How to Hügelkultur: The Ultimate Raised Bed

Hugelkultur beds are long-term permaculture solutions that are built to maximize output and minimize input while insuring that resource and energy circulation is maintained throughtout the soil systems.

The philosophy of hügelkultur beds is pretty simple – you can see this process replicated in natural forests. Old growth trees eventually decompose. Soil will cover this biomass, and the local flora and fauna can grow during the summer months with no rainfall. The basis of the technique is to replicate what natural ecosystems do – just on a smaller scale that can fit into your garden.

Hügelkultur is a gardening tradition originating from ancient German and European culture. The word translates roughly into “mound culture”. The process is very simple. To start your bed, pile up large biomass – such as logs – in your garden plot. Add in smaller logs and branches on top, then fill in the cracks with mulch and cover with your topsoil. The ending result looks like a tent-shaped hill.

You can get many benefits from these garden beds. The wood biomass will store water from the winter rainfalls into the dryer months. This wood reserve can take one to three years to decompose, releasing nutrients to your plants.  The results will allow you to extend your gardening season and keep plants healthy – without need for tilling. The composting effect of the wood will also add heat to your beds.

1. Start off with using your largest pieces of wood – like logs – to cover the bottom of your bed. You can start this off by creating a frame for the bed, but it will work fine without one. Many gardeners find older wood ideal. The older wood will break down much faster and provide immediate support for your plants.

2. Next, you’re going to want to fill in a second layer with smaller logs and branches which are easy to find after a storm.

3. Then, add your layer of mulch and fill in any gaps within the cracks of the larger wood. Wood mulch is preferable, but leaves and other biomass works as well.

4. Cover your bed with topsoil or compost. One foot of topsoil should do the trick, but you can add as much or as little as you like.

5. For more support, cover that topsoil with wood chips or hay to add a “skin”, protecting your bed.

• Squash is a great plant to grow in hügelkultur beds! Zucchini is another great plant to use.

• You’re going to want to make sure there are no gaps in your hügelkultur bed. Leaving these gaps can allow holes in your bed as the soil settles over time. This can invite anything from unhealthy fungi to animals rooting through your beds.

• Consider your wood carefully when creating your hügelkultur beds. Allopathic wood (allelopathy defined as a species inhibiting the growth of other plants) can be toxic for your hügelkultur bed. Common allopathic woods include rhododendron, elderberry, and goldenrod. On that note, you’ll want to stay away from invasive species as well, such as scotch broom.

You can grow anything you would normally grow in a garden! Check out our Live Plants HERE if you need some inspiration for what to plant in your Hügelkultur beds.

Check out our other blog posts for more herb and garden knowledge HERE!