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5/30/06 Nifty Techniques for the Older Grower Margaret Fisher
“Installment gardening,” a term I coined, represents a means of handling yard upkeep at our urban ranch house. Due to a limited physical endurance early in life, I learned to “divide and conquer” when accomplishing larger projects. Getting landscaping and gardening help from commercial firms costs too much for some retirees, but we can cope by working in increments or by altering our existing landscape plantings. Labor can be spread throughout the year as weather and other factors permit. “Lasagna gardening” is a refinement of various mulching methods. Patricia Lanza has written two books in recent years that discuss her suggestions for gardening, including small areas and use of containers. The lasagna method is Lanza’s formula after years of gardening in many locations while moving around the country. She advises that we build up, rather than dig down. Lanza suggests this technique: Place a thick layer of newspaper (10 to 12 pages or so) atop the planting area, wet it down well, then follow with multiple layers of organic mulches of 6 to 8 inches, alternating with 1 to 2 inches of peat moss. End the layers with peat moss, then wet the whole stack thoroughly. She likes a total of 18 to 24 inches; some of my “lasagnas” are less. Basically, this becomes “sheet composting,” as the materials decay in time and make good, black, crumbly garden soil, though she says you may plant immediately if you wish. Each year, the same planting beds may be used again by adding another layer of mulch topped with peat moss. The newspaper and peat moss hold moisture, discourage weeds, and attract helpful earthworms. Planting beds should be narrow enough to permit the gardener to reach the center without stepping on the beds, keeping pathways between. The mulches may be most any plant debris, but stay away from noxious weeds, coal, or inorganic ash. I usually put coarser materials at the bottom of the stack and finer materials such as grass cuttings near the top. Compost is acceptable if available. Most often, my mulches consist of hay, leaves, thatch, and grass cuttings, but I never use mulch from yards where weed killer or pesticides may have been used. If the physical exertion of mowing becomes too much, hire it done and save the cuttings for garden mulch. Mulches may be saved or used throughout the year and handled in whatever quantities are comfortable. I refer to yard weeding and seeding as “square-yard yardening.” Remove yard weeds as soon as they bloom to prevent reseeding, substituting desired plant seed. When possible, clear weeds and replant a square yard at a time, thus gaining steadily on desirable green areas. Aid recently seeded areas with a soaker hose until the plants are established. Squares of lawn planted in the fall will look good in spring. Mulches saved from the yard are beneficial in the lasagna garden. Cost savings can be invested in plant seed or bird seed that may help control insect populations. Sharing your harvests helps you stay in touch with others, improving your social life. And I find that my spiritual life benefits from thankfully counting blessings. Mental attitude becomes more stable with those positive effects. So, the combination of installment yardening and lasagna gardening, with minimum expense and maximum satisfaction, becomes beneficial for senior citizens! Margaret Fisher, retired medical technologist, now does free-lance writing while maintaining a simple life at home in Lawrence, Kansas. © University of Kansas Medical Center, Center on Aging, May, 2006.
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