When we don't have snow on the ground, I've been more or less continuously creating lasagne beds since Fall '06. It is my preferred way for creating new beds and I have plans for a couple new beds, large woodland gardens, a large shrub border, etc. so it is an ongoing process. I start with 3 basic layers - Cardboard, coffee grounds, leaves (brown-green-brown). I lay down sheets of cardboard, 1 or 2 layers thick. Then spread 1-2 inches of used coffee grounds (with filters). Then I spread 2-3 inches of leaves. Then perhaps grass clippings, garden debris, compost, partially finished compost, manure etc. Anything goes on top of the 3 basic layers. I prefer to wait awhile before planting, because I am trying to smother a thick layer of weeds underneath. Apparently you can plant right away if you dig some soil into the planting hole. If I want an "instant bed" or an instant planting hole I use the "break your back" method - because I have to dig out weeds, rocks and roots. No simple turning over, pile a little on top, and that's it! Lasagne smothers the weeds (or grass) underneath. It adds organic matter to the soil. It raise the soil level some, depending on how deep your layers are, but for the most part the layers break down and settle a lot more than you would think.

Yolos, I have pure clay soil too. The kind that is as hard as a brick and gets deep cracks every Summer. I finally found something that is making a WORLD of difference. I started shredding newspapers last Fall and burying them. You know how hard our pink soil is, I could only dig down 4 inches then. In Spring, I could dig down 6 inches in the veggie rows where the newspaper was. This Fall, I can dig down 8 inches and my spade goes in like it's mashed potatoes now! It's very odd too. I found millions of oval eggs this Fall and have never seen them before. They are worm eggs! I found their picture online. Another odd thing was how much my soil weighs this Fall. You know how unbelievable heavy clay soil is? It's not now! When I get a spade of dirt, it feels like it's half the weight it used to be. Like whip cream is- airy feeling. What I did was lay down 15 foot strips of 3 foot plastic weed barrier every 4 feet in my garden that is 125 feet by 15 feet wide. That left me 12 inches of soil between each of the plastic rows. I amended only the 12 inch x 15 foot rows of exposed dirt and planted there. I only walk on the plastic. The change is astronomical. The dirt is turning from pink to brown and it's workable now! The worms are everywhere in those rows. I feel guilty digging now between slicing worms in half and disturbing the eggs LOL! And it was free:) I brought home newspapers from work and would rip them in 1 inch strips- a whole section at a time. I would shove the spade in and lift and put the strips under that clump and leave an inch of newspaper hanging out above ground. My thought was that it might wick moisture on down if I let a little exposed. Try it. It might not be a powerhouse in nutrients but it makes a great home for worms. Happy worms means a bountiful garden and nice dark soil:) I've read that clay soil needs 15% organic matter to become good so I'm going to keep adding newspapers every Spring and Fall. Just don't use glossy ads/paper! Lori

I am from Austin! But live in Maine now... but am surprised you can't find a fantastic selection of composts there... Go online and find the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service and see if you can find out where you can get great compost. I would also go ask around at Whole Foods Central Market. I know they don't sell compost there, but they might know where to get "the good stuff". Coast of Maine is a fantastic brand that makes blueberry compost, lobster compost, and other fish compost that is superb for growing huge, healthy fruits and veggies, and gorgeous flowers, organically. I personally do not trust municipal compost because it can contain municipal grass and leaves that are treated with pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. In Austin, you should also be able to get either liquid or bags of vermicompost... which is earthworm castings. You should be able to get "worm tea" and "worm castings". Ask Home Depot, ask Whole Foods, and ask at Ruta Maya if they are still in business and still attract whatever you call crunchy people these days, or the Magnolia Cafe. Someone there will at least know someone who does or sells vermicompost and/or knows where you can get all the good stuff. Heck, call local nurseries. Best luck to you, but from my memory of 11 years ago in Austin, seems like back then, the world was your oyster in Austin for things like choices in compost, etc. Hope that hasn't changed. Here's the "worm bin in Austin" page right here on Garden Web! http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/verm/msg1214415827635.html

we really don't have any fishing stores here. all the fishing stores here are all just sports stores meaning they sell fishing gear along with other sports gear like hunting gear, basketball gear,etc.. so it's hard to actually find a store that sells them not even nurseries here sell them. but if that is the case i might just go back into the garden and find more worms. hopefully they are composting worms otherwise i mean im just wasting my time in the end i probably will have to buy worms anyways but they cost like $40 here just for 1/4 a pound which is extreme expensive