JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Accessible Gardening Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
lasagna garden for perenials

Posted by billfaith1 WI (My Page) on
Fri, Sep 3, 10 at 10:02

Hello. I have an area with hard clay where I want to start a flower garden. Its grass now so I thought about digging out the sod and hauling in some top soil. Then I started reading about lasagna gardening and wonder if this would work for me. Couple things I dont get though. Do you plant completely in the layers or do you dig down through to the native soil(clay) at all? I thought I read somewhere that this method will improve the soil underneath with time. Could I not start this, wait a few months and then did down a few inches into the clay? Also this will be going near my house so I cant raise it too much as its already at the grade it should be at. Am I best to save this method for the vegetables out in the garden or can I try it near the house with flowers?


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: lasagna garden for perenials

It can be used for flower gardening. After a season the garden bed 'flattens' as the lasagne material decays naturally. Then you can add some more.

By adding compost materials to the surface the clay is kept more moist (especially if you are watering over the summer) and can start to be more workable.

Many clay soils are actually quite fertile but they are very tricky to work without wrecking what little strucutre they have. So I think your idea of using lasagne gardening is very prudent.

You might need to use this system for upward of five years before you'll see much mingling of lasagne with clay - but it's worth it.

There are plants which will grow in heavy clay and you could use some of those as 'bones' for your garden plans. Or just work with annuals for a year or so to be sure the bed is cleared regularly for adding more material to the top.


 
 

 

 


Click here to learn more about in-text links on this page.



iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network