Michael Jankowski

VV - I suspect you could use the logs right away. The root balls are what I'll be allowing to dry and they'll likely sit for a few months. I'll probably do the same for any extra trees I drop that won't be used for a cabin build. That way I can do the hugel mound build all in one shot (logs, root balls, branches, brush, ...)

Thomas - I fully intend to allow the root balls to dry out before I use them. I've had family members try burning these from trees they removed, but they've told me that because there's so much dirt embedded in them they wouldn't burn (or remain burning). I figured allowing them to decompose in a hugel mound would likely do more good.

Phil, Mike, and Will - thanks for the input. I'll definitely have the time to allow the roots to dry out before I start the build of the hugel mounds. Normally, most people would have them hauled off the property after taking down the trees but I figured if they would work in hugel mounds that would be a far better use for them.

Jim Fry - We have a mix of trees on the property including birch and oak. As long as I can debark them quickly the birch is my preference for a cabin. However, poplar is the most common tree on our property. It is a soft wood but has been used in cabin builds for a long time. Dried and treated properly it should work fine for what I want to do. The cabin will be a small one room build and It'll done with the logs placed vertically vs. horizontally.

I'm going to be clearing some of our property in order to build a house. The property is in mid-Eastern area of Minnesota. Most of the trees are poplar. I plan on using some of the trees I cut down for a small cabin but am considering putting in a few hugel mounds using left over logs, branches, and brush. Then I thought about the root balls that'll be left after taking the trees down. Can these be used in a hugel mound?  I would suspect I'd probably have to place them on top of any larger trunk sections if I do.

Anyone have any experience or recommendations concerning using them in mounds?

Thanks,