Maybe you’ve always thought that gardening is all about weeding, digging and tilling but you would be wrong. With the lasagna garden method, you do not have to do any of those things to reap the benefits of growing lush produce. If you want to try your hand at starting a garden without all the work, then you should try out this gardening method.

Find A Good Growing Location

Just like growing a traditional garden, you need to find a nice, sunny location for growing your lasagna garden. The garden will need to have enough sunshine throughout the day from different angles so that all the leaves on the plant get access to the sun. Just note that if your garden is in direct sunlight during the heat of the afternoon, you will need to monitor their water needs closely.

Outline the area you want to make the bed with some stakes which will help you stay in the ‘lines’. You can also use this method to help build up a raised bed rather than using top soil.

 Why You Don’t Need To Worry About Weeds

The great thing about the lasagna gardening method is that you do not have to worry about grass or weeds as the different layers that you add to your garden will actually smother them. No more worrying about double digging, tilling or weeding for hours as you garden.

Adding The First Layer To Your Garden

For your first layer, lay out black and white newspaper or cardboard in the space you’ve laid out for your garden. This paper layer helps prevent weeds from coming through. Once you have laid out the paper layer, make sure that you soak it down well with water. You can spray with a water hose or hand water depending on how much access you have to your water barrel.

Creating Your Lasagna Garden Layers

Once the paper layer is down, it is time to add the next layers to your garden. As you would when making real lasagna, keep adding another layer until you reach about 18 inches making sure to wet down each layer as you go. When you get to the top, end your layering with a compost layer.

How To Layer Your Lasagna Garden:

1.  Peat Moss
2. Organic Material – grass clippings, dried leaves, or hay
3. Compost
4. Peat Moss
5. Organic Material - grass clippings, dried leaves, or hay
6. Compost

 Last, But Not Least – The Last Layer

Once you have layered on your different organic materials in your bed, you can either choose to leave the newly created bed until next planting season to break down before you grow anything in it or you can choose to start planting your garden right way. The great thing about this method of gardening is that the worms will be very attracted to the decomposing organic material  which in turn will help increase the speed in which the materials continue to break down. They will be eating the grass as well as helping breakdown all the layers which in turn mixes them altogether. You will be left with an organic, no tilling necessary, weed-free soil that is rich in nutrients – perfect for your gardening!

Time To Plant Those Beds

Depending on whether you leave your garden to decompose or plant right way, the last step involves planting your garden. If you choose to grow by seed, make sure you read the planting instructions on the back of the packets so that you space them correctly. Once all the seeds and potted plants are in the lasagna bed it is just a matter of watering and waiting for everything to grow and produce.

Growing a lasagna garden is as easy as making its famous italian namesake dish! Just keep layering until you reach the top. No more weeding or tilling needed when it comes to working in your garden.

Plan Ahead

By planning ahead for the next growing season, you can save a bit of money each month so that you do not go over budget when it comes to buying your seeds and plants for your vegetable garden. I personally save $15 a month in an envelope so that by the time I head out to go plant shopping I know how much I can spend and I don’t have to go over budget to buy what we need.

Exchange Seeds & Plants With Others

Join your local gardening club. Often they have plant swapping days where you can bring any of your plants that you have divided and have too much of, to swap with another gardener who has the same problem but with different plants. It is a win-win for all as both gardeners go home with new plants without have to pay for them! Also, don’t be afraid to ask a neighborhood gardener for some seeds from plants you admire as they are often happy to share.

Harvest Seeds From Your Plants For Next Year

If you want to save money, harvest seeds from this season’s vegetable crop so that you can sow them next year. This is also a good idea if you plant with heirloom seeds – you get the same quality of seed without having to pay for them again as they can be costly compared to seeds purchased from your local garden center.

Start A Compost Pile

Compost is the best thing you can add to your garden to improve the soil quality and it is free. By starting a compost pile you not only have a place to recycle food scraps, dried leaves and grass clippings that decompose to make a nutrient rich mixture that your garden will love, but it also helps you reduce your garbage bill because you are not throwing these things in the trash. Start one today – you can even build one from free wood pallets or wood scraps found on construction sites!

Check Online For Free Gardening Supplies

If you are looking for some new containers for planting or you want to find some stones for a pathway, don’t forget to check out online bartering sites such as Craigslist. Often people just want to get rid of stuff cheap right away so you can either get gardening items real cheap or even free.

DIY Organic Insect Spray

Making your own organic insect spray is cheap and easy. To make your own insect spray, add 1/2 cup of water, 3-4 hot chili peppers and 3-4 cloves  of garlic to a blender, blending until it is smooth. Strain in a sieve and put the liquid into a spray bottle along with 1/4 cup of dish soap. Add water to fill the spray bottle to the top. Make sure that you use rubber gloves while cutting the peppers.

When spraying this organic insect spray, ensure that you do not do it in direct sunlight as the sun can burn the wet leaves. Also you should wear gloves when applying the spray due to the hot peppers which can irritate your skin.

Buy Gardening Tools At The End Of The Season

If you can hold out till the end of the gardening season, fall is the best time to buy new gardening tools or supplies that you might need next year. With upcoming holidays coming up, many stores blow out gardening supplies to get ready for the next season so you can get products dirt cheap! You can also check out different discount stores to find some great deals on tools or check out online retailers for some bargains.

Gardening does not need to be expensive. Though there are many fancy gadgets and tools on the market, you can still enjoy vegetable gardening on a budget while still growing lots of organic nutritious foods for your family.

 Set Out Your Soil Bags Where You Want Your Garden

Once you have bought your soil bags from the garden center, pick the location where you want to have your garden grow. It should be in a location that gets a lot of sunshine as well as close to a water source. Flatly lay your soil bags on the ground arranged in the shape that you want your garden to be.

 Cut Out Your Gardening ‘Rows’

Once you have laid your soil bags down, it is time to create some ‘rows’. This is done by using a utility knife to cut a line down the center from top to bottom of the top of the bag. Next, cut a line at each end of the first line across, so you have a large ‘I’. Once you have cut through the plastic, open it up so that the soil is exposed.

 Make Drainage Holes

Once your soil bag is open, use a pronged tool such as a pitch fork or even a long knife to puncture holes into the bottom of the bags for drainage for your garden.

 Plant Your Garden

Once you have your sack garden all set up, it is time to plant your seeds. If you are planting a veggie garden, ensure that you have the tallest plants at the north of the garden so that they don’t shade other plants. You will also want to check the spacing that is required for each plant so that they are not overcrowded. As they start to sprout up you may have to do a little thinning so that they grow big.

 Water. Water. Water

Once your garden is planted it is just a matter of keeping up with watering. Depending on how hot it is outside during the day, you may have to water daily so you have optimum growth for your garden – just remember to check before you water as you don’t want to overwater either! You may also want to use a liquid fertilizer every few weeks so that you plants get some additional nutrients.

Realistically this is not the most ‘pretty’ garden however everyone can do it! If you are looking for a quick start on your gardening this year and you don’t want to do any prep work, then try sack gardening. Not only will it be quicker to set up than growing a traditional garden, but you also don’t have to do any weeding. Just sit back and watch your garden grow!

Check Your Plant Size

When you are shopping for your plants that you want to use in your containers be sure to check the accompanying plant tag for how big the plant will be when it is mature. When in a greenhouse, a lot of the seedlings look the same size which can be deceiving as every plant has a different grow height and circumference. You want to pick the right plants that will fit the size of your container so they grow healthy and you are not left transplanting them half way through the summer due to their growth.

Use Containers With Drainage

When using containers to garden, you need to ensure that you have proper drainage for the water so that your plants roots are not sitting in the water. This can cause the roots to rot which will cause your plants to die. Many commercial planters have a drainage system but if you are repurposing an item to use as your planter you can install a whole in the bottom with a drill so that proper drainage occurs.

Pick The Best Potting Soil

When container gardening, you want to ensure that you have the best soil mixture possible. If you are wanting to plant hanging baskets or planters for your front step, you want to choose a coarse soil mixture that is usually labelled. If you intend to germinate your own seedlings than you want to look for a germinating type mixture. Often you can find different specific soil mixtures for plants that have specific growing needs such as bulbs, orchids, cacti and violets.

Water Your Plants

There are many factors determining how often you need to water, such as weather, pot color, location of plant and what type of soil you have. Depending on how often you receive rainfall or how hot your weather is you need to be frequently checking your plants. During the hot months I often find that I have to water every day as they dry out quickly in the sun. If you have planters that don’t receive as much sunshine and are shaded, check before you water as they can become waterlogged which will make the roots rot.

Fertilize Frequently

Just as water is important to your plants, you need to maintain a fertilizing schedule when container gardening so that your plants have the proper nutrients. Because container plants require more water so they don’t dry out, it causes the nutrients to be flushed out of the soil which is the main reason to fertilize. You can add a slow-release fertilizer into your potting mix before you plant or just use a use fertilizer every time you water (make sure that is diluted as you don’t want to overfeed your plant).

Often you will find what works for others may not work for you, it is a matter of just trying it out. Don’t be afraid to try something new – if it doesn’t work, pull it out and add it to your compost pile. Go ahead and get started on your container gardening – it is fun and very rewarding without all the hard labor of maintaining an actual flower bed.

Store Your Compost Bin In Your Freezer

No one likes nasty smells! Often the thought of saving scraps from your kitchen may deter you from trying out composting as you probably know it doesn’t take long before they start to smell. If you don’t have access to a composting bin that eliminates the smells, the next best thing is storing your composting bin in the freezer. This allows you to save your vegetable peelings, egg shells and coffee grounds easily without having to endure any nasty odors wafting from your bin.

Turn Over Your Compost Often

Whether you have a standing bin or a tumbler composter, you need to aerate it often by turning it over. By adding more air you will actually increase the rate in which your compost breaks down and decomposes as well as helping keep odours to a minimum in your bin.

Add The Right Ingredients

To make the best compost, you need to have a balance of carbon-rich materials (brown materials) with nitrogen-rich materials (green materials). Some examples of carbon-rich materials would be dried leaves, straw or shredded paper. Adding nitrogen-rich materials is as easy as dropping in the grass clippings, food scraps and weeds from your garden. By layering these two materials, you will have nutrient rich compost for your garden. If you find that your compost is slow in decomposing, add some more greens to your pile. If you find it starting to smell, flip it and add some more brown materials.

Place Your Bin In The Sun

Like anything that grows well, you need to have your compost bin in full sun as it will help break down your compost due to elevated temperatures. Decomposition works best around 140-160 degrees F so having your bin in the sun will allow the heat increase to help your composting process. It is also helpful to have a dark colored bin for this reason as well as the dark color will help absorb the heat.

Add Worms

A good compost bin is sure to have worms! You can purchase worms specifically for compost bins such as Red Wiggler worms as they are voracious eaters and feed off the bacteria that is produced by your decomposing food. Adding worms to your compost bin will help break down the organic materials which in turn means more nutrients to your compost pile.

By maintaining a compost bin, you not only ensure a ready supply of nutrient-rich fertilizer for all vegetable garden and flower beds, but you also help reduce waste that was destined for the garbage dump. Try out composting today with these how-to-compost tips and you will be on your way to having the best fertilized garden in the neighborhood!