Hugelkultur Gardening

a quick start guide

We started our first hügelkultur bed in the fall of 2021. To be honest it just sort of happened. We had been toying around with using some of our one-acre pasture for growing and we had accumulated an aging pile of goat manure compost in a spot we could easily fence off (or at least we thought). The spot was close enough to water, although we knew if we did it right we wouldn’t be watering our hügelkultur bed as much as the raised beds in our main garden. With fallen logs, vines, and woody debris nearby the bed came together easily.

Before I get too deep into our story, how we built the hügelkultur bed and what we grow on it, I should define this type of permaculture growing method. Traditionally hügelkultur has been used as a way to build soil. Typically you would dig a hole in the ground, line it with large logs (preferably ones that have started rotting or decomposing), stack it with smaller ones, add mulch or leafy debris, and then top it with compost and soil. By the time this pile is constructed, you have a mound that is as tall as it is wide.

The idea is that the logs and various organic matter used to construct the pile will provide a slow release of nutrients for the plants on the surface. After many years all that will remain of the logs and debris will be rich and fertile soil.

Pros & Cons of Hügelkultur Gardening

Hügelkultur may be a good option for you if your gardening area is always wet and if you have a variety of organic matter (logs, twigs, leaves, mulch, animal compost) around your farm. I mentioned at the beginning of this post that our first hügelkultur row was born somewhat on a whim. We have since added smaller scale hügelkultur beds in our main garden where we previously tried (& failed) to grow in the ground. The soil is very thick, muddy, and often floods in this area. That’s why we converted most of the 1,000-square-foot area into raised beds. Hügelkultur will allow us to build soil in this space, soak up the excess water (& reduce the frequency in which we water this garden), allowing us to plant earlier and more intensively in a space that has been disappointing for years.

Planning ahead for a hügelkultur garden is one of the hardest parts. Fall is the best time to build a bed since it will sit for 6 or more months before being topped with soil and getting planted. This also allows the woody base to soak up all of the fall and spring rains and winter snow, like a sponge. This feature of hügelkultur beds is why you use already decomposing wood as the base (it soaks up more water than a green or fresh cut log) and how this growing method is less demanding on water in the summer.

Step-By-Step - Building a Hügelkultur Garden

It’s important to add the largest logs at the base of the mound and build the mound up by adding smaller and smaller items. A heavy layer of mulch and compost plus about 6” of soil will allow a good depth for roots to take hold.

Some wood species are not going to be ideal for a garden (any type) so pay attention to what you’re using! Some pines are high in resin, some woods, like cedar, are rot-resistant. These woods will not break down as desired in a hügelkultur bed. You also want to make sure your wood is dead to avoid sprouting of baby trees in your bed!

What grows best in a Hügelkultur Garden?

We grow mostly pumpkin and squash in our hügelkultur. Cucurbits are heavy feeders so the slow release of nutrients that are present in the foundation of the mound is great for growing pumpkins and squash.

Hügelkultur beds can be a great way to add diversity to your garden through intensive interplanting. Perennials are great for hügelkultur beds as both work together to build soil structure. Some examples are Egyptian walking onions, lavender, creeping thyme, chives, yarrow, and other herbs.

How to plant a Hügelkultur Garden?

Last year we broadcasted mixed seed along the base of the mound, where it could trail and spread. The middle tier is for things that root. We planted Egyptian Walking Onions, garlic, radishes, carrots, and beets. The top tier is for lettuce, herbs, and flowers.

The broadcasting method of seeding is when you mix seeds of similar sizes and just sprinkle them in the garden. The idea is that seeds will grow where they are meant to. In the case of hügelkultur it’s a way of naturally planting the mounds using the tiered method described above. The larger seeds will naturally fall to the bottom tier (spreaders) and the smallest seeds will stay on the top (lettuce, herbs). I love the premise of allowing seeds to take off where they are best suited to, but think this method is more appropriate for seeding meadows or for farming operations. We ended up using a lot of seeds when we tried this! We also struggled with keeping the goats out of the bed. Our fence was not good enough and goats LOVE pumpkins. We will reinforce the fence this year and plant again!

Do you think you’ll try growing with hügelkultur? Let me know in the comments below!