Keyhole Garden Tutorial

Here’s another small space garden method to try. Dr. Deb Tolman is the original creator of this concept of rolling a garden bed and compost into one. It’s based on the lasagna garden method where layers of recyclable materials are used as well as being water conservative.

Follow these simple steps to create your own and you’ll have a veggie bed that is a pretty as it is Eco sensitive.

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What is a Keyhole Garden?

A Keyhole garden is a raised bed that uses minimal space, recycled materials and combines a compost system and garden bed into one.

It’s a circular shape with a slice taken out to allow for easy access to the compost basket in the center creating the keyhole shape. Build the sides out of wood, cinder blocks or bricks. Any type of material could be used that would allow you to build up the sides.

Use two sticks with a 3′ string tied between them to measure out your shape. Place one in the center and draw a line turning around the center point. Build your sides with your chosen material up 2 feet. We used 48 cinder blocks in our example.

Similar to the lasagna style, a layer of rocks, twigs, branches and even old broken pots can be placed in the bottom to allow for drainage. Add layers of cardboard and the newsprint between compost and then fill the top half with straight soil/compost mix.

A ‘compost basket’ made of wire ( chicken wire or a more heavy duty gauge ) is at the center as you build your layers. We decided to use some old moss as a screen in our demonstration garden to create a permeable layer between soil and compost.

Slope your soil away from the basket towards the edge of your bed. The compost baskets gets watered, and this slope direct the moisture out from the basket and through the bed. The water carries nutrients from the decomposing compost material, thereby feeding the soil and irrigating it at the same time.

Plant your bed with any vegetables you desire. Have fun mixing edible flowers or even puttint a few poles curved over the bed for some climbers. Try planing in a twisting pattern to add more interest.

A Keyhole garden is a simple method with many benefits including:

Save Space
Raised bed for ease of reach
Perfect for wheelchair accessibility
Recycled materials
Composting made easy
Cost effective
Water conservative
Feeds itself naturally
Easy to create yourself
Interesting and attractive bed

Have fun putting your twist on this method and happy planting!

Peace Love Garden

In: Grow Dammit!, Sowing By: Shelley Levis Comments: 8 « Square Foot Gardening Method Mini Gardens, More Than Just Fairies »

8 Responses to Keyhole Garden Tutorial

Louise - May 20, 2014 at 7:18 pm - Reply →
My mom used to put wire bins like that in her flower garden for her kitchen scraps. The flowers grew so lush around them that they disappeared. One year, some potato peelings fell out and started to grow. Dad laughed at first, but Mom’s volunteer potatoes did better than the ones he planted in his veggie garden on purpose. This was 50 years ago, before composting was cool.
- Shelley Levis - May 22, 2014 at 8:58 pm - Reply →
  LOVE IT! Composting is easy to do. A lot of ‘stuff’ out there makes it seem complicated, but Mother Nature has been doing it since the earth was formed with no special tricks at all.
Mackenzie Kupfer (@avantgardengirl) - May 22, 2014 at 9:20 am - Reply →
I love everything about this keyhole gardening technique. I am so excited about being able to get the nutrients from the compost to the soil by just watering the garden. What a great, easy idea!!!
EJ - June 10, 2014 at 5:52 pm - Reply →
Just love it!! Going to try to get one going this weekend in Muchigan!!
Morgan - June 28, 2014 at 8:23 am - Reply →
So you don’t put anything but compost materials in the middle? Just wondering if a bottom layer is needed also, do you think this might work as just a quarter circle if we have access to the corner point?
- Shelley Levis - July 4, 2014 at 5:16 pm - Reply →
  Yep, just compost… no weeds. You can add grass clippings and other garden clippings as well. I don’t see there being a problem making a smaller slice
Jeanette - June 28, 2014 at 2:39 pm - Reply →
I have a serious squirrel problem but would love to do this. Any advice??
- Shelley Levis - July 4, 2014 at 5:15 pm - Reply →
  Squirrels are a real pain! Sometimes it’s better to join them then to fight them. Buy bag of cheap plain peanuts in the shell or some other type of food they love and placing that in the opposite side of your garden will keep them away from the things you want them to leave alone, worth a shot.

Keyhole Garden Tutorial