Hügelkultur and maybe swales?

I’ve been considering incorporating Hügelkultur and swales into our Japanese garden to enhance its sustainability and aesthetics. While I’ve already implemented Hügelkultur through lasagna layering in our raised beds and in parts of the stone garden, discovering the permaculture technique of building swales has piqued my interest.

My primary goal is to manage rainwater effectively without resorting to high-maintenance solutions like koi ponds. Although our garden isn’t on a steep hill, utilizing swales to collect and retain rainwater, preventing it from fully draining away into the sewers, seems promising.

I’ve ruled out the idea of a koi pond due to its maintenance requirements and the potential breeding ground it creates for mosquitoes. Instead, a combination of swales and Hügelkultur appears to be a more fitting solution, particularly in areas prone to dryness and barren soil after extended dry spells.

The concept of creating a self-sustaining system using permaculture techniques is appealing. My ultimate vision is to have a garden that thrives and sustains itself without the need for constant watering with a hose.

However incorporating Hügelkultur and swales into our garden should also align with the karikomi aesthetics that I have envisioned on the long run. If realized all together, it would represent a big personal achievement in my gardening journey.