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Soil, Compost & Mulch

hybrid Instant Lasagna Bed?

15 years ago

OK. I like the Instant Bed idea for creating a Lasagna bed. However, I wonder if I could make a *Hybrid Instant Lasagna bed*?

1. Lay down the cardboard and wet it thoroughly

2. Use a sod cutter to cut sod from the paths and flip that onto the cardboard, grass side down (3" depth cut)

3. Add 1-2" layer of coffee grounds

4. Add a layer of shredded newspaper....1/4" deep, max

5. Add 2-3" layer of compost

6. Mulch with grass clippings

Does this sound right? I have access to plenty of coffee grounds and compost, as well as newspapers and cardboard. I realize the newspaper will mat down, hence my plan to shred it.

Do I need manure or something to increase fertility?

Mark-

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Comments (5)

dorisl
15 years ago
yep, that'll work, nothing hybrid about that!

dont forget the cheese.....
zengeos
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh good!

I figure, making beds this way, say, in April, as soon as the snow is gone....I should be able to make a couple good sized beds for the veggie garden expansion. I'm going to put cardboard or newspaper down in the cut off grass/weed area and drop in a couple inches of mulch dirt combo (The mulch came from a local company that accidentally left in a yard or two of what they called topsoil (but was a clay/sharpsand mix and next to useless for my gardens) Suffice to say, I'll necer use that company again, but at least this should come to use in the paths between lasagna beds.

I'm hoping that, using this technique, two of us will be able to make 2-4 4x20 lasagna beds in an afternoon. Maybe I can get a couple more people to help out in the bed creation. I'll let it sit for a month then plant into it.

Might cover with black plastic to heat it up...
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hamiltongardener
15 years ago
That's very close to how I built my beds, although I mixed the compost with peat moss, about 50:50. I also didn't both with cutting the sod, just straight over the lawn.
zengeos
Original Author
15 years ago
I would consider doing this straight over the lawn IF I could let it sit for 2-3 months before planting. As it is, I'll have to plant in some almost immediately. Not having to cut the sod would save a step, but, seeing as my soil is difficult to dig, I don't think I'd have enough depth to plant into. The sod cutter would do several things., It would loosen up the top 2-3 inches, mostly grass and roots, AND it would give easier acces to the soil beneath the cut sod possibly to till a couple inches deeper to put on the lasagna bed as another layer.

I'd love to go the permaculture route here, but don't know if it is feasible. 1" of coffee grounds, a 1/2" of shredded newspaper and a couple inches of compost is only around 3-4" deep. I have no leaves as brown material, and also don't have straw, though I could probably buy some. I'm having to buy the compost...14 yards of it...for these new gardens.
hamiltongardener
15 years ago
I planted immediately. Of course, mine were about 8 inches deep, which then settled then I had to add more. Maybe you could stop by the grocery store's dumpster and see if you can pick up a load of waste veggies and fruits. Lay that down as the layer on top of the cardboard.

And my lawn was very compacted to the point that I couldn't put a shovel into it, even jumping onto the shovel. So I just laid everything over top. It worked out OK for me but as I said, I had a good 8 inches of peat moss/compost on top.

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