What Happens When You Bury Old Logs In A Raised Bed?
TLDRThe video script narrates the experience and findings of using the Hugelkultur technique to create raised garden beds. Three years after burying logs in the beds to save on soil costs and build healthy soil, the host and his friend, Jacques, dig up one of the beds to assess the results. They discover that while some wood remains, it has softened and become spongy, indicating decomposition. The roots of the plants have penetrated the wood, and there's a thriving ecosystem with mycelium and worms. The bed's soil is a rich, loamy mixture, and the logs have contributed to water retention and soil volume. The host suggests that the wood may take up to two decades to fully decompose, but its presence is beneficial. They also discuss the importance of surface area in decomposition and the potential of drilling holes in logs to increase surface area for faster breakdown. The video concludes with the host's continued endorsement of the Hugelkultur method, with some suggested improvements.
Takeaways
- 🌱 Using logs in a raised bed can save on soil costs and build healthy soil, but it requires proper technique to prevent soil settling issues.
- 🏕 The technique of burying logs is known as Hugelkultur, which has been used for hundreds of years and originated in Germany in the 1960s.
- 🔩 Placing large logs in the corners of raised beds can help prevent settling and provide structural support.
- 🔩 Stainless steel rustproof nuts and bolts are an upgrade to the next generation of raised beds, enhancing their durability and stability.
- 🌿 Adding soil or compost in the crevices between logs can help prevent future settling by allowing for better integration with the surrounding soil.
- 🍄 Mycelium presence indicates a healthy fungal colonization, which is a good sign for soil health and structure.
- 🌿 As logs break down slowly, they create a sponge-like effect, improving water retention and providing a habitat for beneficial organisms.
- 🐛 The presence of worms and other small creatures within the wood indicates a thriving ecosystem that contributes to soil fertility.
- 🪵 Large logs take a long time to decompose, potentially remaining intact for up to two decades, providing a long-term structure for soil health.
- 🧪 The size of the wood particles affects the rate of decomposition, with smaller particles breaking down more quickly than larger ones.
- 🌳 Roots from plants can grow around and penetrate the wood, demonstrating the soil's fertility and the wood's role in supporting plant growth.
- 📏 The depth of root penetration, as evidenced by the pepper plants, shows that the Hugelkultur method can support deep and extensive root systems.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of burying logs in a raised bed?
-The main purpose is to save money on soil costs, build healthy soil, increase water retention, and dispose of wood debris.
What is the term for the technique of piling logs and organic matter on the ground?
-The technique is called Hugelkultur, which originated in Germany in the 1960s.
What was the issue encountered with the soil after burying logs three years ago?
-The issue was soil settling, where the soil level dropped significantly, potentially requiring additional soil to be added.
How can soil settling be prevented when using the Hugelkultur technique?
-By placing the largest logs in the corners of the raised beds and filling the crevices between the logs with soil or compost.
What are some of the upgrades made to the next generation of Birdies beds?
-Upgrades include stainless steel rustproof nuts and bolts, improved bracing solutions with a steel support channel and interlocking links, and a new logo design.
What is the significance of mycelium found in the bed with buried logs?
-The presence of mycelium is a good sign, indicating that the wood is breaking down and that there is active fungal colonization which aids in decomposition.
What did the speaker discover about the condition of the logs after three years?
-The logs, especially the larger ones, were still present and had not fully broken down. However, they had softened and were supporting a rich ecosystem of roots and microorganisms.
Why did the roots of the pepper plants in the Hugelkultur bed go so deep?
-The deep roots suggest that the Hugelkultur bed provided a stable structure and environment that encouraged the plants to explore deeper for nutrients and water.
What is the benefit of having a partially decomposed log in the bed for an extended period?
-The partially decomposed log continues to provide structure, retains water, helps build healthy soil, and over time, breaks down further to enrich the soil.
Why did the speaker suggest drilling holes through the logs?
-Drilling holes through the logs increases the surface area available for decomposition by microorganisms and worms, which can speed up the breakdown of the wood.
What is the approximate time it might take for the buried logs to fully break down in a Hugelkultur bed?
-The speaker suggests that it might take around two decades for the buried logs to fully break down.
How did the native soil at the bottom of the bed appear after three years of Hugelkultur?
-The native soil at the bottom appeared undisturbed and hard, with some worm activity and signs of life, indicating a healthy ecosystem.
Outlines
🌱 Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Burying Logs in Raised Beds
The video begins with the host reflecting on a decision made three years prior to bury logs in raised beds as a cost-saving and soil-building technique. The host discusses the initial intent behind using Hugelkultur, a method involving stacking logs and organic matter to improve soil fertility and water retention. Despite the potential benefits, the host has experienced soil settling issues and aims to investigate whether this method is still recommended. The video promises to dig up one of the beds to assess the current state of the buried logs and the soil's condition underneath.
🔨 Constructing a Hugelkultur Mound with Improved Techniques
The host and Jacques, the garden hermit, demonstrate how to properly build a Hugelkultur mound to avoid past mistakes. They start by placing large logs in the corners of the raised bed to prevent settling and use stainless steel nuts and bolts as an upgrade to the bed's structure. The process involves layering soil or compost between the logs, followed by small living materials and unfinished compost. The final layer consists of high-quality soil filled to the top of the bed. The host also mentions resizing the beds to imperial dimensions for easier garden planning. Upon digging up a three-year-old bed, they discover that while some wood remains, it has softened and become spongy, indicating decomposition. The roots of pepper plants are observed to penetrate deeply into the bed, suggesting that the Hugelkultur method has been successful in promoting root growth.
🌿 Observing the Decomposition Process and Soil Condition After Three Years
As the host and Jacques explore the insides of the dug-up bed, they find that the wood has not fully decomposed, yet it has significantly broken down, creating a loamy mixture. They observe mycelium, indicating a healthy fungal presence, and the soil is compact in some areas but still allows root penetration. The video highlights the importance of surface area in decomposition, noting that larger pieces of wood take longer to break down. The host predicts that the logs will take around two decades to fully decompose. They also discuss the possibility of drilling holes through the logs to increase surface area and accelerate the decomposition process. The conclusion is that while the logs are still present after three years, they continue to serve their purpose by saving soil volume, building healthy soil, and retaining water.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Hugelkultur
💡Raised beds
💡Soil settlement
💡Mycelium
💡Composting
💡Water retention
💡Soil building
💡Logs
💡Root penetration
💡Casting
💡Termites
Highlights
The use of burying logs in a raised bed is a technique called Hugelkultur, which can save money on soil and build healthy soil.
Hugelkultur was first coined in the 1960s in Germany, but the practice has likely been used for centuries.
Using large logs in the corners of raised beds can help prevent settling and shifting over time.
Adding soil or compost into the crevices between logs can prevent future settling.
Transitioning to small living materials and unfinished compost as the bed fills can enhance the Hugelkultur mound.
The top 8-12 inches of the bed should be finished with the best soil available to ensure a rich growing environment.
Birdies' raised beds have been upgraded with stainless steel rustproof nuts and bolts and improved bracing solutions.
The new generation of Birdies' beds features an interlocking link system to prevent bowing and caving.
The beds have been resized from metric to imperial dimensions for easier garden design.
After three years, the buried logs are still present but have facilitated deep root growth and a rich, loamy soil mixture.
The presence of mycelium indicates a healthy fungal colonization, which is a good sign for soil health.
The wood in the Hugelkultur mound is breaking down slowly, providing a long-term structure and water retention.
Drilling holes through the logs could potentially increase surface area for worms and speed up decomposition.
Even after three years, the logs provide a significant structure that supports soil volume and health.
The Hugelkultur method is still recommended with some tweaks for optimal results.
The native soil at the bottom of the bed remains largely undisturbed and provides a base for the enriched soil above.
The process of Hugelkultur creates a unique and thriving ecosystem within the raised bed, supporting a variety of life forms.
Transcripts
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