How to avoid weeding the garden!

[swatkitty]

Hi! I thought I'd share pics of my latest garden project!

It rained like crazy here in June! It was great for my garden, but unfortunately the weeds liked it just as much. I just couldn't keep up with it all. I remembered lasagna gardening a few years ago and thought I'd try it in the garden! So far, so good!

BEFORE: Here's what I started with. Can you even see my plants?? (Hi Max!)




Step 1: Soak a ton of newspapers! I used my niece's "gene pool".



Step 2: Lay your soaking wet newspapers out on the weeds at least 10 sheets at a time. Use whole sections, 2 if needed. It works best if you don't mow them off like I did (they poke through the papers in some places if you're not careful). Leave room around the plant so you don't smother it.




Step 3: Cover newspaper up with cut grass, leaves, peat moss, top soil, basically anything to keep it from flying away and to add to the layers. I just mowed my lawn at the same time and emptied the bagger onto it as I went along. (it helps that Mom was helping me!) Don't let the papers dry out or it doesn't work as well. Spray it down with the hose if needed. (as you can see here, I transported the papers in my niece's wagon. Thanks, Makenna!)



Step 4: Add compost around each plant to really help it out. It also keeps the grass from blowing away. Not to mention that it really looks sharp!!



Step 5: Water thoroughly!! Even the grass, just to make sure that it's good and tamped down. I didn't think about it, but you can also run a soaker hose along your rows under the newspapers and water that way. Sure wish I would have! Might have to do another layer now so it's easier to water. After the initial watering, you only have to follow up with watering at the base of the plant. The rest stays put!


AFTER: Here's a current picture of the garden! It's been 10 days since I did this and I haven't added anything new to it since then.

[derketchup]

wow, that is SWEET!

[queenofthehivemomof5]

Looks great!

[ILv2Shop]

I did a version of this last year and I have no weeds to speak of in my flower gardens.
All year long I shred all the mail I don't want. I took bags and bags of those shreddings at the end of last years growing season and put a nice size layer on all my flower gardens. It is the best thing I have ever done for my gardens.(next to Miracle Grow)The flowers (bulbs) seem to have found their way up but the weeds are at bay.
For the gardens this year that have no bulbs or perenials, I will do your system as there are no shortage of papers in this household.
Whats the screen thingy in the first pic? And I love the little red wagon.

[pedspeech]

Beautiful!

[swatkitty]

Originally Posted by ILv2Shop I did a version of this last year and I have no weeds to speak of in my flower gardens. All year long I shred all the mail I don't want. I took bags and bags of those shreddings at the end of last years growing season and put a nice size layer on all my flower gardens. It is the best thing I have ever done for my gardens.(next to Miracle Grow)The flowers (bulbs) seem to have found their way up but the weeds are at bay. For the gardens this year that have no bulbs or perenials, I will do your system as there are no shortage of papers in this household. Whats the screen thingy in the first pic? And I love the little red wagon.

I just read on here about using your shredded mail! That's such a great idea!!

The screen is where my sugar snap peas used to be. :frown: they didn't make it.. those little grabby vine things on them kept clinging to everything before I got them planted and all 4 stems ended up getting broken. They died within a week of planting.

I watered with MiracleGro twice during the first 3 weeks of planting and I think it really helped everything get started!

This is actually a modified lasagna garden just for weed control. A few years ago, we layered and layered over newspapers... keeping a good balance of green & brown... and then you just plant your flower bed right up on top of it. We just laid the papers out right on top of the lawn on the side of the house! The lilies we planted there are HUGE, but most of the Iris didn't make it for some reason. I'm not sure why.

More on lasagna gardening:
Lasagna Garden - How to Make a Lasagna Garden

[meems]

My veggie garden is such an embarrassing afterthought this year I won't dare post a picture...we black fabric it so no weeds, but not much for plants either! Just a humongo black square with a few things plopped in.

I use newspapers under my mulch for my flower beds..don't wet it though, just put it under, works great! My neighbor uses newspapers & straw in his garden, he always knows he can come to me for papers!

[greenfrog57]

wish I would've known to put newspapers under our garden fabric when we rocked our front (we are in the desert) The weeds keep coming trough the fabric and the rocks!

[thorrocks1]

Great Link .. thanks. I have been lying down newspaper all around our new pool today .. we hope to start planting next week. My boys thought I was NUTS to put so much paper down but I will be sure to show them the link!! Your garden looks great!

[Spoildbby1]

Thank you. My garden looks like your before pictures. I have been so sore from trying to weed. Not anymore!