What is a Keyhole Garden?  Better use of space: nutrient rich kitchen scraps, grass clippings, & coffee grounds, alternated with a layer of shredded A Keyhole Garden is the ultimate raised-bed compost allows planting closer, utilizing paper or compost. This will provide the plants planter, often built in the shape of a circle, all available growing space  Critter free area: taller raised bed keeps with moisture and nutrients. measuring a maximum of 6 feet in diameter. It can stand up to 4 feet high and is notched like a most 4-legged pests at bay; netted easily to keep flying pests away 9. Water well to establish plants via compost pie with a slice cut away. A hole in the center cage and the garden, then water mostly through  Perfect for uneven ground: can easily be holds a composting basket that moistens and the composting cage. This forces the plants’ built to overcome steep garden areas; a nourishes the growing plants. The garden, which roots down toward the center basket. from above looks like a keyhole, can be built terracing effect with recycled materials and requires less water 10. Feed the garden by adding more kitchen than a conventional garden, making it ideal for Building a Composting scraps, lawn clippings, etc., to the composting drought stricken or very arid climates, like our cage. Cover with shredded paper or compost to American Southwest. Keyhole Garden minimize odor and discourage varmints. 1. Measure a 6-foot diameter circle to define the inside wall of your garden. 11. Consider adding an arching framework over Keyhole Gardens were developed by a the garden to support a shade cloth in hotter humanitarian aid organization in southern Africa 2. Notch the circle (like cutting a wedge of pie) months; and in winter, plastic sheeting, creating as a means of helping those who were unable, so you can access the basket at the center. an instant greenhouse or cold frame. because of illness or physical limitations, to manage a traditional garden. It requires no 3. Construct the exterior wall about 2.5 to 3 feet 12. Enjoy! high using rocks, metal, timbers or any material tilling or turning. that can support weight of organic composting waste. Taller walls can interfere with reach. Guidelines A Composting Keyhole Garden kicks it up by filling the planting bed almost entirely with  Place the “keyhole” entrance to the 4. Use chicken wire or hardware cloth to create a composting cage on the west facing side composting materials under compost and potting tubular compost cage about 1 foot in diameter soil that help to retain water and provide a  Plant close together & place the tallest, and 1 foot taller than the keyhole walls. sun loving plants on the west facing, continuous feeding program for your plants. 5. Line inner walls and bottom with soaked high sides to shade more delicate plants corrugated cardboard. on the lower, east facing side Advantages of the Composting  Check your garden daily for Keyhole Garden 6. Stand the compost cage in the center of the maintenance; weeding, watering, pests,  Overcomes gardening obstacles: poor or circle, positioned at the point of the notch. disease and harvesting rocky soil, drought, flooding, physical  Mulch to maintain moisture limitations 7. Fill the garden area (but not the compost cage  Shade compost cage and garden as  Abundant crops via nutrient rich in the center), with layers of denser compostable needed to prevent water evaporation compost & on-going feeding browns material and green, soaking each layer.  Protect plants from extreme cold Fill the last 4-6 inches with compost and/or  Easy maintenance: within arm’s reach,  Water deeply every 2 days if no rain, potting soil, sloping from a high point at the top little or no bending, no heavy digging, mainly through compost cage of the compost cage downward to the inside more time to tend garden plants  Maintain wall structures and irrigation edges of the top of the garden walls.  Replenish composting components,  Longer growing season: raised beds more insulated from cold, warms up 8. Fill the compost cage with alternating layers topping with new potting soil seasonally quicker of quickly composting organic waste material: as needed when planting level drops