The Hügelkultur methodology

Have you ever ever heard of a Hügelkultur? The title means hill tradition (pronounced hoo-gul-culture) and it’s no odd raised mattress. It’s a no until methodology that has been used for hundreds of years however it’s not very well-known within the gardening group. It’s a raised mound or hill that has exceptional properties that improve in impact 12 months on 12 months. It’s extremely fertile, extraordinarily good at holding water, has extra floor space and is shockingly productive in terms of rising many alternative fruits, flowers and greens.

How do you make a Hügelkultur? A hügelkultur has a easy design and is a lasagne like layering of supplies that’s constructed as much as kind a hill. So, if in case you have quite a lot of backyard waste akin to leaves wooden and garden clippings cluttering up the panorama don’t throw it out! Use it to create a enjoyable and rewarding Horticultural experiment. First you begin with digging a shallow trench (though this isn’t wanted) and putting giant logs of wooden within the allotted house. As these break down, they’ll act as a large sponge and can provide your crops with water and wanted carbon for years or a long time to come back.

The perfect woods to make use of are apple, cherry, maple, oak, poplar, aspen and birch. The more durable the wooden the extra longevity the hügelkultur may have as they’ll break down slower. There are some woods it would be best to keep away from which have toxins akin to black walnut or wrestle to decompose akin to redwoods and black locust.

As soon as the big logs are positioned you’ll then add progressively smaller logs, branches and sticks on prime. These will break down faster than the big logs and can serve the identical goal. These layers are additionally a improbable place for helpful funguses and critters to inhabit the soil and can a present moist breathable substrate in your crops to succeed in right down to and thrive in. it would be best to infill after this with some soil to assist break down the wooden and fill in any giant voids of house beneath.

Subsequent, we are going to lasagne layer on prime totally different natural supplies. Issues like straw, grass clippings, cardboard, leaves mulches and manure. Make it possible for in between each couple of layers you place skinny layer of topsoil. You’ll want to make these layers not more than an inch or two thick. Create as many layers as you want and extra can at all times be added within the subsequent season. Some outdated and established hügelkulturs will be as tall as 5-6 ft.

Lastly it would be best to cap off the hügelkultur with a very good layer of topsoil that’s deep sufficient to plant your crops in. this may be round 2.5-3 inches. Give it loads of water to provide it a powerful begin and also you now have a extremely productive raised mattress that may require little or no upkeep and watering.

Why not strive one thing new this 12 months and impress your pals with this attention-grabbing and spectacular horticultural method and the fruits that it yields.

Jeese Morris – Graduate Landscapes