Linda Johansson wrote:Before I start creating massive mounds everywhere I thought it best to let some cooler heads prevail and lend me some advice as I have 0 experience with hugelkultur (and really my thumb is rather yellow, I’m more of a livestock person)..
I'll just tell you a few things I have done in the past regarding hugelkultur, as well as some mistakes I have made.
1.) I ran 1" poly pipe down to the bottom of my hugel trenches, with a threaded cap on top to remove and replace so that debris doesn't get into the pipe after I am done watering. It's convenient to use 1" because a lot of 3/4" garden hoses can fit into it for easy watering. I wrapped the outlet with cheese cloth or a paint straining screen, again to prevent debris from clogging the pipe. This will speed up decomposition of the larger logs at the bottom of the berm but is entirely unnecessary. They are also easy to remove, you can just yank em out after the first year or so if you don't want to use them anymore.
2.) Don't plant shrubs or trees on the top/middle of berms, as they may experience root damage as the berm decomposes and falls. Plant them near the shelf so they can grab on to native soil.
3.) If you plan to use a drip system, use 1/2" dripper line or Netafim (w/ 6" or 12" spacing). Avoid microsprayers because they are inefficient on berms and can spread powdery mildew.
4.) Be aware of the biomass you are adding into your berm. If you are planning on using it right away, make sure you use dead wood, especially for the larger woody pieces. Fresh wood will leech nutrients (especially nitrogen) from the soil.
5.) Don't ever mix cedar mulch into your soil to amend it. It will take half a decade to break down. I made that mistake starting out...
Just some subjective opinions mixed with my own observations. Enjoy your berm building experience!
