Hugelkultur: A Different Way of Container Gardening

Hugelkultur: A Different Way of Container Gardening

People without a lot of outdoor space sometimes grow a garden in containers such as raised beds. They refill the containers each year with several bags of nutrient-rich soil and compost that they purchase.

But there is another way to provide soil for small gardens. The method is called "Hugelkultur." The idea is that nature should be left to do its own thing with as little human interference as possible.

Hugelkultur means "hill culture" in German.

The process involves letting large pieces of trees and plants decompose¹ and turn into nutrient-rich soil, just as they would on a forest floor. The resulting soil is arguably better than anything that you can buy at a garden store.

Hugelkultur can be used in raised beds or in mounds³ directly on the ground.

Here is how it works:

Instead of filling deep raised beds with purchased soil and compost, fill them with yard waste. This reduces the amount of soil needed and increases nutrients⁴ and plant growth.

Start by building up about 40 percent of the depth of your container with a layer of old logs. The logs should from come hardwood trees like maple⁵, oak, poplar or birch. Softwoods from evergreens⁶ are also acceptable but they decompose more quickly. Do not use wood from redwood trees or black locusts⁷ because they are decay-resistant. Wood from trees like the black walnut⁸ release matter that prevents growth and should be avoided, too.

Cover the logs with smaller pieces of wood, like fallen branches, twigs⁹ and sticks. These make up the next 10 percent of depth.

Next, add a layer of leaves and other soft plant remains¹⁰, plus pieces of fruit, vegetables and eggshells that are left over from your own food. Make sure these fresh foods fill spaces in the woody layer under them. Then, water the layer well.

Finally, add a layer of compost and a layer of topsoil in equal amounts. Water each layer as you add it.

If you are making a free-standing mound², decide how big you would like it to be. Dig a trench¹¹ in the ground that is about 30 centimeters deep. Fill the trench with logs and cover it with a layer of twigs, sticks and branches.

Cover the woody layers with upside-down sections of the removed ground. Cover that with kitchen leftovers¹², compost and topsoil. Aim for a mound that is wider at its base than its top.

As the organic matter in Hugelkultur beds breaks down, the height of the mound will sink. Simply add compost as needed. The breakdown¹³ will warm the soil and create air flow. It also will greatly reduce the need for irrigation, and provide plants with a long-term supply of nutrients.

Soil in Hugelkultur beds, or mounds, can increase harvests and create larger plants for up to 20 years.

Words in This Story

compost - n. a decayed mixture of plants (such as leaves and grass) that is used to improve the soil in a garden

decompose - v. to cause something (such as dead plants and the bodies of dead animals) to be slowly destroyed and broken down by natural processes, chemicals, etc.

layer - n. an amount of something that is spread over an area

decay - v. to be slowly destroyed by natural processes : to be slowly broken down by the natural processes that destroy a dead plant or body

yard - n. an outdoor area that is next to a house and is usually covered by grass

mound - n. a small hill or pile of dirt or stones

1 decompose   

vi.分解；vt.（使）腐败，（使）腐烂

参考例句：

• The eggs began to decompose after a day in the sun.鸡蛋在太阳下放了一天后开始变坏。
• Most animals decompose very quickly after death.大多数动物死后很快腐烂。

2 mound   

n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫

参考例句：

• The explorers climbed a mound to survey the land around them.勘探者爬上土丘去勘测周围的土地。
• The mound can be used as our screen.这个土丘可做我们的掩蔽物。

3 mounds   

土堆，土丘( mound的名词复数 )； 一大堆

参考例句：

• We had mounds of tasteless rice. 我们有成堆成堆的淡而无味的米饭。
• Ah! and there's the cemetery' - cemetery, he must have meant. 'You see the mounds? 啊，这就是同墓，”——我想他要说的一定是公墓，“看到那些土墩了吗？

4 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 maple   

n.槭树，枫树，槭木

参考例句：

• Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
• The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。

6 evergreens   

n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The leaves of evergreens are often shaped like needles. 常绿植物的叶常是针形的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pine, cedar and spruce are evergreens. 松树、雪松、云杉都是常绿的树。 来自辞典例句

7 locusts   

n.蝗虫( locust的名词复数 )；贪吃的人；破坏者；槐树

参考例句：

• a swarm of locusts 一大群蝗虫
• In no time the locusts came down and started eating everything. 很快蝗虫就飞落下来开始吃东西，什么都吃。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 walnut   

n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色

参考例句：

• Walnut is a local specialty here.核桃是此地的土特产。
• The stool comes in several sizes in walnut or mahogany.凳子有几种尺寸，材质分胡桃木和红木两种。

9 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 trench   

n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕

参考例句：

• The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
• The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。

12 leftovers   

n.剩余物，残留物，剩菜

参考例句：

• He can do miracles with a few kitchen leftovers.他能用厨房里几样剩饭做出一顿美餐。
• She made supper from leftovers she had thrown together.她用吃剩的食物拼凑成一顿晚饭。

13 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。