5 Steps to Prepare Raised Beds For Spring Planting! 🌱🌿🌱 // Garden Answer

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[@BettyWhiteJr]

I honestly can’t think of a more happy, peaceful, or positive way to start each day than these videos. In a world full of crazy, this is just the best source of beauty and peace 😊

[@vickieyoung7122]

I agree .....great positive way to begin the day and so much helpful info...it's a win all the way !

[@jurettascott5705]

Well Spoken I don't like watching TV anymore but I love the outdoors too and her vids help me to see what is good to help me once I really get to put to practice!! Simply Amazing job ☺️

[@SoilandMargaritas]

I AGREE 100%

[@loribethartist6353]

I agree- Carolina girl, I live in East Tennessee and we just bought a cabin in Franklin, NC. So maybe we are neighbors! 😆

[@alicemarks2258]

Agree, I feed my dogs then I get my cup of coffee and enjoy .

[@heatherkennedyeden8178]

Things you probably thought you’d never say “I’m not a manure expert.” :) Great tips, thanks, Laura!

[@livinginbliss]

Hahaha that made me laugh too!

[@jimlight6952]

Many, many years ago my wife bought our two boys each a set of toy garden toys, a shovel, hoe and yard rake, none made of plastic. The yard rake is about 7 inches wide and I found that it worked excellent cleaning out our flower beds in the spring. Being metal they have lasted at least 30 years. I found another one last year while shopping so I bought it. I have replaced the short handles with longer broom handles so we don't have to bend over as much. These work wonderful getting into small spaces between plants. I also had a small plastic rake, but just like yours the tangs broke off in one season of use. The metal toy ones have proven to be time tested. Thanks for all you share so even at 70+ yesrs old we can still enjoy learning while being entertained. Jim Light

[@gr8gardn]

I love the way your kitty helped by holding down the debris on the bed until you were ready to dispose it 🌸😽🐈❣️

[@marcyjo1972]

I just watched Jenny at Creekside and she showed that you both were in the Proven Winner’s project book! How cool is that!?! Congratulations 🎈🎊🍾🎉

[@dawnbarnes8729]

Laura, seeing the pictures of how the raised bed garden came about, from start to finish was so satisfying. The planning and work that went into it was a thing of beauty. You should be very proud of all the production of this garden. And in a space that is so pretty! ❤️😊

[@lindaforystek5028]

8⁸⁸u

[@lindaforystek5028]

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[@sandradunn421]

Such a helpful video for beginners or for those of us that didn’t quite have the success we wanted the past few years. I will be saving this and sharing it to many. Blessings.

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Good morning, Laura, from Windermere Florida zone 9b USA 🇺🇸 We are supposed to hit 91°high 😰 today. Gotta Garden early or melt. Happy Gardening Everyone 🌿👩‍🌾🌿

[@par4451]

Please send some of that warm weather to Ohio.

[@pjthomas8415]

You are one of the main reasons why I started gardening! We designed our backyard square gardens to model yours. We also put a line of Arbs behind our beds, and installed drip last year. Also I have become a little hydrangea obsessed after seeing your lime light videos! :) Thank you so much for always putting out this GREAT content!!

[@tellertina8462]

I was just telling my husband that I want to start a garden with raised bed so this is very helpful. I’ve never grew anything other than tomatoes last year in pots so now I’m excited to start a garden so thank for all of your information!

[@sandhanitizer15]

Last year was the first time I tried raised beds and my tomato plants grew to almost 6ft tall without growing any tomatoes. A few finally grew in late September. I got 2 small tomatoes from it. I was bummed, but I'm ready for this season! I've been watching all of her videos so I feel like a pro now lol

[@tellertina8462]

@@sandhanitizer15 I got lots of tomatoes but my cherry tomatoes were the best. I used Espoma tomato fertilizer and Garden lime to prevent bottom rot which worked out awesome! I can't wait to start my garden this spring 🙂

[@sandhanitizer15]

@@tellertina8462 ugh, I'm jealous. I love cherry tomatoes especially when you go check on them during a beautiful summer day and you just pop a few lol.

[@pradnyamarathe2002]

@@sandhanitizer15 Timing is important for tomatoes if you are in a hotter zone ( also cooler as they can't take freezes). If they flower in the heat of summer and night temps don't go under 70, they won't fruit. In zone 8 in my garden, I see fruiting in April / May and then in September/October and yes the plants grow taller than 6ft, so you could be in a similar zone. Also, give less nitrogen when it's decent sized plant

[@sandhanitizer15]

@@pradnyamarathe2002 I'm in Connecticut, but I'm not really any gardner yet lol...I literally planted them, watered them and waited. I'm going to be getting into it heavily this season though lol

[@christycoalson36]

Good morning GA family 🌅 daily dose of Laura with coffee in hand! What could be better??? Great info as always. Have a fantastic day gardening friends 🌻🌼

[@themamabearlife3339]

I really enjoyed seeing the progression shots of before, during, and after, of the vegetable garden. I would love to see that for each area on your property. You have done so much, & come so far in the time you have lived there. I just love seeing that!

[@suziediva]

Absolutely lovely to see you go through the process of prepping beds for spring💖💖 Also, great to see how the space progressed over time... it looks soo beautiful now and the formal path from there to the south garden has come along beautifully too👍 You definitely are blessed and thank you for sharing your gift of gardening with us. Btw... missed seeing the darling kiddos🙂

[@taylorwright1247]

I think it would be kind of a cool idea to do a before and after video of everything so far. It was crazy to see a tree and a dog kennel in that area, and now it’s so beautiful! (I honestly forgot what some of the areas looked like before) Pretty inspiring for me to turn some areas around my home into a beautiful garden!

[@mariafolch8067]

🍃 I agree. It would be specially beneficial for the new viewers. 🍃

[@vickieyoung7122]

Got my cuppa Earl Grey and watching Garden Answer....My fave way to start my day.

[@annawaterman9618]

Gosh Laura is like a fine wine. She just keeps getting better every season 💁🏽‍♀️ I kept staring at her cute little baby hairs and thinking how funny it is I know exactly why those are like that. Thank you for all you and your family do! 💜

[@nancykrehbiel8956]

Really cool to see the progress of your raised bed garden! Have you thought about doing a series of how your own garden has evolved? Would be interesting to see photos of what your current garden looked like when you moved in, where it is now, and plans for the future. Maybe a good video for winter or on a rainy spring day! Thank you again for another great video.

[@steffaniewalz8444]

You are on top of it with me this season. I am headed to do something, and here is a video out for a refresher course, and new information. Your the best!

[@CandycaneLane999]

So fun to see the progression of that space !

[@juliafiore120]

Good morning, Laura ☕️. Love ❤️ the evolution of the garden pictures. Wow, those Arbs!🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@leslieholstein9077]

I worked on my raised beds over the weekend and planted some spring crops already. I’m so excited! Love love love spring!!!!!

[@kellyhawes8901]

We put in irrigation in our raised bed planters last year, and it was a game changer thanks to your videos! We do get a fair amount of rain so I just watch the weather and turn off the system if we are getting a couple days of rain.

[@happygarden_]

*Good morning Gardeners, wish you happy gardeniiiiiing!!!*

[@angiebrockett7621]

New Gardner in Ohio: thank you, Laura. This has been helpful. We are working with a blank slat and adding a raised garden this year.

[@bktcz]

Love seeing the raised gardens being prepped - great tips! We are not quite there (yet!) here in Minnesota... but this feeds me until I can get out there... in the meantime - I will just go start another flat of seeds! Thank you for educating and inspiring all of us!

[@gabrielapanu9731]

Perfect timing! I want to plant my raised beds tomorrow. 🌱💚

[@tonigardella4165]

Coffee , garden answer , great start to my day 🌸❤️🌻

[@katherinecornette5315]

I always appreciate when you walk thru success & failures. I need to update our drip system and hopefully add more to other places. I like that you keep it simple in your raised beds & I need to copy what you have there.

[@how-to-be-a-minimalist]

Although we full time RV and I only have a teeny tiny container garden in my RV spot (I have 6 pots outside and 4 small ones in my kitchen window), I love watching your videos every day. I’ve learned so much and now I actually know what to do when I see “needs light to germinate” or other such things on seed packets, haha! The way you teach makes it easy to scale down to even the smallest of gardens. Thanks for all of your videos! It makes me so excited to have a big garden someday.

[@denisedorsey2889]

I love this comment. Sometimes people get cranky about the scale of Laura’s gardening projects, saying they aren’t relevant to the average home gardener. I always think, take what you can, leave the rest. I’m impressed with your adaptability. Happy gardening!

[@how-to-be-a-minimalist]

@@denisedorsey2889 I’m always surprised at those comments, especially when there’s SO MUCH content freely given that a person can pick over. Thanks so much and happy gardening to you, too!

[@ya-ya1766]

Raised beds are really neat, I’m amazed at all you grow in yours.

[@nohemiperez912]

My husband and I are just now starting our garden in raised beds. This video came at the perfect time! Thank you!

[@TjardaMe]

Thanks for the video! Laura, You always say you are so jealous of the people who get a lot of rain… 🙃 Please don’t be jealous, last summer we got so much rain all the tomatoes were rotting on the plants 😔 everything looked rough all summer and so tired of the rain! 🙈Dahlias were eaten by slugs, these too come with the climate… It is not always a blessing 😅 I also have to cover my bulbs all winter otherwise they would rot as well 😬 💦 Every climate has its own (dis)advantages and we can only adapt to it 🤷🏻‍♀️☀️ I wish u a happy growing season! 🌱🌿🌷

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Such a helpful video Laura, thank you! It was particularly helpful showing the progress of the vegetable raised bed area!

[@5262janna]

Your raised beds look lovely and ready for planting. How beautiful

[@shortielove1992]

I loved the format of this video and being able to see the pictures of the raised bed area from start to finish. What a gorgeous transformation of an area!

[@edgygardener2826]

I set up one raised bed last year, so this is my first year ‘starting over.’ This is very timely and so appreciated. I had flow issues with my drip system too, so thank you for the details you shared.

[@elenalunn4052]

Ahh pining for the days when I can plant my beds, we are still having nights below freezing. I’m hopefully to try a wifi system that you and Aaron had recommended last year- can’t wait to see what you’ve got for tomorrow!!

[@callikohl7603]

Since I rent I won't go to the expense of a good drip system, but I do use the soakers hoses on much of my garden, and I hand water the rest. I am retired and I spend my days in the garden anyway. I garden in raised beds, large tubs and directly in ground. It makes for a wonderful day.

[@lustraveller717]

I always use chicken manure to replenish my garden and I've started using worm castings. When I had bunnies, their little pellets were great for our veges. I love your videos and watching your kids grow. Russell and cheddar are also entertaining.

[@annehedlund7333]

Loved seeing the "before the raised bed" garden pictures. The arbs have grown so much. Time flies!

[@katrinaherrick321]

Hi Laura! I love streptocarpus and they are the easiest ever to propagate. I live near you in Eagle and found a sad and thirsty little variety plant of this species called Lady Slippers at Edwards nursery 3 years ago. I was captivated by it. This plant is under appreciated, so beautiful and forgiving! It loves to be outside in the warm months for container color here in Idaho, and I make new plants for gifts so easily. I hope you share more about this wonderful “Cape Primrose” as I was thrilled to see it have a moment of glory on your potting table. Thank you! Katrina

[@sharonmansfield3053]

I love that Russell follows you around. It’s great to see him. 😻This video was so helpful because I’m trying raised beds for the first time. Thank you! 🪴🌳🌱

[@ThePumpkinLady53]

Laura, love the video. Very informative!! Especially love how you (Aaron) showed the beds from the very beginning to now. I hope you can do that with more videos.

[@cindydavis9698]

Each morning when I get to work, I watch your videos while no one is looking. I know, I know.....I'm suppose to be working, but your videos put me in such a good mood, and that makes for a happier, more productive employee, right?? :)

[@LadyCourtney13]

This is my dream garden, still dreaming....but in my mind I am planning it. We have rain, sometimes too much, sometimes not...but drip allows you to leave your garden, one day when I have my dream garden, there will be drip. I've been planting in my raised beds, mid Atlantic, beets, peas, garlic and shallots last fall, planning, seedlings, MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.

[@WM_Partners]

Extremely helpful! Giving the steps you follow to prep your beds was awesome and the timing for us in 7b couldn’t be better. I struggle to find Biotone in our area so using bag manure is our best option. Thx for inspiring my wife and me to do more in the garden. It is our church, sanctuary and therapy.

[@wynorawishum5860]

Good reminder for old watchers as well as the newer ones. Thank you. Also, would love another tour of the garden center to see everything they have in now

[@patriciacole8773]

💖🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸🌿🌸💖After leaving my garden undressed one winter, I found my soil to be gray and dry and wimpy by spring 😞. Now I cover the soil with either grass or leaves or at least cardboard and our soil is black black in the spring and wet. I also have found alfalfa pellets meant for horses used as a side dressing fertilizer for all the garden beds to be gentle and the plants thrive. I use a light application. It’s extremely inexpensive, too. I enjoyed the succession photos of your garden development❣️

[@amydeeds6248]

I’ve been watching for over two years now so I really enjoyed seeing the actual building of the raised bed area. 😊

[@paulettenugent4067]

Happy Wednesday... still waiting to get started... as we're still having abit of freezing temperatures... just want to say congratulations on been featured in the Proven Winners Gardeners Idea book for 2022.... (Jenny from Creekside showed the booklet on her channel... your are both apart of this year feature congrats !!!👏

[@omemeemom4102]

I can truly say that your videos are my happy start to the day, even though I will never have raised beds or drip systems, I watched it from start to finish. Your positivity and love for what you do make watching a joy each day.

[@sherilynkoss4546]

Loved this. Bravo! I considered how most "box" garden stores around here have NO source of helpful knowledge in their garden section. Laura this video is brimming full of a FOUNTAIN of knowledge. Thank you!👍👌❤

[@seasonallifestyle]

I love that cheddar was in the bed !😂🥰 My dogs mind their own business unless I’m working in a bed, then they have to be right in it too lol! Does anyone else’s pets do this too?

[@rebeccamclaughlin4992]

My Beagle/Basset always looks confused when I holler at him for digging a hole when that’s exactly what I’m doing in the garden! Lol!

[@michelerok4252]

It was good seeing the kitty chillacking. Happy life happy kitty. Kisses and hugs to you all. Many blessings throughout your day heading your way.

[@asianangie7209]

So clean and efficient!

[@alisonfalldin2188]

Hi Laura & Aaron - I was wondering if you could do a video on care for next year strawberries 🍓. I planted some last year and looks like they made it through our Minnesota winter 🥶. 😀

[@sarahannewilkinson9374]

Thank you so much! I loved this simple format (although I love your vlogs too, I learn so much from seeing you do the work in those too). After this video I *might* be ready to tackle drip tubing--but either way I am excited and confident to do a bit of garden spring cleaning :) So appreciate all of your joy, wisdom and most especially your generosity in sharing that wisdom and joy

[@dianequist835]

Yes! And it made it feel calmer for me. Not rushed through.

[@ozarkview928]

Thank you ! This was most helpful and timely for me ! I had the same experience with my soaker hose in my raised beds , so I ordered 1/4” brown drip tube with six inch emitters . Now all I need to do is show my husband this video !

[@maxinemann2490]

I see you outside, prepping for planting and I sit here with a forecast of freezing rain coming tomorrow night. I'm ITCHING to start cleaning up my flower beds but here in the NE it way too early! Gardeners in this area don't plant annuals until end of May. We have a really short growing season. I walked my yard yesterday to look for my daffs and tulips. Not yet, only my helebore is up and blooms are almost open.

[@cnorovich48]

Absolutely the best, most comprehensive explanation of bed preparation yet!!! Since all of my vegetables are planted in pots, or tubs on my rooftop deck, I must reuse my soil and of course want optimum nutrients available for a good crop. So, your explanation of starter fertilizer plus mixture of bagged compost makes great sense for my container garden. We’re in our 70’s and schlep bags up 2 flights of stairs every year so the lighter the bags the better. Now if only I can figure out a watering system for my pots and tubs. Thanks so much for always taking care to demonstrate and explain your reasons behind your well deserved success! 👍👏🏻👍

[@sunmoonrise]

Watching this and feelings hungry just imagining the abundance of laura garden

[@alisonwise3444]

Very helpful, thank you! I love the way that you break down all of the steps for people and don't assume we know how to do it!

[@joycemeinhardt425]

Great, timely information! Just contracted with a local landscaper to come in and level an 18x30 area for my raised bed garden! So excited! I bought 5 of the metal modular raised beds from Gardener’s Supply last year and can’t wait to get this project moving! I’m very anxiously awaiting the viewer submissions for raised bed garden designs that you mentioned not long ago! Looking for layout inspiration!

[@angelicaperez-andujar6943]

Really like the format of this video. Very useful info as always! 🌸🌼🌷

[@jasminelouisefarrall]

Morning Everyone 💕

[@antoniaswift3995]

Wonderfully helpful. Thank you Laura.

[@kimcirtwill6077]

That is just such a gorgeous raised bed setup. I’m a touch envious 😉

[@stephaniejohnson2937]

I need to research your videos on irrigation… we will be putting drip irrigation in a new flower bed and a raised vegetable bed this year :) you make it look so easy !!

[@courtneyzawacki4352]

Laura, your videos are such great reminders. We are a zone lower than you and I know that “if Laura is doing her raised beds now I have about 3.5 weeks until I do mine. We love your videos, my boys are young and it is exciting to see them getting interested in plants! Funny story, I recently received the PW Idea book in the mail and my 6 yo was looking through it and found your picture and said “mom! It’s your garden lady! She’s famous!” We all got a kick out of that😂 Thank you for all you do!

[@barbholte2146]

Laura, A few years ago I replaced one of my raised beds with the same drip system after watching your videos, I hope to get to the bed this year. I will amend my soil this year, something I have never done. I use the small rake that I bought my kids years ago, small enough to fit into tiny places made of metal, and gentle on plants has lasted for years! Thank you for sharing your tips, you have made me a better gardener.

[@alexmilianmd]

This was perfect timing and so helpful!!

[@livinginbliss]

Really loved seeing the progress over the years of how your raised beds took shape. It’s a nice reminder that we can work in stages over a few years. Always fun to see your process! Thanks for the inspo!

[@janetstanley8840]

Thanks for the wonderful information Laura! I am so excited for spring! We had snow today here in Minnesota, but after it melts I will prep my raised beds. 🌱🌱🌱

[@lesleycoren249]

You bring such enjoyment every day thank you

[@kebergify]

Perfectly simple, the way you explain it, Laura! I just need to get some supplies and get to work!

[@daphneschultz8330]

Thanks Laura. You are always so helpful. We have been gardening for a while now and are still learning more from you. Appreciate it so much.🌷

[@alanconrad8490]

such a ball of positive energy.....gotta love her :)

[@theacaban]

This came at the perfect time! Thank you for your continued wealth of knowledge and positivity. 🤗💖

[@ashleyquesada8438]

Thank you so much for sharing so much knowledge with us! Your videos are my favorite gardening videos to watch! You inspire me so much!

[@mitzibud6908]

Another awesome video!! Thank you!!

[@hhoversonhh]

Of all of your gardens this one is my favorite! Lol

[@SherrysCraftinggarden]

So glad you said this now I no what to put in my garden and garden beds.

[@sf55514]

Laura did an excellent job planning and layout of raised beds and boarder.

[@laraemitchell9064]

Great information. I’m sure lots of people will find this helpful. 💚💚💚

[@Colquohoun_gardens]

Thanks we are in the process of putting in raised beds and I needed this info

[@jackiebirch1600]

That was a great refresher on how you put the drip in. What worked and didn't work. Thanks!

[@mardinecampbell2870]

Your videos are amazing. I’ve gardened all my life and I still learn so much from you. Thanks.

[@susiescott661]

Loved hearing and seeing your preparations this year. In years past, you had added mulched leaves in the fall. Would you explain why you aren't doing that any longer?

[@judithjohnson2111]

I believe she does that every fall.

[@kimmartin2522]

Of all the gardening you do this is my favorite. Fruit and veggie gardening. 😋 ❤

[@maplehillstead2816]

Just wanted to tell you I did leaf mulch in my beds this winter and it worked AMAZINGLY making my soil so beautiful in the beds I added it to! I can see such a huge difference between those ones and the ones I didn’t so thank you so much for your tip in previous videos!

[@phyllisshand6183]

So glad to have this video. Thank you.

[@deborahrusignuolo7612]

Thank for the great information I am a new gardener so I appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you for sharing

[@annabellsmithy]

The video I didnt realize that I needed! Thanks so much- I know what I will be doing this weekend!

[@corbydeforest9013]

Thank you for this type of instruction.

[@terrymcleod5651]

The info on the sprinkler and irrigation system was very helpful thank you

[@liqaahailo7982]

Very helpful video and on the right time of the year 👍thank you 😊

[@doanetriggs6254]

Thank you for the wonderful anthology a informative planting and garden maintenance videos! They are such an excellent reference source and you have a natural ability to teach so that the information you present is easily understood and interesting! PLUS you are an inspirational motivator!

[@agracefullife4725]

Perfect timing! Due to start planting my raised beds next month now that summer is finally over. Just about to start prepping

[@marthasullivan7521]

This is a GOOD ONE, Laura! Great advise and examples. I can't wait for Spring here in Mid Hudson NY. Mother's Day is our 'official' planting day. A favorite!

[@leesaaugustine1444]

Good Morning! Great information & a refresher for me! I can't wait to start my clean up & amending! But currently the weather here is rainy & cold! 🙂🧹🌧🌿