"Lasagne" beds

[Jan]

Has anybody out there tried this method of making new beds in the garden? I'm on my first go, trying to make the basis for a little woodland garden under a beautiful maple tree in my garden right now. I need the ground raising pretty significantly because the tree tends to root relatively shallowly - ie the soil is nearly impossible to even get a daffodil bulb into cos of tree roots. Now I'm wondering how high I need to raise this bed, and also whether high nitrogen compost is going to help woodland plants? Also gets a lot of leaf mould of course in the autumn.

Glad for any advice!

Loadsa love

[Jan]

Nobody is doing these are they? Ah.

Best I record my experiences then for future reference. The grass mowings make a terrific mulch to bury weeds, but I am bothered that this is all there is there right now. I'm thinking of doing some copious amounts of paper shredding and then trying to weight it all down with cardboard.....with then more clippings. I'm pretty edgy of putting anything in there with roots or seeds cos I am not convinced it builds up the level of heat a proper compost heap creates. But thus far I have much hay!! I've raised the level about two inches so far - this is pretty good really cos it's a large expanse. But then I have a lot of lawn (she says as she sighs because it's all six inches long again).

It is important BTW to mulch relatively thinly each time else if it rains it turns into an uggy mess. And you need to run a fork lightly over it about twice a week to ensure it dries evenly. In this hot weather it's not too gross...but it would be in a wet summer. I'm relying on the maple to deposit loads of leaf mould in the autumn. When I will also transfer wild violets and hornbeam from the front garden to the back.....hopefully.

Loadsa love