Gardening

Kaleva

(38,718 posts)

10. I'm going about as big as I can handle

Mon Oct 23, 2017, 03:46 AM

Oct 2017

The wife doesn't want large mounds in the back yard so I dug down. By hand with a shovel.

I'm hoping on starting this week on filing in the trench with brush cut, using a hand saw or shears, to a length that fits in the wheelbarrow. I don't have access to wood chips or straw but I I do have lots of leaves which I'll mulch and mix in, along with compost with the soil near the top and also cover the raised bed. I have already tossed in quite a bit of cardboard from which I have removed tape and labels.

Your point about how much the mound settles is interesting. I better not get rid off all the excess soil as I may need some to add to the bed to compensate for settling.

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Thinking about experimenting with the Hugelkultur method of gardening [View all] Kaleva Sep 2017 OP

I love this idea. Hope to hear how it works out for you over time. I'm a flower gardener Dark n Stormy Knight Sep 2017 #1

I know I'll also be digging up enough rocks to make a keyhole garden! Kaleva Sep 2017 #3

Never heard of it Bayard Sep 2017 #2

I looked into lasagna gardening but with this method, I can use up the brush piles Kaleva Sep 2017 #4

Update Kaleva Sep 2017 #5

Looks like a great idea. I'm a bit too decrepit WhiteTara Sep 2017 #6

Update 10/12 Kaleva Oct 2017 #7

I'm intriged by the idea, but not sure I can get a 2.5' deep trench before hitting ledge. NutmegYankee Oct 2017 #8

i have used this extensively at my farm. planning a new pile this fall. mopinko Oct 2017 #9

I'm going about as big as I can handle Kaleva Oct 2017 #10

well mopinko Oct 2017 #11

I'm using brush from a couple of brush piles for the wood. Kaleva Oct 2017 #12

I love it! ellenrr Apr 2018 #13

Last year at this time, the snow was gone and the lawns green Kaleva Apr 2018 #15

I have some beds that are 4 years old. MissB Apr 2018 #14

The excess dirt I'll have will be piled in a corner of the wooded lot Kaleva Apr 2018 #16

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel on this project. Kaleva Aug 2018 #17