5 Raised Bed Garden Mistakes to Avoid

Starting a raised bed garden can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Still, there are some common mistakes even experienced gardeners can make. Before planting, here are five raised bed garden mistakes to avoid so your gardening journey is successful.
Introduction: 00:00
Mistake one: 00:27
Mistake two: 01:36
Mistake three: 02:53
Mistake four: 03:38
Mistake five: 05:49
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[@guyfronte5378]

In my late 50's and ashamed I know nothing about gardening. I'm reading as much as I can in this my first year of trying to grow veggies and herbs in a raised garden bed and still making all the mistakes you mentioned and more. I started Broccoli, artichoke, squash, onion, green beans, red peppers all from seed and basil, oregano and mint for fun but truly hope at least some of these actually grow. This is such great info, thank you!

[@ronpeterson9055]

Mesa, Arizona, wow. I was born and raised there. Never could get things to grow. After 59 years I've moved to North Carolina. Now I grow everything. But you have good advice.

[@Chemistry727]

I have one bed which I made every single one of these mistakes with 😂. I named it my “bed of disappointment.” It’s for the iitoi onions now.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Love I'itoi onions, they are great to grow just about anywhere!

[@Lbsmith94]

Haha! Sounds like my experience 😂 happy gardening this year!

[@WR_CTorch]

You know, when looking for love in the past, I always sought out a gal with her own fishing boat. I believe I’ll be adding a new addendum to this criteria. She must also have a awesome garden with raised beds. 🤣😜😇

[@smhollanshead]

The five mistakes: Failure to have an overall garden plan; not planning on how to water the garden beds; failing to fill the entire bed with soil; don’t skimp on soil quality; and don’t get the plant timing wrong.

[@anim8torfiddler871]

Just 3 minutes into the video and I am wishing I had seen this decades past. I will recommend your wisdom to friends and strangers! New Subscriber. I have done gardening four different periods over 4 decades, each time for 2 or 3 seasons. Lot of luck, but until the internet matured, ready access to information has been tricky. I have learned lots from books, but books on gardening have not been as helpful as those on many other subjects. *_Grey's Anatomy_* has been a useful book to medical students for generations, for good reasons. Excellent illustrations! Some subjects need Visual information along with the words.

[@tsalagianisahoni6716]

Nice video. Thanks. For those who can't put in drip irrigation, there are ollas, indigenous clay pots for drip irrigation in Phoenix. Am using large gallon plastic cartons instead with a few holes in lower sides planted in the raised beds. Fill them with water and they slowly drip out water.

[@HeadstrongGirl]

We fill the bottom 1/3 of our raised beds every spring with leaf mulch off the flower beds. When it's time to work the soil, we add in the new mulch and turn everything well, bringing the older soil/leaf mixture to the surface and burying the fresher leaves near the bottom. We always amend with some compost and fresh soil too, but honestly, we don't need to add much and leaves are way cheaper than filling the whole thing with soil. We have good harvests every year.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Cucumber like flavor: growinginthegarden.com/how-to-grow-borage-5-tips-for-growing-borage/

[@DavidNoach65]

I’m 9b in Florida. A lot wetter but still your advice works here as well. Thank you

[@donnacochran3335]

Oh my goodness!! How I wish there was someone with such valuable resources here in northeast Georgia. Due to elevation our county is 6a-8a. It's hard to know when to plant. Thank you Angela for your videos. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE ARIZONA!! SUCH A BEAUTIFUL STATE!!

[@danaschultz7832]

I’m in west Georgia and need a garden guru to help me! If only she was here❤️

[@donnacochran3335]

@@danaschultz7832 I agree!!

[@elimanning6520]

​@@danaschultz7832 you either have a green thumb or you dont

[@joshuathompson3325]

I living in San tan/ florence area, you’ve inspired me to start a garden this week!!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

You can do it!

[@mandiesplace]

This year has taught me how much the frost date can change! I live in AZ too, zone 8b and we usually have our last frost mid February…. And there is snow covering my beds today March 3rd 😢 no fun! All my little starts are looking so sad!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Hopefully they will recover. It will be hot soon enough!

[@sarahhoffman2934]

Mine look great today though!

[@kimmieb2u]

This year has been difficult in CA central valley too!! Couldnt believe how long the frosts were this year! Had frosts into April.

[@mandiesplace]

@@kimmieb2u we used to live in the Central Valley! That’s crazy! I think it’s all over the country.

[@kimberlybarton2588]

I bought one of your calendars and LOVE IT. So helpful. Thank you for the awesome videos!

[@thisoneT]

Thank you for putting out great gardening information! I've learned so much from your channel! I'm in zone 10b, so I watch a lot of southern gardeners for what to plant and when 👍🏽

[@Abbybabby29]

Thank you so much!! I’m in Sacramento CA 9b also. I just found your site I’m thrilled!!

[@lindag9975]

Awesome advice! I'm still a relative newbie here in the Phoenix area, and I love the calendar I bought from you. I have started with "portable" raised beds on legs so they could be moved if necessary. My gardener added drip outlets to the beds. But I have the tools now to add more if needed. I've learned the hard way about soil and timing. Shade too. Thanks so much!

[@stephanieray6587]

I honestly didn't think that I would learn anything new but boy was I wrong! Thanks so much for the good advice!

[@mnilsson2704]

Have really good raised beds, do not follow any rules except for soil, but not that expensive stuff she uses, I maje my own.

[@DoctorMeatDic]

Number One: Make all raised beds to waist level, so you don't have to bend down. Most important lesson of all.

[@bgerros]

Great information! I inherited my 2 garden boxes from the previous owner. They had just filled them with ground cover type plants. I pulled them out and have now had several seasons growing a variety of vegatables. However, the size and amount of fruit that comes from my plants is pretty small. I'm thinking your point about the soil is part of it. I have about 6 inches of decent garden soil and then below that is just standard desert dirt and clay. I have started doing in-garden composting. I dig deep into the dirt and dump my gallon jug of composting materials in, then cover it back up. I am hoping this leads to larger vegetables and more abundant harvests.

[@howardchambers9679]

Try using horse manure, activate with urea and cover with used compost. Let the manure age a while before you use it.

[@dandavatsdasa8345]

Great Efforts! Perhaps you are not getting the invasive species in your area as much as in possibly a more damp area. In my area I have a number of invasive species that can climb all over and under a garden bed. For a raised bed I would have to dig out as much as two feet down to make sure that I am blocking out as many invasive species as possible. If not then something needs to be laid down on the bottom of the raised bed that absolutely blocks out invasive species. Even patio bricks may not be adequate since some species can work their way through the cracks. Should wood, metals, or concrete be used for the walls of the raised bed. This choice does make a difference. Get your soil free of toxins and heavy metals. Thank you for your helpful and informative videos!

[@NewDimension7]

Good Afternoon Thanks you for sharing garden tips.

[@happydigging]

Great advice, I use raised beds and really appreciate you sharing your knowledge on this subject! 😊

[@viralprimenetwork]

This is Awesome!! Such great advice and very informative! Thank you for sharing this with us.❤❤

[@therusticranchgarden]

Great info. Soil is the most important for sure. Thank you!

[@sherylwhited7380]

Just ordered a watering grid based on your recommendation - my beds have rounded corners so it’s great that they have cornerless options. Great video - thank you!

[@shirleyk623]

@Sheryl Whited. Ignore above comment. It's a scam. It was removed thank goodness.

[@Doublehacres]

Hi Angela, I look forward to all your videos. You have such great information. I live just north of you in Tonto Basin and its a little cooler up here but not much. We’re in 8b/9 here. I put in those watering grids last season and they worked amazing. I’m getting ready to add a few more beds and will be adding more of them. Happy Gardening. 😊

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

So glad you like the grids. They were a game changer for me.

[@rosenurse7687]

Thank you for sharing! Very educational!

[@KuldaevaWatercolor]

No matter the zone, this video is very helpful for beginner gardeners. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!! 🌱

[@BluebonnetU]

Made a lot of mistakes as a beginner and your video explains vey well about those. Thank you!

[@Thankful_.]

You have a beautiful garden! Thanks for sharing your tips! 😊

[@xcalabur18]

Thank you very much for posting this! It was extremely helpful to me as a beginner gardener

[@rogerspaulding6569]

Thank you for the great info!

[@anapantz]

Very helpful - thank you!

[@queensgarden55]

Thanks so much for information. Will try drip system used last year but different watering system.

[@akwl1263]

Thank you for great info, your content is excellent.

[@unemilifleur]

The whole mistake number five loosely apply here in Canada 😆 we have no grow season and then everything in succession. Usually the earliest after the last frost.

[@luinloriel]

Right? I'm in Calgary, and there's a huge group of us itching to get into the dirt, but know that anything before May long weekend is asking for a snowstorm to kill the crop

[@munirasultana2313]

Loved the tips 💟

[@AmirsAllotment]

Great advice, very informative. I use the same techniques 😊

[@antoniowade3318]

Excellent video, you really are an awesome person. Thank you for what you're doing. Keep it up. Wade Out

[@sharshort3607]

Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

[@mother8576]

Thank you so much for the good information.

[@jonahhernandez3100]

Thank you so much Angela! I’m in central Phoenix and the timing has been the hardest for me to get down. Going on 3 years gardening and I’m still like “can I plant that now?” Cause so many things will grow but the heat will just kill it off. I just ordered your calendars and labels! Thank you so much cause now I’ll have a better chance and won’t spend as much time growing things just to see them suffer lololol

[@qhodges_]

Thank you for sharing

[@susanbowman2054]

Thank you for sharing ❤

[@hobbitlady7568]

Excellent advice

[@AjArpopP52]

Good advice!

[@dougdina]

Thank you. This was very helpful. However, I would assume that, if the material of the raised bed is wood, it will rot and it will rot quickly. I noticed in this video that there was a mix of materials used for the raised bed. I noticed a corrugated material. Is that plastic? I also noticed that it appeared that some RB’s were on gravel or rock. Can you please offer advice relating to wood rot and such? Thank you

[@lwallace3842]

By the way I am new to your site. You share very good content for me as a beginner. Thank you

[@robbyers7614]

I have no clue how I got on this video but I subscribed to your Channel. You give a lot of good information even though I live in Pennsylvania.

[@rbs2303]

Very Good Tips. Thank you. :)

[@ednaofori_antwi2177]

Wow! sister, I love your work

[@SparklyPixieDust1]

New here 😮wish I would have seen this before my first big garden this year. 😅

[@maryland9987]

Thank you so much.

[@carlenekingery8860]

Thank you, Angela, for your great gardening videos. With your advice I think I’ll try a second raised bed and will order those really nice looking drip irrigation systems for the 2 beds I’ll have this year. This has been a cold start this spring in the desert valley near Phoenix.

[@SisterShirley]

Gosh, this channel is so helpful. My only wish would be if this would be tuned to zone 6b.

[@krisbaker9427]

So true!

[@Manmeat7669]

Live in Gilbert need to pick your brain to start a raised beds gardening 😊

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Lots of resources on my blog too: growinginthegarden.com/?s=raised+beds

[@vidyashreevidya7413]

Best indoor and outdoor fertilizer...

[@susanmeadors2733]

I live in Ga! But great info!

[@shirleyk623]

Angela, I really appreciate your videos. You talk without using the word 'umm' all the time. That word is so irritating to me and I've even stopped watching some content creators videos just because of that. Thanks for sharing all your valuable information.

[@wardaldo69]

This year is my 40th yr growing 💗 In water based systems - hydro/dwc pH and nutrient solution temperature are critical In soil - feed the soil & Not the plant 🌱 the plant will do what plants have already done for Trillions of years ❤️👍😎 But they Cannot do that if your soil is 💩☹️🌱☠️ ... It's simple as that,but humans just love to over complicate things in life and growing 🌱 plants is no different 🤔 Keep it Simple 👍😎 If using bottled nutes I'd always recommend using Less than it says on the label , if I read 10ml per litre I'll perhaps go as little as 5ml & see how the plant goes 🌱 ... Any yellowing then I'll increase to perhaps 6 or 7ml per litre & again see how it's going 🌱♥️ ... Always remember companies are interested in money , more nutes used = More products sold = more profit 🤔👍👍 that's basic model for most buisness's 😂

[@jeffreyphillips4182]

I live in Georgia and we get plenty of rain most years so the plants get watered as well as the soil. If it doesn't rain I check daily to see what needs water and what doesn't

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I think that Ill do little hills as raised bed! I think it will help with water etc

[@eigleenalegri2664]

I agree.. It's overkill expensive though you don't have to stoop or squat. Wood rots and raised beds need more water. Rodents nest in them. The soil info is good. But why have a poor first year after building raised beds? How did civilization have agriculture throughout history without big box stores to go to to buy all that stuff?

[@weerabbit50]

Love your videos and gardening wisdom. After our upcoming move to Menifee, CA, we plan to create a raised bed garden in an area of about 750-1,000 sq. feet. You mentioned that Southern Arizona is in Zone 9B. Menifee comprises both 9A and 9B. Is there any major difference of what will grow best between 9A & 9B. Thanks for everything you share with us.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Zones give us some information, but not all. You may have other options if you don't have extreme heat. Your best bet will be to find a local planting guide if possible.

[@jacobhenry5945]

Love your channel, just found it as I get ready to begin designing my backyard and garden in Vegas - will plants that work for 9b work for 9a? Trying hard not to reinvent the wheel 😅

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Very similar - keep an eye on your frost dates.

[@travisevans7502]

farmers almanac is handy but planting times are way off in my area for 90% of what I grow if I went by farmers almanac recommendation I would not have much success fortunately I was obsessed with doing research when I first started 6 years ago and figured this out before using these suggestions for seed starting and planting in ground it may be correct in other locations but not in Western Washington

[@loverlyredhead]

It's wrong for me, too. I'm in Texas. For the spring plantings, it wants nearly everything from seed and transplanted. I can direct sow most everything (including cherry tomatoes).

[@thedebbieadams]

I would love more information on your worn bucket

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Love them, here's more info: growinginthegarden.com/vermicomposting-made-easy-in-bed-worm-composting/

[@annettecollazocomito]

Angela, Thank you for sharing, I am curious how do you add a insect netting on a carbonized raise bed?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I don't

[@craftylady3129]

Thank for your videos. I live in Goodyear Az. My biggest problem is watering here. How much water and how often to do. Do you have a video on this? Where do you get the grow bags? Never seen them.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Here's a video about watering: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5TVg4qCn52Lqtk The grow bags are available here: click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=dCEAZelUoHc&mid=982&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gardeners.com%2Fbuy%2Fgardeners-best-jumbo-potato-grow-bag%2F8589787.html

[@sammyelliott5554]

Great info for us just getting started. Question: Does city water with all the chlorine in it kill the microorganisms that feed the plants? I’m thinking of a catchment system from the gutters.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

That's a great idea. I just installed a large rain barrel as well.

[@lauraeldridge6899]

Hi Angela, I am from Tucson.. When planting seeds like squash. The recommended soil temperature is 60 degrees. Is this daytime or night time temperature? How important is temperature when planting in the low desert.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

This is soil temperature. Use a soil thermometer to check the temperature. (I use this one from Amazon amzn.to/2Hgxczm ) Soil temperature is important no matter where you live. Seeds germinate best at their preferred soil temp.

[@berenicesarabia2544]

Hi Angela, thank you for this info, getting ready to start my garden here in the high desert of Hesperia, Ca. I wanted to know what app do you use to make your garden planning??

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I've used a few different ones, haven't settled on one I love yet. This is one I use www.smartdraw.com/garden-plan/garden-design-layout-software.htm

[@berenicesarabia2544]

@@GrowingInTheGarden thank you😊

[@hitreset0291]

The beez kneez of raised garden beds has to be the 'wicking garden bed' ~ think bath tub with a fill and a drain point (a tad too simplistic but helps with the visual). Basically its primary advantage is with your plants, not you, and their individual watering needs, not your ability to guess when your plant need watering. Lotsa different sites to learn from. Grows heaps of veggies under less stress than most ~all~ alternatives.

[@srqpdq6697]

#6 not realizing that the expensive wood raised bed rots out quicker than you think....

[@Yinyanchant]

I'm in Scotland. Thats my watering system in place😅☂️

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Ha! Love it, send some my way!

[@williamtodd4032]

"I live in Mesa Arizona. And we are in zone Hotter Than Hell" :)

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Ha! Exactly!

[@ms.pirate]

May I ask. Have you ever had any failures with you're garden? Its not a hate comment, I just wanna know if I ever run into an issue were I do the exact same steps, but one or two of my plants don't make it for some reason

[@adtsetful]

Hi! I'm in Phoenix and just can't grasp the composting idea. I even bought a compost bin that rolls. How do you get the right stuff in it to make it break down as it should?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Here's a video with more information: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nH3FlIOrqdyon6c

[@tammymanuel9158]

With this crazy weather lately her in southern Az, when would be a good time to start seeds? I am, i just dont want to do it too soon because of the cold/freezing weather.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Check your soil temps - they are a good indication. You can learn more in this blogpost: growinginthegarden.com/spring-gardening-in-arizona/

[@TravelsandTravails]

My biggest mistake was not lining the bottom of the bed with hardware cloth. I lost nearly everything to gophers and had to dig them back up to install hardware cloth!

[@takyrica]

Good to know! Thanks for sharing.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Good tip, thanks!

[@annabyerly1386]

How wide is your raised bed. I have 8ft x 4ft x 16 inches high. I am 5' tall and reaching middle of this bed is little difficult. I've noticed others in community garden have smaller raised beds e.g. 2'x2' or 4'x2'. Even 8ft x 3ft I imagine it feels more comfortable.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Most of my beds are 4 feet wide. I am close to 6 foot tall, so it's probably easier for me to reach inside. Do what is best for you.

[@daniurka16]

I love your guides but I live in zone 9a how different would it be if I want to buy your guides?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Similar - frost date might be a little different, but close.

[@thegrowinggardener]

I have some raised beds on a hill slope… do drip hoses and grids HAVE to be level to distribute even watering pressure? (I.e. will they water too much down hill and not at all on the upper slope?)

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

The grids definitely have to be level within each bed. Other forms of drip irrigation may be fine on a slope, you would want a slow application to avoid runoff before it can be absorbed.

[@edwinlipton]

Less talk more action. GET ON WITH IT! You missed one,,, RODENT PROTECTION!

[@putinhynes3848]

How do you keep those structures from rusting. At my nursery they are all rusted.

[@FriendlySeal]

Hey! What garden planner app is that? It looks really helpful

[@5732855]

THATS WHAT IM SAYING PLEASE ANYONE!!!

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

www.smartdraw.com/garden-plan/garden-design-layout-software.htm

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

www.smartdraw.com/garden-plan/garden-design-layout-software.htm

[@lieseambrose3461]

Good Evening from Tucson. I have peat moss. Is that the same as coconut coir? I also have organic soil and perlite. I also have potting soil. Do I mix all together. I do not have compost. Any advice would help tremendously!! ❤️⚘️🍅🌽🥒🥦🥕

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Peat moss is similar to coconut coir - use what you have and mix it together aiming for no more than 1/3 of any ingredient. Aim to add compost as the soil level goes down.

[@lieseambrose3461]

@GrowingInTheGarden ...Thank You So Very Much!! I have to admit, I do enjoy your videos, especially the ones about protecting plants from the weather. Nobody knows our weather system better than us Arizonians. You Rock !! Keep them videos coming. Lol. Have a Wonderful Blessed Day!! ❤️⚘️🥕🥦🥒🌽🍅🫑

[@lieseambrose3461]

Good Evening Angela!! This is Tucson. I have another question, can potatoes grow in Styrofoam container?? All My grow bags are taken up with other plants. Just curious. I have some red potato pieces that hare slowly growing some sprouts. Thank You for all Your Garden Wisdom!! 😁🫑🍅🥒🥦🥕⚘️🌾

[@glammedbynatalia]

Can I grow cool crops on hot day on shaded area? Meaning where is not direct sun?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

The outside temperature and daylight hours still affect the crops.

[@spicydragonz]

It part 4, what is the name of that tool that moves soil?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

I use a feed scoop amzn.to/3M8jEbQ

[@oldhenri]

❤

[@lwallace3842]

I live in California how do I find out which zone I live in

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/

[@LuckyTown77]

"Professor of Rock" ... could be your brother.

[@doreenwasick5924]

My problem is the water is running out of the bed. I had the spaghetti type of drip and it’s only watering on one half. But the water is running straight out of the bed. 😢😢 When I hand water that doesn’t happen. What’s causing this? My beds are 4’ x 12’ and are 28” tall. I have the bottom filled with wood and some native soil. I missed the garden soil with perlite but didn’t know about coconut core.

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

That can happen when the soil dries out or if the it's watering too quickly. You may have to experiment with different timing to get it right.

[@doreenwasick5924]

Thanks! We ordered those minute watering things you mentioned. They look like they will soak a more consistent area. Those spaghetti ones we have just hit a small area every 6”. 😄

[@doreenwasick5924]

@@GrowingInTheGarden We got the minute watering system you recommended and I love it. We are still working on learning the length of time to water but the soil is so nice and moist. It's still leaking out the bottom but not much at all. We are only watering 5 min 2x a day. We are thinking when the heat really kicks in that this will probably need to be increased. The amount that's leaking out is small. Since we already had plants in it was a little tricky installing but for the most part it worked. I think next season it will be even better!

[@hl10gg]

Can beds be filled with 100% compost?

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

You can, but will have better success if you add in a few other things to improve the moisture retention and friability. growinginthegarden.com/best-soil-for-raised-bed-vegetable-gardening/

[@phonymontana4254]

👨‍🌾

[@bartwilloughby2909]

What if you Never ever Freeze 🥶

[@harleyv1969]

I get a F- 😔😁

[@GrowingInTheGarden]

Then you've learned a lot. Don't give up!

[@scotttousey227]

Soil watering and good seeds

[@TP-es1pf]

haha. Yeah or 2b….