Peter Alewine wrote:... it looks like there's an outer band that is lighter in color and called the "sapwood" and this does the transporting. The inner ring, which is darker, does not, and is called "heartwood"...
Can you tell me about your own experiment?
Thanks Peter, for explaing about the sapwood. I think that is what I read originally, but I remembered it wrong.
My inspiration came from a post
"Hugelpots:burried wood pot culture"
Now that I read it back, I see that I had not noticed a reply from Doctor Redhawk, who should be listened to. He warned me that rotten wood should be used, or at least dead wood, not fresh wood. I read as well that I should have used multiple sticks of different thickness.
So, I did it wrong. I cut down a hazelnut tree, because it started to block the sun. I cut the trunk, maybe 4"-6" diameter, in yard long pieces. I bundled them. I dug a hole approximately 1 foot deep. The bundle is put in the ground vertically. Space in between is filled with weeds. Sod (with roots), that needed to be removed was piled around it and on top of it, but upside down. I have planted some seeds and seedlings. Peas seem to do best, besides weeds.
The aim was a mini hugelculture bridging the gap between two raised beds. I had made one before in which the wood was piled horizontally. That one is very dry, hence I wanted to make one with vertical wood.
I hope that in a year or two my wood will rot anyway and the wicking will start. I intent to plant a 3 years old avocado seedling in top next spring.
