9 Hugelkultur Disadvantages You Need To Know

We ’re here to help!Wild Yards is a wholly loose website that is 100 % dedicated to help you create a wildlife - favorable , sustainable yard . Read more

WildYards is reader - affirm . When you buy a product through a connection on our land site , we may pull in a comission . Every product is severally select by our ( obsessive ) editors and our reviews are unbiased and objective .

                                             learn  missionor ourprivacy policy .

Get a Landscaping or Gardening Quote

enroll your zip code

Hugelkultur focuses on mimic what happens in nature . By layering dead leaves , N - copious foliage , compost , and soil over dilapidate logs , nurseryman can promote the biodegradation process , providing long - lasting aliment for their crop . But while Hugelkultur has many benefit that make it a pop selection among permaculturists , there are a few Hugelkultur disadvantages that you should keep in thinker , too .

Hugelkultur beds require a wad of metre and cause to build and it ’s not always easy to find all of the supplies you need . It can also be difficult to tend to flora growing at a steep angle , and because these mounds are warm and moist , they can play legion to rodents and insects .

hugelkultur-disadvantages

Raised garden beds are level, so they’re much easier to amend than Hugelkultur beds.

9 Hugelkultur Disadvantages to consider before committing

Hugelkultur originate in the Black Forest area of Germany way back in the middle historic period . The Son itself translate roughly to “ mound culture ” , and the process consists of layering biodegradable materials on top of log . This traps heat and wet encouraging the wood to decompose , and supply the plant on the top of the pitcher’s mound with valuable nutrient .

When built right , a Hugelkultur can last for more than 10 years . These character ofno - excavation gardensare seeing a surge in popularity because they ’re exceedingly price - effective . Unfortunately , they ’re not without their faults . Here are 9 Hugelkultur disadvantage to keep in mind before breaking ground on your raw garden .

It can be tough tracking down enough materials

Hugelkultur assume that you go in an area where log , soapbox , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree branches , and bushed leave-taking are readily available . But the fact is that not everybody has a heavy forest on their property . If you want to make a Hugelkultur bed , but you do n’t have the supply on handwriting , you ’re going to end up paying for them , which sort of vote down the determination .

A Hugelkultur hummock is build by layering different material . The first stratum is the logarithm layer , comprised of wood . However , not all types of wood are suited for a Hugelkultur garden , as some trees secrete substances that suppress plant life increment . If the only trees you have at your disposal are n’t appropriate for Hugelkultur , that can make tracking down the right woods metre - consuming and pricy .

Hugelkultur mounds require a lot of work initially

All gardens require some labor , but Hugelkultur mounds want a ton of effort up front . First , the situation has to be excavate to help oneself drop anchor theHugelkultur layers . The Natalie Wood for the log layer must be hauled , split , and do to agree the space . Dead leave-taking and nitrogen - productive fabric must then be laid over the top of the logs .

Once all of that ’s done , it ’s clock time to put the ground in place . Sometimes , the soil needs to be amended first , which command even more travail . And , finally , when the mound is complete , a layer of mulch should be use to keep the hill moist . All of this is a plenty of oeuvre — sure enough a sound deal more work than simply tilling a patch of ground or building a raised wooden seam andfilling it with a soil mixture .

The mounds are awkward and can be difficult to work with

If you set your log stratum in the ground , the leave Hugelkultur hill should n’t be so tall that it ’s awkward to wield . But , unfortunately , some stain are too hard to dig through for that foundational body of work , meaning the logarithm layer must be placed right on top of the soil . This can fire the Hugelkultur mound several feet , and the bigger the mound is , the more difficult it can be to work with , specially if you ’re not a marvellous somebody .

When building a Hugelkultur J. J. Hill , attempt to check that it ’s unretentive than you are . This will make it comfortable for you to set , tend to , and glean your crops . If your Hugelkultur is much tall than you are you may need a ladder or a long - deal fruit - selector to collect your vegetables .

Hugelkultur mounds are not appropriate for monoculture

When you turn several plants of the same species in the same plot , they ’ll phlebotomize the same mineral from the stain . Because a Hugelkultur hill is a limited orbit , it ’s not well - suited to monoculture . It ’s safe to plant a variety of plants that have different mineral needs . Growing vegetables that have shallow roots , likeradishes , along with vegetables that have deep roots , likeasparagus , also helps stumble nutrient custom .

Additionally , dwarf yield trees , like Meyer Lemon tree , do n’t grow well in a Hugelkultur mound . These beds do n’t provide small yield tree with a sturdy enough base for them to originate well . Because the soil is so light , there ’s nothing for them to grab onto . You ’re better off growing fruit trees straight in the earth or in big pots .

Gravity is constantly working against you

Hugelkultur heap are triangular in conformation , and they ’re comprised of porous dirt that plants can easily spread their roots in . But because a Hugelkultur is basically a pile of loose dirt , it ’s dependent to eating away . It does n’t take very long before wind and rain start pushing the soil downward , toward the base of the Hugelkultur . And the outrageous the mound , the speculative the result .

gravitation is not your friend if you have a marvellous Hugelkultur hill . Not only does this result in stain erosion , but it also makes it unmanageable to add any amendments . For instance , if yourtomato plantsare near the top of the pile , and you want to feed them with oldcoffee grounds , it can be tough to forestall the coffee grounds from slew onto the plant below .

The top of the Hugelkultur mound stays dry

piggyback off of the premature disadvantage , the top of the Hugelkultur hill is almost always dry because somberness pulls all the water downhill . The top is also exposed to more sunlight than the rest of the mound , which also makes it prone to more moisture loss .

Now , theoretically , you could found drought - tolerant herbs up there , likerosemary , lavender , andsage . But the downside is that you may have difficulty start to them . If your Hugelkultur mound is marvelous than you are , and if there are other plants image out from the middle of the hill , you may not be able-bodied to get close enough to glean the industrial plant on the top .

Hugelkultur beds can attract rodents and insects

If you ’re not careful to ascertain that all of the holes in the logarithm and arm layers are filled with land , flying field mouse , rats , and other modest animals may settle your Hugelkultur would be a great position to call place . The front of all those gnawer can also attract snakes . If you ca n’t stand vermin consider raised layer garden instead . But if you already have a Hugelkultur bottom , look out where you put your custody .

Termites are big fan of Hugelkultur bottom , too , and they can invade your home and outbuildings once they ’ve finished eating the woods in your garden . Beetles , ants , and other bugs also like to hide in Hugelkultur bed . Bear this in psyche when adjudicate which type of garden is best for you .

New beds may not provide plants with enough nitrogen

Bacteria and fungi are need to break down the large logs at the bottom of the Hugelkultur . Fungi , in particular , play a critical office in pioneer the degrading process . alas , these fungi rend a deal of nitrogen away from the plant above . Even though a N - copious stratum should be added to the mound , these fungi can still wind up stealing this essential mineral aside from your veggie .

Once the materials in your Hugelkultur bottom begin to break down , nitrogen handiness improves . So if you want to use Hugelkultur to raise vegetables , you should bulge your mound a year before planting to give the layers time to start composting . If you utilise your Hugelkultur right away , your crops may make grow white-livered leaves and scrawny increment , both of which are signs ofnitrogen want .

Hugelkultur beds are immovable

One of the biggest Hugelkultur disadvantages is that the mounds ca n’t be go . If you ever want to rearrange your property , you ’ll have to pulverize the existing agglomerate and build another someplace else . Starting the whole Hugelkultur process over from the commencement is a raft of work .

Of course , moving a garden is never well-situated . If you want to move a raised wooden bed , for instance , you have to scoop the soil out , break apart the bed , move it to its new location , then put everything back together again . But at least it can be done . assay to move a Hugelkultur bottom would n’t be worth the effort because it ’s incredibly difficult to transfer dilapidate materials since they bust up when do by .

Is Hugelkultur worth the time and effort?

Hugelkultur is a clock time - test permaculture strategy that has many welfare . It ’s a big way to toss away of old timber and it provides garden vegetable with plenty of composted organic matter , virtually eliminating the pauperization to trust on store - bought fertilizers .

A successful Hugelkultur can last for a longsighted time , providing you with an abundance of fruits and vegetables . But now that you know about these Hugelkultur disadvantages , it ’s up to you to decide whether this horticulture scheme is right for you .