Hugelkultur in a Pot Part 1: Stick Layers
Today I started on my hugelkultur pot project. The pot is about 21" at the outside top, 18" at the inside top, 16" tall, and 10 1/2" at the base.
I've been thinking about how I wanted to fill it. I didn't want to use all potting soil because sometimes it's too heavy and other times too light. I didn't want to use gravel or ceramic shards for drainage because eventually I'll want to dump it and refill it. So I hit on the idea of using sticks as the bottom layer, because they'll make good drainage but can also break down over time. Also, I love the idea of using things from my yard. A key rule of permaculture is "Obtain A Yield," and that can be anything you find useful. In this case, I'm using cut brush to improve drainage, so it's productive rather than just a pile of branches in the way of the lawnmower. I'll be adding leaves, compost, and potting soil later.
Hugelkultur is a type of no-turn compost similar to lasagna gardening where you make a pile of stuff, only this version can include anything from sticks to whole trees on the bottom. Eventually the wood decomposes.
The giant pot stands beside the barrel garden for a size comparison. I got two of these pots at the Dollar Store for $14 each, so if you've ever wanted a giant pot, there's a good opportunity.
The bottom of the pot shows where we drilled the drainage holes. Sorry I didn't make before and after pictures of that. The spaces for holes were marked in the plastic but not drilled. (You could make a water garden with one of these.) We just used a hand drill to open the holes. Fit the butt end of the drill bit into the circles to see which size to use. I think they're about 1/4" inch and there are 8 holes.
I used pruners to cut the sticks.
Cut each stick so it's just slightly shorter than the width of the pot. Sticks will get shorter as you fill in the circle.
If a stick won't cut easily, spin the pruners around it to score it, then press against the cut mark with your thumbs or knee until it breaks. It should snap cleanly because you've cut the bark all around.
The first layer of sticks is half done. If you start cutting from the butt end of the branch, the sections will get thinner toward the sides of the pot.
The first layer is complete.
The second layer is half done.
And the I stepped on the rim of the pot while reaching for another branch, and knocked off the sticks. Ah well, things don't have to be perfect, as long as they work. It will be fine.
The sticks have been fitted into the bottom of the pot.
In the closeup, you can see both layers of sticks. This will allow water to drain while keeping the soil in the pot.
Here I've cut some short sticks. These will create a jumble layer above the carefully stacked sticks.
This is about half of a one-gallon bucket of short sticks. I figured that would be enough.
The short sticks are in the bottom of the pot. Just dump them in and spread them out a little. They're not supposed to be smooth.
Since I had my camera out at dusk, and people like my sunset pictures, I walked down the driveway to shoot a few.
This is the sunset from the end of the driveway. I think the two puddles look a bit like eyes.
Look, it's a floodle! A little tiny one.
This is the sunset from the road. Nothing fancy tonight, just warm colors along the horizon.
I've been thinking about how I wanted to fill it. I didn't want to use all potting soil because sometimes it's too heavy and other times too light. I didn't want to use gravel or ceramic shards for drainage because eventually I'll want to dump it and refill it. So I hit on the idea of using sticks as the bottom layer, because they'll make good drainage but can also break down over time. Also, I love the idea of using things from my yard. A key rule of permaculture is "Obtain A Yield," and that can be anything you find useful. In this case, I'm using cut brush to improve drainage, so it's productive rather than just a pile of branches in the way of the lawnmower. I'll be adding leaves, compost, and potting soil later.
Hugelkultur is a type of no-turn compost similar to lasagna gardening where you make a pile of stuff, only this version can include anything from sticks to whole trees on the bottom. Eventually the wood decomposes.
The giant pot stands beside the barrel garden for a size comparison. I got two of these pots at the Dollar Store for $14 each, so if you've ever wanted a giant pot, there's a good opportunity.
The bottom of the pot shows where we drilled the drainage holes. Sorry I didn't make before and after pictures of that. The spaces for holes were marked in the plastic but not drilled. (You could make a water garden with one of these.) We just used a hand drill to open the holes. Fit the butt end of the drill bit into the circles to see which size to use. I think they're about 1/4" inch and there are 8 holes.
I used pruners to cut the sticks.
Cut each stick so it's just slightly shorter than the width of the pot. Sticks will get shorter as you fill in the circle.
If a stick won't cut easily, spin the pruners around it to score it, then press against the cut mark with your thumbs or knee until it breaks. It should snap cleanly because you've cut the bark all around.
The first layer of sticks is half done. If you start cutting from the butt end of the branch, the sections will get thinner toward the sides of the pot.
The first layer is complete.
The second layer is half done.
And the I stepped on the rim of the pot while reaching for another branch, and knocked off the sticks. Ah well, things don't have to be perfect, as long as they work. It will be fine.
The sticks have been fitted into the bottom of the pot.
In the closeup, you can see both layers of sticks. This will allow water to drain while keeping the soil in the pot.
Here I've cut some short sticks. These will create a jumble layer above the carefully stacked sticks.
This is about half of a one-gallon bucket of short sticks. I figured that would be enough.
The short sticks are in the bottom of the pot. Just dump them in and spread them out a little. They're not supposed to be smooth.
Since I had my camera out at dusk, and people like my sunset pictures, I walked down the driveway to shoot a few.
This is the sunset from the end of the driveway. I think the two puddles look a bit like eyes.
Look, it's a floodle! A little tiny one.
This is the sunset from the road. Nothing fancy tonight, just warm colors along the horizon.
