Here’s everything you need to know to get started with the technique. Similar to how the ingredients of a traditional pasta dish become warm and flavorful in the oven, these organic materials “cook” over time thanks to the heat generated by the soil. This is a no-till (aka no-dig) technique that requires hardly zero maintenance. All you have to do is build the layers and let nature take its course, hence the nickname, “lazy gardening.” And not only is lasagna gardening a simple, beginner-friendly way to garden, but it’s also an easy way to compost in your own backyard, Melrose and Normandeau explain. The layers also lock in nutrients throughout the season and can keep weeds at bay (without the need for chemicals), notes Angelo Randaci, Earth’s Ally master gardener and horticulture expert at Sarasota Green Group. “One of the important layers of lasagna gardening involves the use of cardboard or newspaper. The other layers include organic wastes such as trimmings from plants that you have pruned, twigs, and dried leaves—all wastes that should be going into a composter, anyway,” they tell mbg. Some paper products contain harmful dyes and petroleum that can leak into your soil and contaminate your garden, Randaci warns, so you want to avoid things like newspapers with colored ink. There are two types of layers to collect materials for: nitrogen layers, which are made up of green materials, and carbon layers, made up of brown materials. Here’s what goes in each: Watering is crucial, as the moisture is what’s going to help your layers decompose properly and efficiently, Melrose and Normandeau explain. Check in every so often to see how it’s progressing. As the materials of your bed start to break down, you can add more layers if you’d like. Just remember to water those dry materials. This includes going to your local park to collect fallen leaves, asking local retailers if they have any unwanted cardboard they’re willing to part with, reaching out to local restaurants for organic waste at the end of the day, and even contacting local cafes for coffee-ground waste. “A leaf shredder or lawn mower can be used to cut up your leaves,” he adds. “If you want to plant in your lasagna garden straight away, you’ll need to add topsoil or peat in between the layers, then add a few inches of gardening soil to the top.” However, the soil won’t be quite so rich if you take this route. “I [also] recommend spreading cayenne pepper and cinnamon onto your lasagna garden every once in a while,” Harris tells mbg. “This will deter rats and mice, as well as prevent fungal disease.”
