If these are going to be raised beds with paper/cardboard on the bottom to slow down weeds, you will probably be best off to lay down the paper/cardboard now and start layering organic matter on top. The nice moist place under the cardboard will probably attract worms so long as there isn't too much chemicals keeping them away. Anyway, this will give you time to collect the materials for layering and building your beds and time for the materials to decompose. There are some plants that you could plant in a new lasagna bed but timing is the trick and many cover crops kinda require tilling which might not work well in a raised bed. Another option which doesn't do as much to control weeds but may encourage worms and perhaps easier to cover crop with would be to spread a layer of compost or composted manure and sprinkle your cover crop seeds and cover with a thin layer of mulch. (I sort of accidently did this under my citrus trees. For a while we had some "weed Fabric" down under the trees since I heard that you shouldn't mulch under citrus. Well the weed fabric just makes it impossible to hoe or pull the weeds so I yanked it out-which was pretty tough since all the weed roots were holding it down. I learned that with my sandy soil that a thin layer of mulch-under 3"- is ok for citrus but don't let it pile up near the trunk. I put down a half inch of mushroom compost and sprinkled some cracked corn as I couldn't get a big bag of corn meal then covered with an inch of wood chips. Several days later I noticed much of the cracked corn had sprouted. Luckily now without the weed cloth I was able to rake the mulch to uproot the seedlings. When I did that raking I noticed many worms and the mulch had been down less than a week.) Sounds like you have kinda nice soil to work with, you may just be lacking organic matter. One way or another you need to add organic matter wheather you want to do lasagna layering, just amend and mulch, or grow a cover crop and mulch is kinda up to you. Perhaps you will decide to try a few different methods in the different beds and see what you like best. Or you may choose what type of garden bassed on the intended crops for the beds. My experience is that a brand new lasagna bed is not really the best choice for corn or sunflowers as they need to sink their roots deep right away and the cardboard might still be too tough. If the lasagna bed Has been left to decompose for a season then the roots will probably manage to get through the cardboard. One way or another you should cover that soil with something.

Oh my Sam ! Those tree roots are going to be a nightmare !!! The lighting however looks splendid. :) My vote is still to put the kai-bash on the lawn and turn it into a giant perennial garden. We need someone to link the info for spin-out bags. I haven't had to plant next to any trees yet. In fact, after Sandy came through we had some removed from our property. Never saw wind nearly bend a spruce in half before. Scary stuff. Di, Hello !!! and thank you for all the info. :) I have been meaning to do more research on local societies but I can't pry myself away from my own garden to figure out a plan. It is hard to balance everything, and with my recent commitment to my own personal garden it has taken up most of what was left of my 'free' time. I have heard amazing things about the DVHS. Philadelphia is such a great botanical hub. I have been to Longwood more times than I can count. Never made it early enough to see the Wisteria gardens in bloom. Meadowbrook is about 20 min from my house, which was recently bought out by the Philadelphia Horticultural Society. I frequent them for more of my indoor exotics. They get their orchids from Waldor's so I have a nice access to quality plants there. Primex suits my needs mostly for the big garden stuff. I think I paid some of the summer workers salaries last year with plants and soil amendments alone. :) I will keep those organizations in mind for future years, and who knows, maybe bump into you. Hahaaaa . . . look for the pasty Irish boy who talks with his hands :p Ludi Sandy's Wrath

Several reasons but the question is these ingredients have not reached the point where they hold water well, the water will just run through which is a good thing on the short term. You need to provide the water that is draining out quickly so the roots dont dry out. The microherd, soil organisms will begin to sort out what you put down and they don't actually need to be water logged to do their work yet they need evenly moist. They start to break down this organic matter you are providing, rearranging the parts into a structure. One organism eats a little poo and a little bit of a leaf or twig and is eaten by another organism, reducing the organic matter finally into soil. I think it was the soil organisms thread, find and read that and you will see the process you are starting with this lasagna bed. You have done all you can do in this process except water when needed which will be more often than nature will do unless you are unlucky. This area is almost like a big potted plant.

Jon - I see what you mean... those have obviously been there quite a while. Mine are pruned/limbed up like trees and create more of a true canopy. I just finally got all my hostas planted, and under the redbuds I ran into a few roots, but it wasn't bad. My trees are only a few years old though. We'll see how they do. NHL - Maybe it's a place that would be better for just some sun-loving shrubs....?