Should be :-) One of the primary reasons for creating raised beds - and a lasagne bed is a raised planting bed - is to overcome poor inground drainage. By nature, any raised planting bed will have good drainage, provided it has been filled with decent soil. Lasagne gardening is simply sheet composting, so once all the elements are properly decomposed, you will have a fertile, loose planting medium. 'Loose' is the key, as loose indicates spaces between the soil particles and it is the spaces that allow water to penetrate and drain through properly. One of the primary reasons for creating raised beds is to overcome poor inground drainage.

For planting in regular soil (without benefit of a raised planting situation), you can do a simple test to determine drainage. Dig a hole 12' deep and 12' wide and fill it with water. If it takes 30 minutes or less to drain, you have pretty good drainage. If it takes far less than 30 minutes (10-15), your soil is likely very sandy and you may need to add organic matter to help retain soil moisture. If its takes significantly longer than 30 minutes, you have poorly draining or heavy or compacted soils and again, adding organic matter will help to loosen and improve drainage.

Raised beds do indeed improve drainage however, in my experience, lasagna doesn't necessarily mean raised bed. Layers of organics piled on top of the soil will decompose and sink to the level of the surrounding soil in about 2 years (more or less). If you mix a large percentage of soil with your compost/organic lasagna layers (which not everyone does) that will give you a raised burm effect. So my answer would be no, not unless you raise the soil level. Lasagna layering will not improve drainage in the long term.

"Dig a hole 12' deep and 12' wide and fill it with water."

Holy Mackerel! That's almost a lap pool!

You'd get just as good a test if you made that 12" x 12" and it wouldn't wear you out.

"You'd get just as good a test if you made that 12" x 12" and it wouldn't wear you out."

Yeah, but if you go with the 12'x12' when you're done you can fill it with really good soil and then you would be sure to reach well drained nirvana.

I agree, well-drained means more than just ...... well-drained. I have sandy soil that, if not amended, drains very, very quickly. Good for some things like prairie plants but not ideal for a wider variety of perennials. When I amend my sandy loam with organics I get the well-drained I really want. Lots of space for air in the soil and enough organic material to retain some moisture. My sandy soil is easy to work and get to where I want it to be. I don't envy those with the inverse situation, poor drainage or clay.

I was digging holes for River Birches and thought it would be a great idea to really get the soil wet before I put in the tree.

So once the hold was dug I filled it with water. Two days later it's STILL full of water LOL!!

Wonderful!

Thus - the need for Lasagna Beds!

Here is a link that might be useful: Lasagna Beds for Beginners!

LOL!! Gosh, Donn....thanks for catching that! Of course I meant 12x12 inches, not feet :-) There's not even enough room to dig a hole that large in my garden!

Note to self: gotta proofread a bit better.......

Wow, I have to try the water test! I've always _assumed_ the unamended soil in my front yard is slow draining, but knowing that for a fact would be far more helpful. Thanks for the concrete advice.