Thomas

Prepping our raised keyhole bed for planting season. We used a combination of willow, hazel and aspen to form the keyhole bed. This is really fun!

On the bottom we used logs from tree of heaven that had invaded this plot before. Then some more branches and dirt. Still some more filling to do with dirt and finally compost.
#gardening

Mar 10, 2025 at 2:26pmWeb
Show threadIvesMar 10, 2025
@fantpmas I'm curious: what's the function of the logs at the bottom? Do you want to prevent the plant roots from growing into the actual earth?
Show threadThomasMar 10, 2025
@ives This way we have to use less soil. The logs will also decompose slowly boosting fertility. It should help with retaining moisture too.
Show threadEsther Payne Mar 11, 2025

@fantpmas @ives As the logs decompose it gives a little heat as well to the soil.

Logs are awesome for giving height to a bed. I'd done something similar as I wanted to combine a hugelkulture with a raised bed in my North Facing Garden.

The willow with tiles is awesome.

Show threadVirginicusMar 12, 2025
@fantpmas @ives Do stink trees have any nutritional value? They grow so fast that I figure they’re just empty calories.
Show threadRichard RollinsonMar 10, 2025
@fantpmas Well done! That looks like a lot of hard work. 😀
Show threadThomasMar 10, 2025
@richrollgardener Hard work, but so much fun! And it looks really nice too.
Show threadmk30Mar 10, 2025
@fantpmas looks great!
Show threadThomasMar 10, 2025
@mk30 thanks!
Show threadGaiaCrisisPhilMar 11, 2025

@fantpmas

Looks great. Really nice
I like the way you've constructed it from a range of different materials

Show threadTab CombsMar 11, 2025

@fantpmas oh that's gorgeous.
are you not worried that the tree of heaven logs might somehow sprout like an untreated stump?

(our raised beds are on ground recovered from a bamboo & wisteria infestation and this is possibly irrational fear of mine; though our hugel is mostly dead oak)

Show threadThomasMar 11, 2025
@drtcombs Let's hope not. They have been felled over 6 months ago so hopefully fine.
Show threadPollinatorsMar 11, 2025
@fantpmas This is a wonderful raised garden. It’s wonderful aspen and willow weaving and tree of heaven Hugelkultur. Thank you for sharing the sequence of building the raised bed. #gardening, #hugelkultur, #compost, #growyourow.
Show threadBramblyBearWhufflingMar 13, 2025

@fantpmas Live to see the process!

What do the red tiles do in this set up?

Show threadThomasMar 13, 2025
@BrambleBearWhuffling prevent the soil from being washed out by the rain.
Show threadBramblyBearWhufflingMar 13, 2025
@fantpmas Aha! That makes sense.
Show threadgriffMar 17, 2025
@fantpmas Hey, I'm curious if you end up getting any pill bugs or not. We did the same thing and buried a bunch of logs in a raised bed and for the last 2 years, there's been thousands of pill bugs which unfortunately eat a lot of what we grow. Also, those gardens look great! I love the woven borders.
Show threadThomasMar 17, 2025
@griff Keep you posted!