A New Garden Without Turning Over Sod

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Posted by @ge1836 on November 19, 2014

When making a new garden of any size, I use the lasagna method. In a large garden or a small spot where only dirt grows, this effortless plan works well if it's started a season before planting.

This is the shade layered garden next to the deck, where the space is too narrow and awkward for a mower.

Gardens of this type should be started a season ahead.

I laid down cardboard and newspaper in the area where I wanted to grow plants beyond the flagstone walk.

I had planned to lay mulch or compost on top of the paper. The mulched area is seen above the steppingrocks. I drew a grid of this area in order to place plants in a plan, and I marked where the plants would go with plastic spoons, labeled with artists' black wax pencil.