Preparing your vegetable garden during the fall for the following spring is a simple way to get a head-start on feeding your plants. Sometimes referred to as "lasagna gardening," layering organic mulch and other materials will kill weeds and grass while it breaks down into your soil, increasing drainage and nutrient levels. If you already have a prepared bed, the "lasagna" method isn't for you, just simply throw on the mulch in the fall and let it break down over winter. It will take at least three months for the organic mulch to break down.
Mark out the boundaries of the vegetable garden with a garden hose, string, rocks or any material you might have on hand.
Place eight to 10 layers of wet newspaper over the entire area where the vegetable garden will be. Overlap the newspaper to create a solid blanket. Being wet helps the newspaper stay in place.
Place a layer of "brown" composting material, such as dry leaves, pine needles, paper, shredded newspaper or composted manures, over the newspapers.
Place a layer of "green" composting materials, such as grass clippings, vegetable scraps, tea bags or coffee grounds, on top of the layer of brown materials.
Add more layers, trying to add about twice as much "brown" composting materials as the "green," until your raised mound is 2 to 3 feet tall.
Things You Will Need
- Wet newspaper
- Brown compost components
- Green compost components
- These "lasagna" beds will go from 2 to 3 feet tall down to about 1 foot after three to four months. What's left after this time will be a black, rich, humus-rich soil that is weed-free, moisture retentive and nutrient-rich. Plant directly into the black soil.
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