March 23, 2016

Illustration by Elara Tanguy for Mother Earth News

Barbara Pleasant introduces her article

Choose a garden site that drains well, gets ample sunlight, and offers a rich layer of topsoil free of immovable rocks. Remove any sod by smothering it with sheet composting. To try this easy method, just lay cardboard on your lawn where you want your new garden beds, and then cover the cardboard with a thick layer of straw. 

Topics in her Mother Earth News article:
     Choosing a Good Garden Site
     Remove Sod and Existing Vegetation
     Sheet Composting to Start New Garden Beds*
     Creating Working Garden Beds
     Add Enriching Soil Amendments
     Quick Tips for Starting a Garden
     Grow On!

Link: How to Start a Vegetable Garden

If you’re dealing with Bermuda grass, read Cardboarding Your Bermuda Lawn