PDC LESSON 2.59 DESIGN – HUGELKULTUR Part -5- WHAT IS IMPORTANT

 

PERMACULTURE COURSE AGRO-ECONOMY

PDC LESSON 2.59 DESIGN – HUGELKULTUR Part -5- WHAT IS IMPORTANT

There are a few important things to consider before building your Hugel bed:

1. Sun

Some mound beds are built in an east-west orientation so that the raised bed has a hot and sunny south side and a cooler, shady north side.

If you plan to plant vegetables and fruits that need a lot of direct light, run the bed from north to south so your plants are more evenly lit. If you want a combination of direct light and low light vegetables and greenery, then building east to west is best.

2. water

Look at the water flow in your garden and locate the areas that are low and damp and the areas that drain easily. If you strategically position your mound, it will soak up or divert or contain excess water if built on a slope. However, if there is too much water, it can undermine the structure of the bed.

3. Wind

If you plan to make a really high hill bed, you will change the airflow in your garden. You should think about where the dominant winds in your climate are coming from and which areas could benefit from a wind block in your garden. You should also consider what you want to grow in your hill. Plants planted on top have little shelter and must contend with a lot of wind if planted in an exposed, windy location.

4. Shape

The shape of your hill doesn't have to be perfect. Many of them tend to take on free forms such as gentle arches, open shells, or any other shape that best suits the climate (taking light, water, and wind into account). After all, some mound beds were built over fallen trees!

5. Position

If you have termite problems, avoid building your mound too close to your house.

6. Type of wood

Depending on the size of your hill, you will need different amounts of wood. If you know you want to add mound culture to your yard, start saving logs, trimming branches, tree clippings, and other garden wood even if you're not sure where it's going to end up.

Some woods contain natural chemical agents that make them degrade very slowly, so in this case you should 

avoid: – cedar, – robinia, – black cherry, – black walnut

 

Wood that is chemically treated (not natural) such as pallets, painted/stained wood or pressure treated wood should not be used. Wood shavings can be used, but it won't offer the same longevity of fertility that a classic mound full of larger logs and logs would.