5 Raised Bed Mistakes That Ruin Your Garden

Don't let these 5 raised bed mistakes ruin your garden! Learn how to prevent them, keep your garden in top shape, and maintain thriving raised beds that produce tons of veggies.
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DIGITAL TABLE OF CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:14 Mistake #1: Growing in poor soil
01:22 Mistake #2: Building raised bed too wide
02:15 Mistake #3: Not mulching
02:56 Mistake #4: Not growing vertically
04:11 Mistake #5: Incorrect bed placement
Music: TrackTribe- Boardwalk
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[@CaliKim29]

Which of these mistakes have you made in your raised beds? Thanks for gardening with us! -CaliKim & CameraGuy 🌻SALE: 25% off CaliKim Seed Collections, Garden Kits and my garden books with code “MAYGARDEN”, calikimgardenandhome.com. Ends 5.3.24.

[@PrettyGirl-225]

Good afternoon Calikim & chat.

[@willdryer1625]

I LOVE YOU CALI KIM THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING TIPS ILYYY❤❤❤

[@CaliKim29]

Hi ya', Will! You are so welcome and welcome to the channel! In case you may or may not know...I livestream every Monday 12pm PT. You can interact with me, other gardeners and SmartPot and Monterey Lawn & Garden team for questions and the like!! (you can always catch the replay, as well) GREAT to have you!!! CaliKim

[@alexandrahaag8914]

I too have recently been coming back from not keeping up with the channel. I can only speak for myself, but I enjoy videos where you are in the dirt, or ripping out old plants, I enjoyed the cleaning and the small tasks we have to do daily. Gardeners don’t need crazy cool shots or elaborate video ideas, we just want to hang with our friend in her garden ❤

[@CaliKim29]

I understand, and glad to have you back. I find your comment particularly interesting. I can tell where in my video people click off and stop watching ... a lot of the times it's during seed planting, tearing out plants, and or digging, etc. My video view count took a hit but, these are the same shots you like. I found myself in a conundrum.... I've shortened the working clips where people stop watching (the ones you like - I'm not blaming you for liking those, etc). I'll try to find a middle ground? I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this, if you don't mind? Good food for thought, thank you so much!! Kim

[@radolfkalis4041]

I plead guilty to the woody bagged soil from HD. I offset that by putting in alfalfa pellets, and amend as needed. Mulching is a must here in Phoenix, as our summers regularly hit 117. I mulch with either straw or woodchips, and water with ollas. I have to fill them Mon, Wed, and Fri, and in the heat of summer, sometimes on weekends. It is hot enough here that the tubing for a drip system would probably have to be replaced every summer, so that was a no go. Great advice all around, I have followed you for a while now, thanks for all you do!

[@CaliKim29]

Well, I appreciate the honesty, I gotta' say!!! I cannot imagine gardening in those temps!!!! Oh my goodness thanks for following!! I truly appreciate and am thrilled to have you!!! I'm not too sure if you do this or not, but could you also please click the thumbs up button under the videos watch? This truly helps my channel!! You are busy out there, keep it up!!! Jump on my livestream every Monday 12pm PT. Been doing it for 10 years now! You may enjoy it! Keep Growin' CaliKim

[@susanschuck8124]

Great advice and thank you!

[@CaliKim29]

You are so welcome! Thank you for watching and hopefully subscribing/clicking the thumbs up button, Susan!!! Kim

[@roxannetracy2931]

Hi! I received my compost sack! Smartpots are an awesome brand. I've already started composting in it!! Thank you again!!❤❤❤❤

[@CaliKim29]

Wonderful! Yes, they are fantastic - we all enjoy working together that's for sure. Enjoy the compost sack, and we'll see you on our next livestream. You never when and what we'll give away next! Thanks for being a subscriber - CaliKim

[@LoveMyCoffee10]

Thank you Kim! I LOVE your videos, your valuable info has been so helpful! Blessings

[@CaliKim29]

You are so welcome! I am so glad to hear this! I sure hope you have subscribed and clicked on the like button under the video - I like your positivity and your energy ! Very much appreciated. Where are you and what are you growing? CaliKim

[@LoveMyCoffee10]

Thank you Kim, I’m from the Northeast. I am in the process of purchasing Elevated (4 Ft High) Wooden Beds. You gave me good advice on the type of wood, 😂. I want to plant Cherry Tomatoes, Onions, Red Peppers , Eggplants & many Herbs. I’m very excited as I’ve never gardened before. I plan to separate the herbs & veggies in their own beds.

[@CaliKim29]

VERY GOOD!! Sounds exciting. Take it slow and easy...mistakes are allowed and keep it light and fun. And, DO, keep us posted. You may find my weekly livestreams and playback, on Mondays 12 PT helpful. We've been doing these lives 10 years now and it's a fun, helpful tight little group. We have SmartPots and Monterey Lawn/Garden folks available to questions in that chat. Check it out live or a playback. You might find it helpful and encouraging. Love your account name, too, btw!!! CK

[@jaytoney3007]

Mistake number one should be not using hardware cloth to proof them against gophers and voles. I lost a kohlrabi and a half dozen carrots do to cat damage from digging, but it got the vole that ate my potatoes and peas. The sacrifice of a few plants is worth it. Where there is one vole, there are hundred-not kiding. I am continuing my three prong defense, four hungry cats, vole repellent, and sonic stakes. Next on my arsonal list is caster oil. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that.

[@CaliKim29]

Love what you are doing there! Keeping it all in balance and flow - GREAT job - CaliKim LOL caster oil - I saw that.

[@ambarleyva1249]

Can I have mulch on the floor where I put the garden bed on top of?

[@tutortani]

Like 276. ❤❤❤❤❤ Good video. I like watching it. Hope you always have a happy day. 5.24 ❤❤❤❤❤

[@CaliKim29]

Thank you! You too! CK

[@miss8blu]

I have to say . . . . i love this channel until late last year when every sentence seemed to end with "buy my ..." I started tuning out because I felt like I was buying a car not growing veggies .... but you've slowed down on the sales pitch and that has drawn me back to your videos CaliKim ... Whether it was an intuitive move or on purpose .... Good to see your back to "soft" sales ....way more enjoyable content, thank you

[@CaliKim29]

I so appreciate how you went about this comment and I respect that so much. Thank you for your honesty and for being so respectful about it. I was in a bit of a rut last year - and I concur with you. Beginning of this year, Cameraguy, who is my husband, and I, had a brainstorming session/evaluation of our formats, etc., and made some changes. I am grateful for your comment, and your honest heart about it all. Nice to have you back. Kim

[@ambarleyva1249]

Can I use black mulch?

[@priscillagriffith2904]

Love it, but a have a green house because of deers and more what can you give me.

[@CaliKim29]

Thank you. I'm givin' all I got - what can you give my channel and viewers? CK

[@user-he7wx8eg3o]

What type of drip irrigation do you use? Where do you get it?

[@CaliKim29]

DIG Products - Home Depot. CK

[@robinh5347]

Hi CaliKim, I bought some crappy soil from my local landscaping store. I tried to amend it with compost & worm casting but it's still crappy soil. What can I do to fix it because it was expensive "organic" junk.

[@CaliKim29]

That is such a bummer, so sorry to hear. Just a thought...get a Soil Test Kit and do a soil test. Eliminate the unknowns.. Before making any changes, it's crucial to understand what's lacking in your soil. A soil test will reveal pH levels, nutrient deficiencies, and other factors influencing soil quality. Many local agricultural extension offices offer soil testing services. When you get your results back, you address what your soil is lacking. Let me know what you do ! CK

[@kelliechristenson686]

Are pine tree trunks ok to put in the bottom of the bed?

[@CaliKim29]

My thoughts...Pine wood contains resinous substances that can take longer to decompose which could affect the soil pH over time. Additionally, the decomposition process may temporarily tie up nitrogen in the soil as microorganisms break down the wood. Once the wood decomposes (I don't know how long that would be) it can improve soil structure and provide nutrients to plants. I hope this helps in your decision. Please click the like button on the video and subscribe if you have not already! - thanks for watching and commenting - CaliKim

[@kelliechristenson686]

@@CaliKim29 Yes this helps a lot! Thank you!

[@user-he7wx8eg3o]

You always grow in plants do you ever grow into the ground?

[@CaliKim29]

No, I plant in the ground, as well. CK