Take raised bed gardening to the next level with hugelkultur.
What Is Hugelkultur?
Build one or several of theseeco-friendly gardensby following the steps below.
Credit:Sanghwan Kim / Getty Images
Select and mark out a spot.
Mark out an area in a sunny section of your yard where youd like to build your garden.
2. erase the area.
Use a shovel to dig the area you marked out to a depth of 12 to 18 inches.
This trench should be relatively level.
Save any grass and soil you remove from this trench to use to build your mound.
Begin building the mound.
Start layering logs and larger branches fromtrees and shrubsinto the base of the hole.
As the mound gets taller, use increasingly smaller pieces of wood and plant debris.
Continue adding material until youve built your mound to the height youd like.
Make the Mounds Your Own
Your mound can take on different shapesvertical or horizontal, for instance.
This will help in the decomposition process.
Hugelkultur beds should be formed so that theyre wider at the bottom than at the top.
you might make them even sturdier by weaving branches and twigs together and packing the materials in well.
Fill in air pockets.
Cover the mound with soil.
Finally, cover the entire mound with about 6 inches of topsoil andwood chips or mulch.
Water well and wait.
Beds should be kept about as moist as a wrung-out sponge.
If your hugelkultur mound begins to sprout mushrooms, its a good sign that its being watered enough.
Generally, hugelkultur beds built in autumn should be ready to plant in spring.
To save space, try sowing plants on the top and sides of the mound.
Embracing the organic nature of hugelkultur gardens will result in beautiful flowers and tasty vegetables for you to enjoy.
Once in the mound, these items will naturally turn into compost over time.
Hugelkultur Puts Garden Debris to Good Use.Horticulture.
Sustainable Landscapes: Creating aHugelkulturfor Gardening with Stormwater Management Benefits.
Oklahoma State University Extension Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
Hugelkultur: What Is It, and Should It Be Used in Home Gardens?
Washington State University Extension.
