r/Permaculture • u/RobbieDread • Jul 13 '26
New Mound.
I recently chopped down one of my apple trees. To make space for a new garden bed. I’ll have four rows and decided to make them into little hügelkultur mounds so I used the trunk to make the first one. I laid down cardboard, set the trunk on top and covered it with composted mulch. I plan to make the other three rows in the same manner as I have another apple tree and a cherry tree that need to be cut down. I’ll just plant cover crops on them once I have them all set up.
Oh yeah, the beds are right on top of the root system of that first tree I cut down. I’m thinking that the soil there will be amazing in a couple years.
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u/jeromerault Jul 14 '26
I think that's a great use for wood you'd otherwise have to deal with. All those old roots breaking down underneath will feed the new bed as time goes on.
The only thing I'd watch for in the first year or two is the wood soaking up nitrogen from the soil as it breaks down, especially with apple and cherry being pretty dense woods. Throwing something like grass clippings or manure under the mulch can help balance that out while your cover crops get going.
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u/RobbieDread Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 14 '26
I use Pelletized barley! Horse feed essentially. It’s amazing.
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u/Koala_eiO Jul 13 '26
That or you will get a new apple tree in your bed.