Hugelkultur. Heard of it? Pronounced hoogle-culture, it is the German word for “hill culture” and it’s a garden method that has been around for centuries. In this post, I’ll share with you how we used the hugelkultur garden method inside of our wood-enclosed raised beds to fill them cheaply, simply, and effectively. Forget needing to buy bags on bags of soil to fill your beds (or containers!) every year. This method is the one to give a try this year and enjoy for years to come!
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Hill Culture
The hugelkultur garden method as shown in the image above is quite literally building a hill to plant your garden on by layering different organic materials. They will break down over time and release nutrients into the soil that your garden vegetables and flowers need.
We use this method because it helps retain moisture which is needed in the super hot North Carolina summers.
Though my garden beds are not rounded mounds, we still used this method to layer our beds in an attempt to cut costs.
Gardening is supposed to bring you fresh vegetables you grew cheaply; not cost you so much money to do.
Finding ways to cut costs and reuse materials you already have is a fantastic way garden!
The Cheap Hugelkultur Garden Method
Our very first enclosed, raised bed was made of cedar and about 3 foot tall. My row garden at the time was three 30 foot rows that were breaking my back to weed every other day! I needed a break from all that literal back-breaking work.
The only issue we ran into with this new style of gardening was the cost to fill it!
We did not do research ahead of time. Just built the bed and went to Lowe’s for bags on bags to fill ‘er up! I don’t remember how many bags it took but it was a LOT and it was expensive.
So in 2021 when I found “the most perfect and easy to make” garden bed to replace my rows, my husband wasn’t so sure about it.
First of all, be careful on the internet!
While I love that we have all the knowledge we could ever need on any subject in our hands, not every thing you read on the internet is true! Or easy.
Instagram reels will have you thinking you can do a 2 weekend project in one afternoon…
Hugelkultur garden method is done cheaply. The layers you use will decompose to create more soil later. And this will save you hundreds of dollars.
The Simple Hugelkultur Garden Method
Can you put your hands on some fallen leaves, rotting tree limbs, plain cardboard boxes? Got any compost in your bin or pile that’s not quite mature yet? Then you’re ready to hugelkultur!
If you don’t have access to these materials, ask around. I bet you’ve got a Facebook friend out there with a pile of leaves or pine straw they could use to have moved for free. A town over was giving away free compost from their collected leaves and pine straw one year. It’s worth calling your Public Works to ask.
You’ll only need one layer of topsoil to finish off the hugelkultur method which, if you’re like me, you have to buy that but it’ll save you so much money not having to fill the whole bed with bought soil.
The Effective Hugelkultur Garden Method
Now, I won’t sit here and promise you I got it all the way right the first time. I didn’t.
We had access to a lot of fallen tree limbs that weren’t necessarily rotting yet so we used them. How this will affect my garden bed over the years is yet to be determined.
I’ve also researched wood that hasn’t aged to rotting yet will suck a lot of nitrogen from your garden in order to get that process going. Since compost bins or piles need nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, and water to do the job right, the same is said for my garden bed.
Soil testing each year is important for many reasons but this, for me, is one of those reasons.
Large, rotting tree limbs are great, though, because they take up a lot of space which is what you want in a larger garden bed.
Again, that’s less top soil to buy because overtime those logs and limbs will become soil.
Enclosing your raised garden bed
Hugelkultur “hill culture” doesn’t have to be enclosed in a bed. But some people choose to for reducing weeds and grass or to have a more defined garden space.
I’m a fan of repurposing or using what you have. You can enclose a space with logs, limbs, or rocks. Perhaps you have access to metal to shape and secure to create a metal raised bed to fill.
If you choose to use lumber, it is suggested for longevity to use cedar (pricey) or cypress (less pricey but harder to locate and usually purchased in large quantities).
If you go to your local home improvement store, you want to buy UNTREATED lumber! The chemicals used to treat the lumber is not what you want in your food. But know that untreated pine lumber will not last very long. Your lumber beds will last even longer if you secure the corners with braces… more on that to come.
Bricks or cement/cinder blocks are a great sustainable option for an enclosure as well. Again, ask on social media to see who needs some moved for free!
How do I make a hugelkultur garden bed?
Layers!
1st Layer
First layer is plain cardboard. Try to use just brown if possible and take off as much tape and stickers as you can. Layer the bottom of your raised bed or the ground where it will go.
This will kill weeds or grass and overtime, break down to add carbon to the soil. Water the cardboard to start the decomposition process and also to hold it down if it’s a windy day.
Additionally, I use the recycled packing paper from my online orders to fill in the edges and corners where the cardboard doesn’t go all the way. Then I water it to hold it down.
2nd Layer
Woody matter like rotting limbs, logs, sticks, and/or bark comes next. Feel free to be as liberal as you’d like with these layers. Water the woody materials lightly.
3rd Layer
Next, leaves, pine straw, or lawn clippings.
If you use lawn clippings, make sure the yard has not been sprayed with any herbicides. I love to use leaves and pine straw best because it’s less likely to have weed seeds in it, unlike my grass clippings. We like to spray this layer with water too to help the leaves settle and stay put.
4th Layer
This where you can empty your not-quite-mature compost bin or pile or even when you clean out your chicken coop.
Because you will cover this layer with a top soil, it will continue to decompose and add nutrients to your soil for your vegetable roots to easily access.
Final Layer
If you have access to good, clean top soil, go for it.
Some local nurseries sell top soil by the “scoop” for way cheaper than bagged soil. Just note that “scoop” generally means a tractor bucket scoop and you will need a truck and trailer if they do not deliver in your area.
Finally, top soil can be purchased at your local home improvement store or nursery.
I choose a soil specifically for raised beds and select an organic kind. How much you need will depend on the size of your garden bed or space. For my 6×6 beds, I use 5-6 bags of organic raised bed bags of soil.
I chose to add a layer of bagged soil to this brand new bed as it is its first year and I like the mulch from the bark in the soil that is left after a few rains. It provides more moisture retention and soil protection against our summer’s hot heat.
Each year after the first, I will add a layer of wood chip mulch as a top dressing to add insulation and protect the soil from erosion while still adding nutrients back to the soil.
Wood Chips and Top Dressing
Should you choose a wood chip mulch to top dress your garden beds, to put the beds to sleep for the winter, you’ll want to be sure:
- wood chips are mixed with the whole limb: tree limb, bark, leaves, etc. have all been chipped together. The leaves and bark break down faster and help break down the actual wood chippings too.
- this kind of mulch is only use as a top dressing. Mixing wood chip mulch into the soil will steal too much nitrogen.
When you’re ready to plant in a wood chip mulch top dressed bed:
Simply use a hand rake to move the wood chips over. Plant your seedling or sow your seeds and cover with the soil.
Once the seedling has taken root or the seed has sprouted and is about 4-5 inches tall, top dress around the plant with the wood chip mulch you pushed out of the way.
This will help keep the root system moist and cool.
Can I use this hugelkultur garden method in my potted garden?
Yes!
If you garden by pot or container, you can still use this method. Summer 2022, I potted my field peas in 3 gallon pots and trained them to a bamboo teepee trellis.
To avoid having to use so much bagged soil, I added rotting limb pieces by breaking them into smaller pieces with a hammer. I fill each pot about 1/4 to 1/2 of the way full before adding the soil. I had a plentiful crop of field peas! This year I will amend each pot’s soil with homemade compost and continue to use them.
If you liked this post, check out
Kitchen gardening for a great way to eat fresh from your garden all year long!
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