Sheet Mulching (Lasagna Gardening)
Convert lawn, weedy ground, or compacted soil into a productive garden bed without digging. Layers of cardboard and organic matter suppress weeds, improve soil biology, and create fertile growing conditions over 2-6 months.
Version History
Version 1.0 Current
Effective: 2026-03-24Initial version
Procedure Details
No significant hazards. Wear gloves if handling manure. Check cardboard for staples and remove plastic tape before use.
Materials needed per square metre:
- Cardboard (uncoated, tape and staples removed) — enough to overlap completely
- Nitrogen layer: 5-10cm of manure, grass clippings, or food scraps
- Carbon layer: 15-20cm of straw, leaves, or wood chips
- Compost: 5-10cm of finished compost (optional but speeds results)
- Water source
Best started 2-6 months before planting. Autumn is ideal for spring planting.
Procedure Steps (Version 1.0)
Mow or slash existing vegetation as low as possible. Do not remove it — leave it in place as a nitrogen source.
Water the area thoroughly. The ground beneath the cardboard must be moist.
Lay cardboard over the entire area, overlapping edges by at least 15cm. Cover every gap — weeds will find any opening.
Wet the cardboard thoroughly until it is completely saturated and lies flat.
Add a nitrogen-rich layer: 5-10cm of manure, grass clippings, or kitchen scraps. Spread evenly.
Add a carbon-rich layer: 15-20cm of straw, dry leaves, or wood chips. This is the main bulk of the bed.
Optionally add 5-10cm of finished compost on top for immediate planting capability.
Water the entire bed deeply. It should feel moist throughout, not just on the surface.
Record the date, location, materials used, and approximate layer depths in your garden journal.
Wait 2-6 months for breakdown. Check periodically — the cardboard should be softening and worms should be visible. You can plant into the compost layer immediately if you added one, or transplant seedlings through holes cut in the mulch.