You're doing it fine. It doesn't matter what sequence the layers are in as long as you layer it. I cover my lasagna piles with two layers of burlap. This is to keep it moist and dark. It's an attempt to replicate what is happening in the soil. As long as the leaves are in small enough pieces it will decompose without problem. Even if they aren't you will still be able to plant in it in the Spring.

Steve

I really miss the chicken and turkey litter that was so available to me in Arkansas. Do you have any poultry farms nearby. A pick-up load is a lot cheaper than bagged manure.

Les

You are doing what I did and it worked great. I have actually planted hostas I moved from another property on a bed of Fall leaves that I raked up and covered the area I wanted to plant the hostas and they grew beautiful.

Those Hostas did better than the ones I planted in a prepared bed. I do not know if this will help but one time I dug up some hard clay to hold down the leaves I raked up and that worked great also.

Great name for this process, it sort of says it all. Before I heard of it, I was doing something similar and thought it was the compost worms responsible. Now I realize that nature does work in wonderful ways.

When I left for work to be gone about 6 months, my piles of shredded paper, leaves, compost, emptied out flower pots, and maybe wood chips, were transformed when I returned. What I'm now proudest of is the paper shredder strips, which would be headed for the landfill if I had not repurposed them. My DH thinks it looks messy though, so he won't let me dig them in to his compost pile. However, I will use the shredded paper to pack my glassware donations to the Epilepsy society coming this week. Looks almost like excelsior. But putting down the cardboard (corrugating medium actually) is a lot easier than trying to get rid of it in the municipal trash pickup here in New England. Mercy, how DO people deal with trash disposal here!!!! Tsk tsk tsk.......

When you use manure it is probably better to use it as a low layer. That manure might not be well composted and contain nasty weed seeds. I still have those weeds from a bag of cow manure; they reseed several times a year, and I have to be after them several times a year. Remembering that, I rarely use manures.
Bernd

Like others have said sounds like you have a great start to another hosta garden. I've used all sorts of compost ingredients as layers as I acquire them. Just pile it all on & by the time the soil warms in spring it will be 1/3 or even 1/5 the size.

You might try craigslist for free rabbit or chicken manure that might be close by or even delivered to you just because they need to reduce their volume. One time I picked up heavy duty contractor bags filled with rabbit manure that increased the volume of layers.

Here is a link that might be useful: thread with pic of spring planted hostas in layers

So, one final question: Why layers? As I said, I'm layering my stuff, but why wouldn't it be better to stick a pitchfork in and stir the stuff around -- more like a casserole than a lasagna. Nance

Tomahawk, because it's less work! And it works very well. Besides, you can't stir cardboard. I use layers of newspaper myself as well as cardboard, sometimes between layers of compost, manure, etc if I have enough.

I also use shredded paper in my compost. By the time it disintegrates, you never know it was in there.

Sandy

You're doing fine. The only thing I do different is put the compost on top of the leaves to hold them in place. In addition to the weed seeds Bernd mentioned, another reason to put the manure (if used) lower is because nitrogen is volatile and can escape into the atmosphere, covering it helps keep it where the bacteria can use it.

tj

Speaking of, got a load of mushroom compost this afternoon and put it on the area where the new bed is to go, over yet another layer of cardboard and newspapers, until I ran out of them. Tomorrow morning if it isn't raining, another load of leaf compost to top it all off and then I'm done with that bed! It should be ready to plant in the spring.

Sandy

Can you do this right on top of grass? I have an area where I want to plant next spring, but it is currently lawn. I read on another forum about using newspapers topped with compost, but I do have cardboard.

I've done a few beds right over grass and it works well, especially over winter. Cut the grass short as possible, lay down the cardboard (or 10 or so layers of newspaper) then pour on the organic material (compost, leaves, whatever).

tj

I always wet the newspaper first, keeps it from blowing around and helps it stay in place while I pile the compost on top of it. If I use newspaper usually I can plant in a couple of months, cardboard takes over the winter. It works well over grass or other weeds.

Now I have about a foot of composted leaves, mushroom compost and more composted leaves. I'll pile fallen leaves on the top of it, and by spring it should be composted down to just a few inches.

I'll also toss on coffee grounds from Starbux periodically and mix in finished compost from my bins in the spring.

Sandy