4 Raised Bed Mistakes You Definitely Want to Avoid in Your Garden

Raised beds offer tons of advantages, but they are an investment (and really hard to move once they're installed). So do as I say, and don't make these 4 common mistakes when planning, building, and installing your raised beds. I've made ALL these mistakes so you can avoid them after you've watched this video.
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[@C3Voyage]

Mistake #5: What do you fill with. I think that would have capped it off nicely.

[@theproperty541]

100% agree

[@user-jn9rj7hm6u]

for elderly gardeners, wheelchairs even should fit in the spaces left in between, even as a preventive measure for accidents (traffic, risk sports/work...)

[@Momcat6]

Such great info, thank you! I'm a long time gardener and bed height has definitely become more important as I get older.

[@user-jn9rj7hm6u]

my motorbike pants already have knee protectors for kneeling down gardening which proves to be quite usefull, just that they get dirty each time - would have to wrap up their knees w/ protective foil...

[@carlaadams1386]

Will try your suggestions

[@ninas4968]

Thank you ! 😊 🪴

[@user-jn9rj7hm6u]

i made the walls just from wet clay soil layer by layer dried up in the sun once in position all around them.

[@melissaschloneger9902]

I would add another mistake: putting your beds over large mature tree roots. The roots invade the nice soil of your garden and steal nutrients and get in the way of root development. My carrots were the most amazingly misshapen things - looked like a horror show

[@aussiebushgirl1829]

That’s a valid observation. Thank you!

[@user-jn9rj7hm6u]

i'll even NIVELATE my raised beds by refilling their paths between them, because they won't serve for E CUTURE due to the recommended distance of about 40cm below soil of the magnetized installations. although raised beds quite interesting for wheelchair gardeners or visitors !

[@hoosierpreppingnurse]

Opinions please. I used the old castle corner blocks for my raised beds. I put a rebar down the center to help hold the blocks in place. One of the beds has the dirt pushing the boards out on an 8 foot side. It is on a slight slant. My plan is to level the dirt under the concrete wood and blocks of the bed more. Reset the blocks. Do a wood down the side of the bed across the center of it. Maybe put a wood strip across the corners.

[@Gardenabundance]

Put an extra support on each side of the 8 foot sides. Even if it’s just a steak on either the outside of the bed wall to hold it in, or a steak on the inside attached to it. I’ve had the same problem with longer beds, and it’s just too much space for the dirt push out on. Hope that helps.

[@bettyc4345]

Love your videos. What kind of soil mixture do you use for raised bed?

[@Gardenary]

Here's an article: www.gardenary.com/blog/how-to-start-a-garden-part-6-filling-with-soil

[@joniboulware1436]

Interesting that there was no mention of the ribbed steel beds that are so popular now.

[@timothyalanogrady]

Hello new to the channel like it so much we hit the like and subscribed. Thank you for taking the time to share this video. Was very educational. Enrolled in your website

[@timothyalanogrady]

We do aquaponics and some raised grow beds. Are well

[@Gene-kl1br]

Your definition shows high nutrients in your soil . So i will listen to you and subscribe. You would truly like my garden n Green houses .

[@user-rk3dg7hb9h]

@Gardenary We build 4 6x10ft beds all connected in a step-like pattern up a hill.. Now, I'm regretting it because I don't know how to fill them the gardenary way. We have a dirt walkway down the middle of each bed that we don't plant in so we plant in a u shaped manner. Should we leave it be, split them into 8 4x6ft beds, or what should we do about them?

[@CoenCoenNL]

Galvanized metal is really the only material to consider if you're serious about growing, unless you have the money and desire to want to replace your expensive pretty wooden raised beds every couple of years, or God forbid, use chemicals to protect the wood every year.

[@itsGINA11]

We have dozens of old pavers from the previous owners, can those be used for a kitchen garden or is that unsafe for food?

[@user-jn9rj7hm6u]

wheelbarers should be able to pass in the space left between garden beds

[@sn232]

Where did you get your stick trellis at 8:04 in the video? If you made it, do you have a video showing how to make it? If you bought it, do you have a link? Thank you :)

[@Gardenary]

No link, sorry. That trellis belonged to the client. It's a teepee trellis that we collapsed for the peas so it would take up less soil space

[@LilDebCakes]

Do you have any issues with rabbits in the shorter beds? If so, whats your solution? I've used chicken wire at the top to keep them from jumping in and digging a nest 😂

[@Gardenary]

I had a rabbit jump into 24-inch beds in Chicago but not here. Garden mesh can deter them

[@tanyaraz]

What do you use for irrigation?

[@Gardenary]

I recommend drip irrigation. Here's a post on how to set up your own: www.gardenary.com/blog/how-to-set-up-a-super-simple-irrigation-system-for-raised-garden-beds

[@andrewsmith6695]

What were you staining the wood with?

[@chooseanamazinglife]

That’s what I need to know too- can you give us a link please?

[@elizabethtaylor2255]

You don't have everything covered to keep squirrels out. Is there something else you do to keep everything safe? I'd love to not have to cover mine if that's possible. Nice video.

[@Gardenary]

Squirrels are an issue because there's a wooded area behind the garden space. The raised beds in the back get more shade, and those are the sacrificial plants for the squirrels. I could definitely cover if I wanted to. I've found surrounding my garden with the native plant/pollinator garden helps keep them out when those plants are full

[@TheTruthShallPrevail888]

Are there combos of veggies that you will grow in a bed? And what are your spacing rules in a bed when planting these combos in bed?

[@Gardenary]

We just try to plant a wide diversity of things. We do something called intensive planting, which means we pack in a lot of plants. I talk more about it in my book Kitchen Garden Revival :)

[@Jan-lb2sf]

The higher the bed it costs a fortune to make them and fill them

[@joniboulware1436]

Yes, but that can be mitigated in part with using logs branches and other material that can decompose. Then the rest is a one time cost. After the first year another 2 inches of compost can be added as it will settle. It is worth that initial cost.

[@aussiebushgirl1829]

Please don’t use timber or logs. The best space filler is bales of straw, lasagne’d with organic materials that help with decomposition and nutrients. Each planting season you’ll need to top up the level with compost, as last season’s soil level will sink as the materials break down. Easy fix.

[@patriciamoran9143]

​@@aussiebushgirl1829why not logs? I've been taught to use fallen branches from trees

[@elegantrebelhomestead]

Logs are great. Full of micorrhizal hyphae spores which are fabulous for nutrient transfer over time.

[@apurviasharma963]

Another Mistake: poor placement of raised beds

[@winniejack2492]

I know this is a business for you but who can afford to have a garden with the prices you charge. I’m here for the free info and that’s the truth. I’m trying,g to feed my family not buy over priced designer garden.