People nowadays are getting more conscious about their health and the kinds of food they consume. A healthy and balanced diet is essential for one’s overall wellness, which is why having your own veggies and herbs planted in your backyard is a great idea. But how do you do this if you don’t exactly have a green thumb or lack the needed space for a home garden?
“Lasagna gardening” has gained popularity over the years, as it is one of the easiest ways to grow veggies and herbs at home. The moniker doesn’t have anything to do with the dish, but is called as such due to the method of planting, which is much like how lasagna is made. All you need to do is add organic materials onto the layers, which will then turn into rich soil fit for growing healthy plants, according to About.com.
How to start your own lasagna garden
Perhaps one of the best things about lasagna gardening is there is little to no digging involved. There is no need to remove weeds or sod, too. The first step is for you to get the layers ready for planting, which can take months. Here’s how to do it:
The bed is made of nitrogen and carbon layers. The nitrogen layers (greens) are made up of food-based materials like leftover food (fruits and veggies), egg shells, seaweed, teabags, animal manure (only those from plant-eating or poultry animals), and coffee grounds. Left over fat and meat are a no-no.
1. For the carbon layers (browns), you can use hay, straw, dried leaves, or shredded newspaper.
Layer the carbon and nitrogen materials alternately until you get a two-foot tall garden bed. This will shrink after a few months, which means the “soil” is getting ready for planting.
2. After the first two weeks, place a plastic over your lasagna garden bed to help protect it from elements and speed up decomposition.
3. Once the lasagna bed is “cooked” and has earthworms crawling, you can start planting. You can plant your favourite herbs, eggplants, and cabbages for starters.
You also need to consider the season when starting a lasagna garden. Most gardeners prefer to start one during fall and start planting in spring. If you plan to start in summer, you might need to use some top soil for your lasagna garden. For more garden tips, visit our Home and Garden page.