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3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots

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Create Hügelkultur beds right on top of the ground in just 3 steps! No digging required. This is permaculture gardening at its finest.

Why create Hügelkultur beds on the ground?

1. Soil transformation

Hügelkultur raised beds offer the perfect way to transform lousy soil into rich, loose, garden dirt.  We take organic materials like wood, straw, and compost, and layer them right on top of the subpar soil.  Over time, these layers will break down into healthy soil.

In the meantime, we can grow healthy plants in the hügel bed while we wait for that soil transformation to take place.

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots
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2. Recycled wood waste

I love how hügelkultur beds utilize old, rotting wood and turn it into rich garden soil!  Hügel beds provide an excellent way to use up fallen trees, old firewood, tree and shrub prunings, and more.

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots
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3. Greater surface area

A true hügel bed, shaped in a mound, offers greater planting surface than the flat ground.  I can’t wait to let my squash plants sprawl all over the hügel bed pictured here.

More ways to use hügelkultur in your garden:

Watch us create a hügel bed in our garden.  Can’t see the video?  Click here to watch.


 

3 steps to create Hügelkultur beds on the ground

1. Wood base

Start by layering large pieces of wood to form the base of your hügel bed.  If you wish, you can begin with a layer of cardboard or thick newspaper under the wood base.

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots
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2. Middle layer

On top of the wood base, add a thick layer of organic materials like straw, leaves, grass clippings, branches, twigs, etc.  In this hugel bed, we used the straw bedding from our goat pen.

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots
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3. Top layer

Finally, top the hügel bed with a thick layer of rich soil.  We use composted horse manure, because we have access to a free and plentiful supply.

3 Steps to Create Hügelkultur Beds on the Ground | Roots & Boots
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Planting in your hügelkultur beds

Because you’ve added a thick layer of rich compost on top of your hügel bed, you can plant directly into the bed right away.  The hügel bed pictured here will wait a few weeks until I’m ready to plant warm weather seedlings like squash and pumpkins.  

Hügelkultur beds are perfect for growing many types of vegetables, berries, fruit trees, and more.  They do settle over time, so keep that in mind when planting.

Have you ever gardened in hügelkultur beds?

 

 

  

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Want More Help?

Hügelkultur Ebook - 18 pages

Tried and true methods for fast results: build your soil and grow better veggies.

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Kathleen | Roots & Boots

Let's get real! I’m Kathleen Henderson, your Natural Living Mentor. I’m on a mission to help families see the joy in real food, while finding natural remedies and creating a nontoxic home. Learn more about my story >>

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