deep hugel

When I worked at an apple orchard I helped plant a row of trees. When I asked why we were not doing any thing to the soil for fertilizer  I was told that it is better to sweeten the soil around the tree than in the hole to force root growth. Also on top of a hill the soil was sandy and the trees were stunted.

My question being, is there any advantage to drilling post holes (and rotted log) 6 foot deep in a few places near the edge of the canopy to make a deep hugelkultur for trees? 

sure why not !! If the area is really stunted you sure could try root feeding those buggers..but be careful not to be adding a lot of air..

it would be like putting in large aeration holes ..might even put in some compost down in the holes..along with the rotting wood and maybe some water too..

i think the post hole digger is a great idea..i often use my post hole diggers more than shovels..they work so slick..and an auger would be good if it wasn't going to damage roots..

in olden times they would use old outhouse holes for trees, covering them with some soil and then planting a tree..the soil likely came from the next outhouse hole

I wouldn't experiment on established fruit trees. Damaging their fine root system might infect the tree with funghi or worse. Nonetheless a good idea for a new start-up fruit tree.

What about digging a circular deep hugelkultur bed around a newly put in tree? Maybe in a distance that the tree's root system reaches it after 2-3 years?

Dunkelheit wrote:

What about digging a circular deep hugelkultur bed around a newly put in tree? Maybe in a distance that the tree's root system reaches it after 2-3 years?

This is what I'm going to try with my next planting of fruit trees. 

Ludi wrote:
This is what I'm going to try with my next planting of fruit trees.   

I second that as a great innovation; better than just building a ring of compost and mulch around the tree's drip line.
The feeder rots will grow into the Huegelbeet.

LL