How to Fill a Raised Garden Bed on a Budget with Hugelkultur & Mel’s Mix

By Stack's Urban Harvest | Apr 27, 2025
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Filling a raised garden bed with high-quality soil can quickly become expensive. But there’s a smarter, more cost-effective method: combine hugelkultur with Mel’s Mix! This approach not only saves money but also improves soil health over time, giving you thriving, happy plants. 

Let’s break it down.

 

 

WHAT IS MEL'S MIX?

Originally developed for Square Foot Gardening, Mel’s Mix is a simple, balanced soil blend that’s ready to plant and requires minimal yearly amendments.

 

 

 

 

Start with equal parts of these three components:    

  1. Peat Moss, or Coconut Coir as a sustainable alternative
  2. Coarse vermiculite, or perlite
  3. Compost—ideally blended from five different sources for nutrient diversity

This mix ensures excellent drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient availability, making it one of the easiest ways to create fertile soil. For more details, check out my full blog on How to Make Mel’s Mix.

 

 

 

WHAT IS HUGELKULTURE?

Hugelkultur (pronounced hoo-gul-culture) is a centuries-old technique that layers logs, branches, and organic materials at the base of a raised bed or mound. As the wood decomposes, it slowly releases nutrients, enhances soil structure, and retains moisture like a sponge. 

An added bonus: It reduces the amount of soil you need to fill the bed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Combine Hugelkultur & Mel’s Mix
Here’s how to create a budget-friendly, nutrient-rich garden bed: 

 

 

 

 

  1. Start with a base layer of wood—Lay down logs, branches, and sticks at the bottom of your raised bed. Larger wood takes longer to decompose but works well; smaller branches can also be used.
     
  2. Fill gaps with organic material: Add leaves, straw, grass clippings, or unfinished compost to even out the surface and speed up decomposition.
     
  3. Add a layer of compost or garden soil: Cover the wood with a layer of compost or garden soil to create a stable base for Mel’s Mix. This also prevents the soil from settling too much.
     
  4. Top off with Mel’s Mix: Add 6–12 inches of Mel’s Mix on top. This provides an ideal growing medium for vegetables, flowers, and other plants.

This method lets you plant immediately in rich, ready-to-use soil while the hugelkultur base breaks down over time, creating long-term fertility.


FINAL TIPS

  • Avoid treated wood: Use only natural, untreated logs and branches to avoid introducing harmful chemicals.
     
  • Water as you build: Moisture helps kickstart the decomposition process.
     
  • Expect settling: Some settling is natural, especially during the first season. Be prepared to top off with additional Mel’s Mix as needed.
     
  • Refresh over time: Simply add more compost as needed to keep your bed thriving.


By including hugelkultur with Mel’s Mix, you get the best of both worlds: a garden bed that’s ready for planting today and designed for long-term resilience — all without breaking the bank.
Live regeneratively, and let’s grow together!

For more information about Square Foot Gardening, I highly recommend the book, authored by Mel Bartholomew. 
 


DISCLAIMER: Please note that the link to the Square Foot Gardening book in this blog post is an affiliate link, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through it. This helps to support the mission of Stack's Urban Harvest and keeps the video and blog content coming. Thank you for your support!

 

 

 

 

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