Quote:
Originally Posted by rjake100
I am preparing a couple of beds. The first bed wont be planted until next spring, and I want to start some lasagna layers now. I would prefer to mulch my grass clippings back in to the lawn. As such I dont have a good source for the nitrogen layers in my lasagna. There are a couple of empty lots near my house. These lots are not mowed and are covered in weeds. I am certain these weeds are loaded with seed.
Question 1).
How bad would it be if I mowed that lot and used the clippings in my nitrogen layers? Could I mitigate the risk of emerging weeds by using cardboard as the top most layer?
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Don't use cardboard as a top layer. You need the air flow. Otherwise you run the potential risk of making the whole thing an anaerobic disaster.
The only weeds so far to scare me is Johnsongrass. I can deal with it, but it must be dealt with. Not a problem that corrects itself like most things lasagna. I do have a suggestion though, even with Johnsongrass. Mow the empty lots with a mulching mower. Then in a week or two when it needs mowed again, take those clippings instead. Far less likely to introduce problem weeds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjake100
I have another bed I am using for my fall tomato crop. I dont want to try a bunch of layers now since I am planting it this weekend. For that bed I am going to top of the bed with compost from the dump and some bagged soil conditioner.
Question 2).
If that soil conditioner hasn't broken down by next Spring is there any problem with topping it off with more compost? I am worried that burying the soil conditioner (looks like fine ground pine bark) with another layer of compost will be less than ideal.
Thanks for taking a look.
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Best way to handle that is start a cool season cover crop right at the end of the tomato season. Winter rye and winter peas work great for this. Then in spring mow it down and bag it, add a weed barrier, use the biomass as mulch over the compost.
This way you are growing your own mulch and soil conditioners instead of needing to import products from the outside.
