Hi jockewing!

I had many areas like that to deal with. We are lucky to have large, old oak and other trees. I did lasagna beds in this area with what I consider success. I am still working on filling them out. I made mine with cardboard, newspaper, woodchips, grass clippings, leaves, etc. Remember that you don't want to compromise your beautiful, large trees, so don't put any cardboard right next to the trunks or large, exposed roots. Also, the roots will need to breathe, so don't pile more than about 3 inches of organic material at a time. When it wears down, just apply more. The soil will soften up nicely and the earthworms will find these areas for sure, don't worry. Here are some of my lasagna beds close to my oaks and trees. All the beds in my yard started in this way.

Some of the things pictured are cycads, bromeliads, philodendrons, white bird of paradise, crotons, ferns, chinese fan palms. In other areas I have aspidistra, other understory palms, jatrophas, begonias, palm grass, pentas, wild coffee, clerodendrums (have to be careful with these as they can get invasive), bamboo (oldhamii), and many other things. Remember that containers is another good way to dress a bed while it is filling in.

Anna

Wow!! That's absolutely beautiful! If I can ever get something half as good at that, I'll be pleased.

I'm not surrounding the tree's entire root zone, the tree is on the property line with my neighbor, I'm only gonna cover maybe 1/5 of the root zone. Am I safe to pile high considering that? So do I just lay my newspaper, cardboard and then keep layering organics as time goes by? I get a couple bags of grass everytime I mow that I could use. Last night I got 4 huge bags of grass/leaves from people who had put them in front of their house for trash. I get very excited over trash bags of junk!!!!

So does the lasagne actually improve the soil UNDER the layers? I just don't think I can dig too much in this area cuz the roots are EVERYWHERE and the dirt's like a brick!!

Lovely Anna, wow, that Philo is nice. I love the light shining through the crotons, it makes them look solid red.
Nancy

So last night I started the bed. I put a very thick layer of cardboard and newspapers, then layered fresh grass clippings. My brother is supposed to be dropping of some garden soil he doesn't need to me, I guess it wouldn't hurt to put a layer of that on top of the grass.

I would like to put a small tree in this bed. Although at the corner of the bed is the big old oak, it is a very upright water oak that really doesn't provide too much shade. I don't really like full sun gardening that much (and let's face it, in this heat even full sun plants appreciate some shade), so I want a small tree to provide at least a little shade.

I don't want the tree to thick as I don't want to block the view to the house. I have a nice 7 foot parkinsonia in a pot, I thought that would be good, especially since you can "see through it". I was also thinking about loquat, or even a natchez crape myrtle. Any other thoughts for a small, architecturally interesting tree?

Congrats on your new bed jockewing! One layer of cardboard overlapped about 6 inches on the edges should suffice, or 10 or more layers of newspapers.

I just realized that you're in zone 9a and most of the plants I named were zone 10a plants. I'm sure you'll find things suitable to your zone.

Yes, I get excited about bags of organic material also. Next you'll be wanting truckloads! Yes, your soil will improve with this method if you continue to pile organic materials into this area. Keep thinking about the large oak roots and don't pile too high over them.

Nancy, I really like that philo also. Good luck with your project!

Anna

annafl: Your garden is just beautiful. I have been thinking about it all day. I resolve to try to do the lasagna beds because I think this technique makes total sense.

Where do you get your cardboard? I can't find boxes at supermarkets anymore!