the Sunflowers gardens

The soil is somewhat sandy, and I've been thinking of different gardening ideas. One that I'm kinda in love with is hugelkultur.



"Straw bale gardens require less soil, less water and hold heat. As the straw breaks down nutrients feed the plants. Combining a straw surround with a hugel interior, topped by lasagne layering is an excellent idea for an area with poor quality soil."

I'd make one of these, with interior dimensions about a meter wide and three meters long. The layering that they refer to is:

layer 1 -wood, trunks, branches
layer 2- grass clippings
layer 3 - manure
layer 4- 1/2" or more of newspaper/cardboard
layer 5 - 8-12" of hay
layer 6 - 4" composted manure
layer 7 - 5" well aged compost
layer 8 - 2" straw

"Sheet mulching (lasagne gardening) is like composting in place. ...Nitrogen-rich material such as fresh grass clippings or green leaves put right on the hugelkultur wood would help jump start the composting process. Could also include seaweed, straw, dead leaves, leaf mould, etc...

The first year of break down means the wood (and fungi) steal a lot of the nitrogen out of the surrounding environment, so adding nitrogen during the first year or planting crops that add nitrogen to the soil (like legumes) or planting species with minimal nitrogen requirements is necessary, unless there is plenty of organic material on top of the wood. After the wood absorbs nitrogen to its fill, the wood will start to break down and start to give nitrogen back in the process. In the end you will be left with a beautiful bed of nutrient rich soil."