15 Raised Garden Bed Mistakes Every Gardener Should Avoid
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 มิ.ย. 2024
- 15 Raised Garden Bed Mistakes Every Gardener Should Avoid - After a full season in my two new raised garden beds, I've made some small but crucial mistakes. In this Prepping to Survive video, I will be teaching you by raised garden bed mistakes that I wish I avoided this year.
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Regarding height of raised beds, at 61 years old, even though I'm fit and relatively spry, not having to kneel or bend to tend my 21/2 foot high beds is money well spent.
Tips from an aging person. 1) Spacing between beds becomes more critical when walkers and wheelchairs become part of life and you still yearn to garden. Room to turn the mobility device is wider than a garden cart.
2) good items to convert to raised beds can be salvaged from trash furnishings. Old dresser drawers. Even old cabinets turned on their back. Of course wood can be salvaged from any of these to create new or strengthen old pieces. I like using the smaller cabinets and drawers because I do have issues moving and am able to place those without help.
Im going to borrow your ideas...thanks very much x
I live in an area surrounded by trees. TIP: Elevate your raised bed off the ground. I built beds, lined them with 1/4 hardware cloth to keep out burrowing animals and lined it with cardboard and weed cloth. After a few years, I didn't understand why my crops weren't growing so well until I discovered a massive network of tiny roots...from the trees. I was feeding the trees and they loved my amendments and water.
I cleaned out a cold frame filled with tiny roots and sifted and saved the soil. I put the cold frame on a pallet and lined the bottom with boards, leaving some cracks for drainage. I reconstituted the soil and planted 3 sisters -- corn, beans and squash. The plants flourished and grew beautifully. In the winter, I plant garlic and everything grows really well. I have a couple more raised beds that need the same treatment.
Our electric company was clearing trees that were too close to the electric lines that run on the backside of my property. I asked if they could cut the trees to 8’ lengths and used them to make my raised beds. 3 8’ logs per bed with one being cut in half for the 4’ sides. I stopped at 4 new beds. When I told them what I was doing they offered to dump the chipper machine for me too.
That’s awesome. Lucky you! Woods expensive and natural wood is always best!
Amen!
Brilliant!
Hey, any chance your raised beds worked out and if so could you possibly walk me through how you did it? In a pinch and looking to start growing asap but I'm off to a late start and trying to make sure I do it right.
Or if you could just point me In the right direction to a channel or something that could help it would be greatly appreciated
The 12 mistakes: do not start with a poor soil mix; use a good quality soil mix; keep amending your soil, add at least an inch of compost each year; face your garden bed south for the most sun; generously mulch your garden bed with grass clippings, leaves, and cardboard; spacing your garden beds at least two or three feet apart from each other; label your garden plants; the size of your raised garden bed should be three feet wide by eight feet long by at least six to eight inches high; use good materials to build your garden bed; regularly water your plants; use cold frames and hoop house to extend the growing season.
So much wrong with this list its hilarious
@Eli Manningnot wrong, rather say that they are generalised points really - viewers realise eight foot long beds won't be possible for everyone. Not all of us have the space he has for instance! My two raised beds are one metre square, as i live in a very small dwelling with no proper yard. For my needs they are fine.
and anyone living in the southern hemisphere as we do in Australia will be using north facing sun during winter. Basic common sense.
@@pipfox7834 definitely wrong lmfao
@@elimanning6520 Pretty sure the OP was just summarizing the video for us...
I like Mel Bartholomew's book on Square Foot Gardening , Latest edition. Retired civil engineer who turned his skills to gardening. He recommends 4x4 ft beds, up to 2 beds wide. With 3 ft easement around the beds you can reach in 2 ft from each side. I think this is based on length of leg and extended feet. Two ft easement is too short except for children.
Don't use dirt which has weed seeds and unknown nutrients. Mel's mix contains peat moss to aid drainage, vermiculite to hold water and compost for nutrients. Add more compost annually. Mulching helps retain water and keep weeds out. He uses a grid to section the beds into 1 SG plots and has planting recommendations on how many of each type plant per grid.
Great video! So helpful!
Great tips. Thank you. Stay safe out there.
I loved the tips! Great video and a lot of quality information
I liked your easygoing style. And you spoke slowly so I could catch all the points. I live in Yuma Arizona on 4.27 acres on a well. I have solar but tied into the grid. I want to start growing my own vegetables. Thank you.
Great video. One of the best I have seen. Thank you!
Loved this video thank you!!
Thanks and subbed for: no politics, no prepper crap, no shtf drama. Just pleasant discussion of what you have found works for you.
And no annoying music..😊
Great info!
Great video very informative Thank you
Great tips for us Newbies thank you 😊
Thank you for the info
Thank you! Love your info packed / no judgement approach for this new gardener!
This was really great, thanks so much. Just starting out so all very useful./
Great idea the barrel! Looking forward to your next season
Thanks Nicole!
Great video thanks
I love your video. Thanks and your looking good.
I keep my beds and planters very narrow, 2 feet is the maximum to reach from both sides with my bad arms (tendinopathy, nerve compression). For reference my arm span is around 68 inches
These were very helpful tips! Thank you very much.
Thanks and I’m glad!
Here's another tip: If you are putting your raised bed on ground (as opposed to concrete, etc.) set it on 1/4" square hardware cloth to prevent moles or gophers from getting your plants. 1/4" hardware cloth is galvanized metal screening with 1/4" openings. Place it on the ground, put your frame on it and then fold the screen up the side of the bed to prevent critters from crawling in between the frame and the screen.
If you don't have gophers or moles now, you probably will eventually!
Does that hinder worms and other beneficial critters from getting through?
@@mybuddy187 Jeeze! I don't know where you live, but in my part of the country we don't have quarter inch wide worms... 😄
Seriously, though, No, no problem - but it does keep the moles and gophers out. There are some critters that aren't stopped - I am now dealing with ground squirrels that can climb the sides of the wood framed beds. Going to try some of the metal beds to see if that helps. Meanwhile, I'm having to resort to a pellet rifle.
we made this mistake and have had rat problems every since..they build houses under the garden beds and tunnel to the top and eat our tomatoes..uggggggggg
@@Stevefor1776 There are so many crittersout to get a free lunch there's no way to keep them all out! Every animal can climb into your beds even metal. You'd have to make totaly screened tops to keep it all out. Btw, coons do an awful destruction, especially if it's corn or something they like. They and deer will take a bite out of each thing and destroy the plant while they are at it. The only way to stop all is to make a greenhouse of glass or hardware cloth. It's easier to have a dog and cats to get the rodents.
@@wuznotbornyesterda Too true. My garden is small, a fenced in area roughly 40'x175'. Lots of deer in the area, but none have gotten in during the 34 years we've had it. Neighborhood semi-feral cats patrol it because they are somewhat safe from the coyotes in there. Screened beds keep gophers and moles from attacking from below. But ground squirrels require early morning ambush; raccoons and possums require periodic night long waits, pellet rifle in hand. And STILL most of our grapes feed the critters! 🤣
I appreciate the video…I’m moving to a house with existing planters and have never had to think about which way I’m facing for sun. Thanks Devin! 😀👍
Awesome information, thanks
Welcome and I appreciate it
For #6, you can make basically free labels by cutting strips from empty yogurt bins and marking with a sharpie or other permenant marker.
Milk jugs, tall cottage cheese cartons, laundry det bottles(rinsed real good), anything you can make 1"strips with of stiff type plastic and long enough to poke deep enough and still have room to write on with a sharpie will make great stakes. You can even color code if you wish.
Use an old vinil blind, cut it in pieces, I use different color markers just for fun
For wood; go to a lumber yard (not a big store like Home Depot) and see if they have rejects or drops. The boards might be split or have too many knots or checks, but they will be dirt cheap. Another cheap material for building raised beds is cedar fence pickets.
For a cover crop after the summer harvest; dry beans from the grocery store. Ask if they have any bagged beans that have expired or are damaged. If you're lucky they'll just give them to you. After your last harvest just broadcast plant the beans and water them in. They'll sprout and grow and once winter hits you can turn them under and mulch on top, adding nitrogen to the soil. Or you can pull and compost them as a layer or two of green. You might even grow enough beans for a meal or two.
Awesome tips! Thank you!
Good idea. Beans are cheap to buy and grow, and they are one of the few plants that almost everyone knows how to gather the seeds to keep growing then again from year to year.
@@pershop4950 _😅
Very good odeas
Very nicely done. Thanks for a fine presentation. I'm starting today with my first raised bed. Got some good tips from you...keep up the vids.
You are very welcome. I'm so happy I can help
i use t-posts and chicken wire lined with landscaping cloth to build raised beds . cheapest way ive found so far plus u can have fun with shapes o r go around a tree stump or something that may be in the way.
VERY ENLIGHTENING!!! YOU HAVE SHARED A FEW SUGGESTIONS THAT I HADN'T THOUGHT OF AND MAKE A LOT OF SENSE! I'LL BE TRYING THE HOOGLE CULTURE, MULCHING ON AND OFF SEASON, AND YOUR SPINNING COMPOST BARREL AT LEAST. I'LL TRY TO REMEMBER TO COME BACK AND SHARE MY RESULTS. YOURS IS ONE OF THE FEW VIDEOS THAT MOVES ME TO WRITE 'THANK YOU' IN THE COMMENTS. SO, THANK YOU!!!
I’m so glad I could help you out! Please come back and share how your growing season went!
Good video, I enjoyed it. I learned a lot! Thanks. I would have made some of these mistakes thanks!!
Glad you enjoyed the video!
Great Imfomation keep it up
Thank you!
Good video, points clearly presented. No time wasting. Thanks Devin.
Anytime. Thanks for watching!
I live in the North east and I had no other choice but to place raised beds next to our garage..great harvests 4 th yr in a row. Just do it
That is Good awesome
Thanks for sharing
You the best!
Sustainable Permaculture 👍
Zone 4B no room for error.
Thanks for these tips young man
I’m old in spirit!
I will keep in mind
Good tips.
I’m going to be rewatching a lot of these videos come spring time lol
Thank you! I will be making a bunch of videos come spring :)
Thankyou.
Great video
Thank you so much. Just trying to help fellow gardeners out!
I have been watching a lot of raised bed videos. Your's is very good.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it!
Actually if you know how to build a fertile garden then you know this is Actually horrible advice and nobody should ever try it. All he is doing is screwing people over
Good tips💯
Glad you think so!
Would you recommend also putting a liner on the inside sides of cedar wood? Cedar are naturally more durable but they are so expensive that I want to protect as much as possible to last them even longer. Would you also recommend sealing the cedar with linseed or with a blend of vegetable and citrus oil?
Cinder blocks are a great choice... for the south
Great video! I’m a beginner and this was very thorough and easy to follow! Keep up the great work😊
Came over from Deep South Homestead. Subbed and Liked.
Thank you and Merry Christmas!
Very helpful.
Thank you! I'm trying my best!
@@DevinTheGardener Well, your best is wonderful.
Good comments
Thank you!
You covered it ALL 👍
Very welcome!
thank you so much
You are very welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the video
I’m using skid wood raised on legs. Painting with linseed oil to protect the skid wood. What’s your opinion? I want to put trays at the bottom and fill with stones then leaves and mulch plus top soil.
Didn't know about the stretch marks! Love the video Devin.
Thank you! Hope you are doing well and staying safe!
If watering is inconsistent the fruit shrivels and then splits when hydration is brought back up. Leaves a scar and can infect fruit with rot.
Mwahhhh
Mwahhhh
@@DevinTheGardener how do I tell what hemisphere I’m in?
Good stuff. Thanks, Devin. I didn't see a link to the irrigation system though. Can you add that or tell me where it is?
Yes I can! I’ll add it to the description below!
how about bamboo? Would this be a good material as a lower level filler in a raised bed? I know bamboo takes a while to break down, which makes me wonder.
Great tips! Mulching all year around makes sense and probably why my beds dry out, didn’t know :(
Thank you for the kind works
one important thing though: your plants will need ten inches to two feet clearance from the fresh mulch. Roots do not like coming in contact with fresh organics, as a general rule. I was a bit careless with keeping to the right distance, and now some plants that were thriving have simply died. Overnight.
@@pipfox7834 .
For raised bed on concrete, do I need any cardboard or wood at the bottom if my board bed is open from bottom?
Awesome tips. Thank you! I was going to spend $$ to buy straw for my mulch, but I think I will just use newspaper with grass clippings! Much cheaper.
Newspaper and grass clippings are much cheaper. FREE! Remember straw is still one of the best mulches. Give both a try and let me know!
Does the same apply to plants in your raised beds rather than vegetables?
The biggest raised garden bed mistake is watching videos, reading blogs, etc. they aren't going to teach you anything. I found that the more I watched/read the more confused I became. I finally went to my local garden center told them how big my raised bed was, and I walked out with the correct amount. Today it was filled and planted - so easy.
Thanks for your comment. Filled with what?
great stuff, covering the inner bed with plastic does nothing, I checked my neighbor's beds after 5 years who covered them and both sides have rotten the same, infact the exterior looks better because it has a chance to dry.
What liner can I use for the interior of the bed? Are black plastic garbage bags ok?
Yes black plastic garbage bags are fine if that’s all you have. The only problem is they don’t let excess water drain. A weed preventing fabric is better
Great video! Are there toxins in black medium gauge plastic for lining inside raised veg bed? Thanking you m
@Marie HeaveyBartley black plastic linings inside raised veg beds are to be avoided, I would say. Industrial plastic was never meant to come in contact with fresh produce as its growing, especially with water added to the whole thing.
I have a slight slope does it really matter if it's not leaves with the hight side.. about 3 inches?
Neighbors behind us took down several large Pine Trees because they considered them a threat to falling on their home. Good for them! We benefited as a result by winding up with an area with plenty of sunlight to allow us to attempt a raised garden bed. We got a 4' X 8' X 16.5" bed and the watering grid. I have been looking into this for a while but you told me more than I ever learned from watching many video's and reading several posts as to what to do and what not to do. I learned so much. Thanks for putting out the content! Great information.
Overall very helpful video! I live in the desert so the leaves/grass clippings type mulch isn’t an option here as my neighborhood is all rock and sand/cacti lol. Looking @ some other free sources. And I actually had to do the opposite of the location you recommended bc last year, placing at north facing absolutely killed everything even w sun shades up. It was just too hot to have direct sun for more than 4 hours. Everything I have along the west and south fence line did ok but still needed sun shades. #desertproblems lol
Dang. Must be very hot where you live. I find it a constant experiment a garden. Lots to learn!
my plants died last year from the heat wave too
@@ms.pirate aww sorry 😢 it’s a struggle but I’m 2 years in to my garden here in Phoenix AZ and I want to encourage you that it is possible to garden in extreme summer heat! Keep at it, try new approaches, visit local community gardens for pointers or folks at local farmers markets to get tips for your area!
😂 this is my third garden and I still didn't label things!
It's a nightmare but it's alright I'm labeling next time
Did I miss #8 - #12 ?
Wood got even rare and expensive in Germany/Europe. It´s all going to the U.S. because of your building boom.
your "Softwood Lumber Agreements" with Canada from 2006 went down in 2018, after that the U.S. raised tolls on Canadian Wood.
We are planning a paver'd area with a brick raised planter. It wont be more than 3 feet high and will be 40 feet long and I am not sure of the inside width. How deep at the max should I make the soil? I'm thinking its going to take prob. 12 cubic yards of compost and top soil 50/50. We are in Fla. and the bed will have decorative plants. I'm going to put in some vegetables as well with all that space. I need some guidance please.
You can grow root vegetables in 1 ft depth. A friend has 3 ft depth, mostly to avoid getting down very low. You can use cheap straw (bales) to build up the base.
Devin, what are your thoughts on setting down weed cloth before putting the raised bed down? Or just putting weedcloth down inside the raised bed (even if using non-treated cedar).
I’d just put weed cloth down before putting the raised garden bed down. Make sure your raised garden beds are at least 6 inches tall for roots
@@DevinTheGardener Awesome, thanks for the quick reply!
Hi! I have a raised bed along the south of my house, I'm in zone 6a, just below the Canadian border. I don't want to build or buy a permanent greenhouse and I notice at 1:32 in your video you have a frame against your house with plastic hanging. I've checked your other videos and you don't mention it. I'd love more info on how, why, and what you think of the results? Thanks! Hope you see my comment.
I live in the same area a little more south.. welcome neighbor ! I notice he doesn't reply
Any tips for treating the soil for disease/fungi before planting ?
Mix 4 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. This gets rid of most fungis and diseases in the soil and on plant leaves.
Don't use dirt. You'll get weeds, suboptimal drainage and nutrition for plants. Use Mel's Mix formula (Square Foot Gardening book) or check with local nursery for recommendations on building soil for raised beds.
The picture you show in the video of a bed with irrigation, is that the same system as in the link you provided for irrigation?
I don’t think so but I can recommend some great brands
Please do!
How far from my house when the planting area is on the north side of the house do you plant the raised bed? I have been trying to find this out.
Observe every hour for a 8-10 hour period if there is sun or shade in the area you want the veg garden. You need atleast 6 hours of sun but 10-12 is best. No matter where you live. Ithe only thing I consider is where the tallest plants are.. because they will shade other crops or flowers.
I'm new to gardening in Newark, Delaware and just purchased two 4'×8'x1' galvanized raised beds.
I'm thinking using a stainless grid bottom to prevent moles, voles, and gophers, not that I have them , but to prevent them if they come around. Then, some cardboard and organic materials over top of that.
Then fill with maybe 1/3 top soil, 1/3 compost, and 1/3 perlite.
I here that rotating crops is a must, but hearing mixed feelings about that. As in farmers, it's a must, but not so much for home gardening to be an issue for crop rotation.
I was just wondering your opinion on my thoughts on the raised bed prep and rotation methods I'm speaking about.
You have done your research! It’s a perfect plan. With the stainless grid it will stop any pests but allow roots to grow through it. If you choose to rotate your crops go with a simple beans, roots, greens, fruits rotation. The garden plans sound awesome. Do you have any requests for a video I should make anwering any questions?
Also, I've heard some say they add peat moss to the mix.
Would peat moss be a good option, and if so, how would I balance that into the mix.
With a 4'x8'x1' raised bed, that is 32 cubic ft.
60% top soil
30% compost
10% potting mix
That's what I will do.
Thanks for your advice.
Dan
if putting boxes on top of grass, should you put plastic on the bottom?
You don't have to. Cardboard boxes are fine by themselves. It will suppress the weeds for the most part. I'd remove plastic off the boxes as well before laying them down. Ask any questions you want! I'd be happy to help
For the direction of the bed, do you point the short or the long side to the north/south?
It really dont mattter as long as the tallest dont shade the sun loving plants. Corn or pole beans etc on the north backside.
I guess i should add... or unless u have a spring crop which u will be needing a little shade in the summer. I plant my sweet peas to the north of corn. The corn isnt tall enough early spring to block my peas sun but shades it for a summer harvest.
@@katholderbaum7950 Great information! Thanks for helping the community out
Mr. Landscape irrigation is cheaper and great. Lowes carrys it or order on line
Remember Jack and the Beanstalk; even a magical garden, when poorly planned, can go awry, very much awry.
Can you use the weeds you pull from your garden as compost? My land has no grass but a LOT of weeds.
You can use it as compost as long as the pile gets to 140*F or hotter. That will kill all the weeds. If not then when you use the compost then the weeds will germinate
If compost doesn't get hot enough you risk introducing weed seeds into garden beds. I wouldn't do it.
My husband labeled using these plastic sticks. He used a sharpie but the rain washed it all off! This year we call it surprise salad gardening.
Lol that keeps its exciting!
I did that with my peppers this year. I’ve bit into a few and had a surprisingly hot experience!
@@DevinTheGardener next year I’m going to do a drawing so just in case at least we have some idea! Watch them peppers! They can be pretty tricky!
Did Galaxy paint those spray paint paintings ?
I got them in Mexico many years ago. I walked past someone spray painting them and selling them at a market and it blew my mind. Such a talent! Which one is your favorite on the wall behind me?
you didnt leave a link to the drip irrigation
Can we add sugarcane waste after its juice is extracted
Hi Devin, I was given two 50 pound bags of rice bran. I heard they are nitrogen rich. However, the two bags have weevils in them. Is it alright to ammend my soil with the rice weevil infested rice bran? If you suggest getting rid of the weevils, what do you suggest I do? Thanks.
Weevils are extra nitrogen
@@kathynix6552 yup
Ok. I don’t have one plant in the ground yet. Here are my mistakes!
- we bought vinyl 4x4 beds from Costco. The inside dimension is 44” the corners reduce that size even further. We may need to either use soaker hoses, make our own drip grids or pre-made cornerless drip grids might work. I will call them tomorrow before ordering them.
- we forgot to put the wire mesh at the bottom.
- the beds are several feet from our back fence (south). They might get a bit of shade. We are in central OK so that might be ok.
- we bought “garden soil from our local yard materials supplier. It has 1/3 compost, 2/3 sandy loam topsoil and 3% gypsum. I added a big bag of perlite and a bale of peatmoss. I think I will top it off with more compost at each planting location and also mix in some espoma garden fertilizer. Hopefully that will get the microbes growing.
Thanks for your video! This is going to be quite the experience!
Good luck Sharon! You will do great!
I'm using free shipping pallets for my gardens
That’s a great choice!
can I buy compost from the hardware store? we have a fly problem and we cant have a compose system
Yes you definitely can. If you buy from a hardware store buy different types of compost such as sheep manure, cattle manure, sea compost, etc. Make sure they are different varieties then combine them!
Hi Devin,
I'm living in north africa. Summer is extremely hot (can peak at 49 degree celsius) and even Winter started to become like Spring (29 degrees in December when it used to be below 10 degree celsius).
I have created what we can call "lowered bed" kind of trenches using an excavator and filled it with good soil. However my knees and my parents can't work with it.
My original thought was: in hot region mybe it is better to have things lower and in contact with soil.
Now that I'm going back to the idea of raised bed, I'm concerned about temperature.
I'm worried that these beds will lock up heat inside and not let it escape.
Heated soil is the worst thing I can imagine.
Any recommendation, or am I overestimating the temperature factor ?
In Australia they "invented" wicked beds. In the bottom is a separate layer which holds water and it moves up tru capillary action. Those raised beds use less water to grow plants and I think when the ground keeps moist overheating gets reduced. So this might be a solution for your situation.
What about hoops? But instead of plastic in the winter, use white cloth for shade? And keep it open ended for any breeze to get through
Also thick mulch
The wicking beds are good technology, but there's already great soil underneath... is flooding a concern? It's not as simple as it sounds, of course, but maybe you could build a sunken path as an alternative. Would be easier if your land is sloped to begin with.
How can I keep tree roots out of my raised beds.
Would you say building the bed on top of rock is necessary for drainage?
No it isn’t. Your better off putting on soil for deep rooted crops and throwing vermiculite or perlite into your soil for drainage and aeration! Let me know if you have anymore questions.
Do you use netting over the garden to keep out rabbits, deer, birds, etc?
I will be this year! I haven’t in the past but I’m trying it this year. I’ll be making a video on the results!
my garden bed has 4 sides it faces all directions. That Tip 3 is very confusing
All my transplants (squash and cucumbers) are all dying. I just transplanted them about a week ago. What am I doing wrong? I mixed quality potting soil with compost and manure.
Did you transplant them outside or into bigger indoor pots?
In my raised beds outside
@@DevinTheGardener where are you located? is it too cold there?
If you mulch the soil, how do you plant next season? I guess you would have to remove all the mulch and plan seeds?
Each season you should rotate your bed. At the spring use a shovel to turn the dirt over and then plant. Mulch after plants start to grow. Then in the fall turn the soil again and mulch for winter. Best things we have used for mulch is straw at the start of the season and leaves at the fall.
I usually rack up the mulch and throw it into my compost pile to feed my garden the following season. You can alternate garden beds if you have the room and time
I think you can just use a rototiller and turn it under. If you're in a place where it snows, you may prefer snow as your winter compost.