The secret to a garden that grows like magic

This secret will change the way you think about gardening. It will also give you amazing cucumbers. Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web.]( [Banner]( [The Real Secret to a Magical Garden]( [This secret will change the way you think about gardening.]( [Join The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club for all the dirt.]( [Hero]( Paul Wheaton RichSoil.com Dear Almanac Reader, What is hugelkultur, anyway? When I first heard the word, I thought it must be a new kind of yogurt, but, no—it’s a type of raised garden bed! Hügelkultur can be translated as “mound culture”—in which plants or crops are grown on raised beds with a mounded shape and form. Many swear that it takes raised beds to the next level. Find out why… What Are Hugelkultur Beds? Hügelkultur (usually transliterated into English simply as “hugelkultur”) has been used for centuries in eastern Europe and Germany, often as part of a broader permaculture system. Put simply, hugelkultur is a centuries-old, traditional way of building a garden bed from rotten logs and plant debris. These mound shapes are created by marking out an area for a raised bed, clearing the land, and then heaping up woody material (that’s ideally already partially rotted) topped with compost and soil. Downed trees, fallen branches headed for the brush pile, and rough lumber can all be used; you are essentially taking rotting wood and allowing it to compost in place for a superfertile, moisture-retaining garden bed. These mounds can be 5 to 6 feet high—massive heaps of logs, branches, leaves, straw, cardboard, grass clippings, and manure or compost mounded to be wider at the bottom than at the top. As the wood shrinks and breaks down, a hügelbed sinks; one that is 6 feet high, for example, will ultimately sink to about 2 feet after several years of decomposition and settling. [Image - Construction]( How to Build a Hugelkultur Bed - First, select a sunny spot that’s roughly 8x4 feet. (A bed built parallel to a slope is a good idea, as it will catch water.) - If there is grass or the site is weedy, you’ll need to clear it down to bare soil. Just mow and cover the area with cardboard or wood chips to suppress weed growth. - Now dig out shallow pits, retaining the turf or topsoil for the top of your mounds. Make the pit or trench 12 to 18 inches deep, keeping the same depth the full length of the bed. Beds need to be narrow enough that you can reach to the center; we’d suggest no more than 4 feet across. - Next, lay the woody material into the dug-out area, starting with large logs or downed trees. Add a layer of branches and twigs. A mix of hard and softwoods is recommended. Avoid using woods that are slow to rot such as locust, cedar, or redwood or any that release toxins that inhibit plant growth such as black walnut. - Like building a lasagna garden on top of wood, top it with grass and grass clippings—nearly any kind of organic material—and pack firmly. If you have excavated turf, place it root side up on the wood. - Continue to arrange the wood longitudinally and as tightly as possible. The pile can be as long and high as you like but I suggest a 2- to 3-foot high bed as it’s easier to work with (and can last without water for two or three weeks). Some folks build them really tall, up to 5 or 6 feet high but I would need heavy equipment to achieve that. - Then, water the layers well. “When it sprouts mushrooms, you know it’s wet enough,” says Tim Murphy, a gardener in Kingston, New York. Fill in any cracks or spaces with grass, leaf litter, and manure. “The tighter the better,” he adds. - Finally, top off the bed with 2 to 3 inches of topsoil and a layer of mulch. [Image - Butterfly]( Maintaining the Hügelbed If you build this in the fall, let the whole thing settle over the winter and it will be ready for planting next spring In the first year, the pile will need watering as the wood breaks down. The rotting wood will also be using up nitrogen that would otherwise be going to your plants, so it’s recommended that you plant legumes the first year since they produce their own nitrogen. Note that the greater the mass, the greater the water retention. Experienced hügel gardeners have found that if the beds are high enough, they don’t require irrigation at all after the second year. Steep beds also mean more surface area for planting; plus, their height makes harvesting easier. Eventually the rotting wood will hold water like a sponge, making the bed drought-resistant. The top of the bed will be naturally drier than the base so you can plant things that need more water nearer the bottom and those that like it drier near the top. You can plant in the sides as well as top and bottom increasing yields in a small garden. The Benefits of Hugelkultur The rotting wood hosts beneficial fungi, bacteria, insects, worms, and microbial growth that create nutrients your plants can use. Over time the mound will shrink as the wood rots but you can always add more soil or compost to the top. You will have created an ecosystem in which the beneficial organisms will thrive. Hugelkultur is popular with gardeners who have struggled with heavy clay and poor or compacted soil. It is a good way to build up a planting bed and turn woody debris into a garden. Ready to learn more? [Image - club products]( Become a Charter Member of the Old Farmers Almanac Gardening[body link](Club today, and you’ll never run out of advice, tips or inspiration! And right now, when you become a Gardening Club Charter Member you will save 48%. [Claim your Gardening Club Charter Membership Now!]( When you activate your Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership today, you’ll get access to everything you need about gardening: Summary of Gardening Club Membership Benefits Charter Membership in The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club $66.72/year $34.97! A 48% discount! The 2023 Old Farmer’s Almanac—The classic edition has everything you’ve come to expect from the world’s premier Almanac—forecasts, folklore, and more. It’s loaded with the tips, trivia, and insights that make it a family favorite. INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2023 Gardening Wall Calendar—Enjoy rich illustrations and useful gardening tips on everything from planting to enjoying your garden. INCLUDED Gardening for Everyone—A curated collection of inspiring, colorful, informative, and fun gardening articles and ideas presented in a softcover book. 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Whether you garden for food, for flowers, or just for fun, a Charter Membership in Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired all year long! Sincerely, Janice Stillman Editor The Old Farmer’s Almanac P.S. I think you’ll agree that this really is an unusual offer—48% off when you become an Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member today! It’s an incredible deal that you don’t want to ignore! [Shipping Now!]( [Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( We reserve the right to substitute items based on availability. You received this email because you signed for updates from The Old Farmer's Almanac. 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