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Diana starts with ... Something I have wondered about but not previously found any good information on- hugelculture in a subtropical environment (the garden is in Florida). This series of clips (Youtube 'Permaculture Paradise: Edgewood Gardens' series) is excellent. Most clips that I have seen are less useful, as they are mainly people showing off established gardens. This one is really detailed and shows the whole process and the reasons why it works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCX69oFMV0g | About the Author Diana Brisbane 23rd July 2014 4:37pm #UserID: 3004 Posts: 284 View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 23rd July 2014 4:37pm | |
| About the Author TMary Neutral Bay NSW 24th July 2014 11:10am #UserID: 9334 Posts: 159 View All TMary's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Diana says... Me too TMary. Thanks. I wish I had known about it and done this when I planted most of my trees. The other videos in the series and related ones (Val and Elis' garden) are great as well. In a later one it turns out that they have not put enough nitrogen with the timber under one of the trees, you need quite a lot. | About the Author Diana Brisbane 24th July 2014 10:43pm #UserID: 3004 Posts: 284 View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author MaryT1 Sydney 25th July 2014 8:51am #UserID: 7655 Posts: 296 View All MaryT1's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Julie says... Seeing this has set me thinking. I have raised beds with wooden sides that I can't use because of tree root invasion. They are a solid mass of roots from next door's Euc. Grandis - they travel a long way. I am going to pay someone to remove them, one at a time, lay heavy black plastic underneath and start again. I can't see any reason why using the hugelkultur principle wouldn't work, can you? Being contained in wooden sides shouldn't make any difference as far as I can see. | About the Author Julie Roleystone WA 25th July 2014 1:07pm #UserID: 154 Posts: 1842 View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees |
Diana says... Hi Julie, I think geotextile is a better idea than black plastic to make a barrier against tree roots under the raised bed. I am sure wooden sides are fine for this technique. Mary- I think there would be some change in the soil and compost mix over time, but I think that's why they use large logs underneath, so it's not too fast. That's why I wondered if it works so well is a warm, humid climate. Here is some discussion of root barriers on the gardening Australia forum- http://www2b.abc.net.au/tmb/Client/Message.aspx?b=72&t=5&a=0&ps=50&m=14854&dm=1 | About the Author Diana Brisbane 25th July 2014 4:05pm #UserID: 3004 Posts: 284 View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees |
sternus1 says... You're mistaken if you think any kid of matting will succesfully act as a barrier against roots--not against large trees. The reality is, they're going to grow, and whatever you plant will have to compete with them for water and nutrients. Just the way of the world, unfortunately. Don't waste your money getting them towed up and ground out, they'll be back in a few years. If they can break through crete slabs and bust mains water pipes, you can bet they'll go through matting. I've seen them break through concrete water tanks reinforced with rebar. Some aspects of permaculture are useful, but hugelculture is ridiculous. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that doing things like burying logs is good for the soil. | About the Author sternus1 Australia 25th July 2014 5:34pm #UserID: 8314 Posts: 1318 View All sternus1's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 25th July 2014 5:32pm | |
Julie says... I have already spent too much money on this problem. I had a trench dug and what looked like a fairly solid root barrier put down a few years ago. It lasted about a year before the roots grew back! The roots have gone under the pond and up the other side, so good quality pond plastic works - it hasn't got into the pond. So I think I'll stick to my plan of lining with plastic, making sure there is good drainage. | About the Author Julie Roleystone WA 25th July 2014 6:48pm #UserID: 154 Posts: 1842 View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees |
| About the Author MaryT1 Sydney 26th July 2014 8:54am #UserID: 7655 Posts: 296 View All MaryT1's Edible Fruit Trees |
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Original Post was last edited: 26th July 2014 8:53am | |
Diana says... The other guaranteed barrier against tree roots is air. I have raised garden beds 20cm off the ground under a pawpaw, they are on top of pallets with a few layers of shadecloth and cardboard on top of the pallets to keep the soil in. Putting your beds directly on plastic with no drainage may be a problem. | About the Author Diana Brisbane 26th July 2014 8:55am #UserID: 3004 Posts: 284 View All Diana's Edible Fruit Trees |
Julie says... Interesting idea Diana. I just saw free pallets online and told a friend. Probably gone now. Wondering how long the cardboard would last? I was thinking of drilling holes in the sides right at the bottom to let water out. I wouldn't put in a plastic lining, but rather lay it flat on the ground with beds on top and plastic protruding a little way. I've thought about this a lot, but I'm very open to any other ideas! | About the Author Julie Roleystone WA 26th July 2014 10:11am #UserID: 154 Posts: 1842 View All Julie's Edible Fruit Trees |