Compare Back to Eden Garden, Lasagna Garden, and Square Foot Garden

by NorthernHomestead

Yes, success and failure in growing great gardens is mostly in the soil. Great soil = great gardens! Here are 3 great no till garden methods to build a great soil.

compare back to eden garden lasagna garden and square foot garden, flowers, gardening, perennials

In follow I will compare Back to Eden Garden, Lasagna Garden, and Square Foot Garden. In our garden we use all 3 too.

Back to Eden Garden is a no till method that is all about mulching, preferably with wood chips. Back to Eden the Film explains this topic like no other. Really a must see for any gardener. We want to use the ‘Back to Eden’ gardening method for all our perennials. Depending on how much and how easily we can get wood chips, we might even cover the whole garden. A no till covered garden is packed full of little critters that are “tilling” the garden for you. Till, fertilize, and take care of most pests. A covered ground also does not freeze or dry out as much as exposed ground does.

To start a Back to Eden garden add following layers:

1. Newspapers or cardboard

2. Compost

3. Wood chips (or any other mulch)

4. Manure

Lasagna – is an instant garden with sheet mulching. Layers of manure and straw over cardboard that will decompose and turn into rich, dark soil. This would be a great method for the annual garden.

To start a lasagne or sheet mulch Garden add the following layers:

1. Newspapers or cardboard

2. Hay or straw

3. Manure and compost

4. Repeat 2 and 3 until you reach your desired height

5. Top with Mulch (Straw, shredded leaves, or other mulching material)

Square Foot Garden – is a great method if the existing soil is of no use at all, build some raised beds and replace the soil altogether. This would work well in our sunny driveway. There is lots of space and sunshine, but just concrete. The square foot gardening method can easily be used to grow a garden even on driveways.

To start a square foot garden mix together Mel’s Mix

1/3 compost

1/3 vermiculite

1/3 peat moss.

Back to Eden Garden and Lasagna Garden are almost the same, except the lasagne garden has more layers. The Square Foot Garden is completely different.

Cost wise Back to Eden Garden and Lasagna Garden would be less expensive, since all materials can be free (depending on location and possibilities). Vermiculite and peat moss need to be purchased. A one time investment though.

All 3 can be used in raised beds.

All 3 No Till gardening methods are great and successful.

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2 of 18 comments

Ron Person on Mar 01, 2015
Does peat moss lower the ph in soil?

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Debbie B on Mar 02, 2015
@Ron: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/acidify-soil-peat-moss-32039.html Peat moss is an organic amendment that can lower the soil pH in your garden. Test your garden soil yearly. You can usually take it to your Extension Center for testing. Incorporate the peat moss at least 6 inches deep into the soil. At this level and rate, the acidifying effect of the peat moss lowers pH during the first growing season and lasts about two years. Warnings Some feel that peat moss, decomposed moss formed in bogs over thousands of years, is not a green resource because of its slow rate of regeneration and the energy spent excavating the material.Peat moss holds seven times its weight in water and can cause soil to become soggy. Peat moss is most effective in sandy soil, where it can increase the soil's ability to hold water. Peat moss that is allowed to dry out can actually repel water. Tips Powdered aluminum sulfate is a soil acidifying agent that does not add organic material to the soil and works quickly in relatively small amounts.

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