A no-dig garden is a garden built in layers on top of the ground. Also known as sheet composting or lasagna gardening, it is ideal for people with physical limitations that prevent them from the digging and prolonged bending of traditional gardening. It’s also ideal for people with poor soil or no soil at all; no-dig gardens can be built on any fairly level surface, such as rooftops or cement patios. It’s quick, too. In an afternoon, you can make your own organic, no-dig garden using Compost Hartford CT.
First, choose a fairly flat spot for your garden. It should be a spot that receives at least five hours of sun a day to keep your compost cooking and your plants growing. Mark out the area. While edging isn’t necessary, it looks nice and helps keep the weeds from creeping in. You can build it using any material you’d like; bricks, boards and stones all work nicely.
Next, lay down several layers of newspaper, completely covering your area. This will smother existing weeds and keep new ones from growing. Use at least four layers and overlap them so that there are no gaps. When this is finished, give it a good soaking. This accelerates the decomposition process and makes your garden appealing to earthworms. These helpful little creatures aerate your soil and help break down organic matter.
Now you’re ready to start layering your organic material. Begin with a layer of nitrogen rich material, such as vegetable scraps, grass clippings or manure. Alternate these layers with carbon rich layers. Dry leaves and straw are examples of carbon rich materials. Your ratio of carbon to nitrogen should be roughly two to one; for every one inch of nitrogen materials, you should put down two inches of carbon materials. Water each layer, and end with a carbon layer. Build your garden about twice as high as you’d like it; in six months, it will lose roughly half its height to the composting process.
That’s all there is to making a fertile, low maintenance no-dig garden. Dunning Sand & Gravel carries organic compost, topsoil, mulch and a range of other products to suit your gardening needs. Happy planting!