done this in different parts of my yard and it works. Wish I had lasagn-ed my new 95' x 15' bed. Now I'm hoeing and mulching my planted areas there. May rake back and paper yet. Hoping shredded Live Oak leaves will work.
sidney

Oh Mary, fabulous job! Your garden is so beautiful and functional too with the veggies. What a perfect combination. Your July 30th photos are gorgeous. You're located in a little bit of heaven, aren't you? Thanks for sharing the progress of your garden, and thanks for bumping it.

My 'papers were definitely removed by the termites [which is a big problem here -- even broken twigs and dry leaves that fall on the ground are eaten by them for its rich cellulose content]. The termites have even climbed 25 feet up to eat away the reapers used to arrange the tiles of the roof! While digging, I noticed the nest a couple of years ago. But could not destroy the queen or the nest completely.

Okay, I will try to put in more organic material instead of the 'paper and try it out. Thanks a lot.

Dinu

I've read about lasagna beds. This account is informative and inspiring.

Dinu, the termites in your region sound as bad as the fireants in mine. I had to hire a pest control company when they invaded my garage. After a year of battling them, I think they are finally under control. I still have to put pest control on the little mounds that pop up and I feel as if I am chasing the mounds all around the yard.

Mary -
a wonderful progressive thread! thanks for directing me to it.
i'm re-thinking the two-year veggie garden timeframe.
dig

We have heavy gray Lida clay. Traditional wisdom has been to dig it, and add stuff to it rather than just layering on top. I'd be interested to know what the soil conditions are in areas where the lasagna gardening has been done.

Ann (who is about a build a large new garden).

Ann, after a while this topsoil gets tilled in too. This is used on top of any soil with the feature being not using chemicals to kill weeds/grass under the newspaper. They get deprived of light and air and decompose.
hope that helps.
sidney

My soil under the lasagna bed was very hard clay and rocks. It hasn't changed much but at least I have a layer where I can grow something and I didn't have to dig it all up. Running the rototiller in it would have been an exercise in trying to control a bouncing ball if you can picture that ball with a motor, whirling blades and handles.