Lasagna Mulching

I started out well in planting my garden.  One garden bed box had herbs, another box tomatoes, another cucumbers, and a couple were mixed vegetables.  Sadly, weather wise, it just wasn't a good planting year.  Then came the weeds, tons of them, almost as tall as I am.  I couldn't even get the chickens to go in there and stomp them down.  So, now I'm starting to think about preparing the soil for next year, but weeding is a ton of work.

I'm going to try a technique called sheet mulching or what I like to call lasagna mulching.  It's very simple but you have to think ahead before you do it.  Start to stock pile leaves, composted manure and any items from your kitchen that you would normally throw in the compost bin.  Then pick your area for gardening.  Mine is already picked since it is above ground gardening boxes.  Then start layering cardboard, with your stockpile of leaves, compost and manure, right on top of your soil.  Add another layer of cardboard to the top to block out the light, killing the weeds before you even get started.  It's a little extra work in the autumn, that gives your spring a head start.  Everything will break down over the autumn and winter months and before you know it you will have soil that is perfect for next years crops to be planted!