How to BUILD, FILL and PLANT a Raised Bed | Grow Your Own Food

Raised beds are a wonderful way to grow your own food, and in this video I will show you how to plan, build, fill and plant your first-ever raised bed, using as many low-cost techniques as possible. Click to see more links and info.
Raised beds have so many benefits, such as allowing you to grow food on what would otherwise be unsuitable ground, as well as being a set size so it makes planning easy. Find out more benefits here: • The Benefits of Growin...
How to build a raised bed? Watch these videos for more detail:
Raised bed from 1 pallet: • How to Build a Raised ...
Raised bed from planks: • How to Build a Raised ...
Raised bed 7 tips for success: • 7 Simple Steps to Succ...
Instagram: @huws_nursery
Facebook: / huwsgardennursery
Seed sponsor: www.organiccatalogue.com
Tool sponsor: www.bulldogtools.co.uk
Main Camera: amzn.to/2KCbn0k
Second Camera: amzn.to/2KkRoUA
Laptop: amzn.to/2KjT4hj
Drone: amzn.to/2tUYZy6
Microphone: amzn.to/2KvTikz
Second Microphone: amzn.to/2yXuRYJ
Tripod: amzn.to/2lQ77g1
HuwsNursery is a channel which dedicates itself to teaching you how to grow an abundance of food at your home. Videos are uploaded every week and cover a vast range of subjects including; soil health, sowing, transplanting, weeding, organic tips, permaculture, pest control, harvesting and low maintenance growing to name a few.
Subscribe here: kzbin.info...
Become a Patreon and help HuwsNursery GROW! / huwsnursery
With thanks to the support of my top tier patreons; William Shidal, Ben Porcher, Namaste Foundation, Valeria Letelier and Mike Moore
#permaculture #growfood #organicgardening
how to build a raised bed
raised bed gardening for beginners
how to start a garden

[@tonysgardensgizmos7164]

I spoke to my local landscaping company. They give me all their good quality scrap wood, decking boards etc. Reduces their tipping costs, and means it gets a second life on my plots.

[@HuwRichards]

Wow that's awesome to hear Tony! Thank you so much for watching ☺️

[@ALTSINC.MK9]

Saving this video for when I buy my first house. Thanks man

[@HuwRichards]

Good luck Tobi!

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYrKoqyrrd9kfpI

[@livewithnature7503]

@@HuwRichards sir what about the water drainage when rain please reply🙏

[@epicgardening]

Great guide, Huw!

[@raccoonruby86]

So jealous of your beautiful Welsh garden!! Wales is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Great video, thanks Huw!

[@andymoore9977]

Not 'one of the most' but 'THE most', but I am biased.... lol, you should see the primroses in Mid Wales now, stunning.

[@artinaam]

I had to chop two hazel bushes due to constructing a new fence around my garden. I was left with dozens of straight hazel sticks, so I just used them for a woven, wattled raised bed (slightly medieval in style). It takes a while to weave, but looks great :)

[@chwastozercyancientslowfoo205]

Hello, Huw, great video, thank you for sharing. 5 short questions, please: 1. Why don't you use any mulching on these raised beds? 2.Regarding chemical treated wood - are tires not too-chemical stuff to make raised beds in? 3.Why do you cover some of your beds with plastic sheets and what is the sheet like - porous or solid? 4.How do you manage with snails to keep them off your vegs? 5.Please, talk easier English which would make us, foreigners understand you better, especially those slang words are difficult to catch...thank you:) (sorry, English is not our native:). All the best, thanks a lot, cheers from Poland 💚🇵🇱 keep sharing and teaching 💪💪💪🙏🙏🙏

[@welsh_vegan_allotment_holder]

@@chwastozercyancientslowfoo205 I think Huw talks very clear English and doesn't use slang words.

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYrKoqyrrd9kfpI

[@carolynellis387]

That sounds really really lovely

[@lisafeck1537]

I can picture it, I'll bet it's beautiful. Well done.

[@AmysHope]

I'm new to your channel from Texas..I just finished my 1st raised bed with veggies so proud of myself 🥕🌶🥬🍅

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYrKoqyrrd9kfpI

[@jamestomlin5525]

Fellow texan here, how's your bed going? I'm going to try concrete raised beds for next year.

[@ashleyevans2828]

Watching your video from the U. S. I have bought one of your books, I have your latest book on pre-order. I am so excited to start my garden reading your books and watching your videos have given me a good amount of confidence.

[@katooloughlin]

I got about 50 free roof tiles, that I made my raised beds from in my city garden vegetable plot and they are working really well. It took a bit of time to bury and level them but they are so sturdy and will prob last forever 😉 Thanks for all your great info 💚

[@stefano_4593]

interesting, I also have spare tiles. Are they not opening up under the weight of the ground inside?

[@jeanettemullins]

I'm lucky enough to have been given loads of pallet collars. They're so good for this purpose. I sometimes stack them 2 high as our soil is just so bad and it gives me a few more options as to what I can plant in them. . They've been my favourite way of making raised beds for the last few years.

[@wheelnut64]

Hi, I have loads of pallet collars and was thinking was doing this. I used them previously as compost heaps. any tips you can give me?

[@grass8741]

@@wheelnut64 your such a sussy baka

[@Aarinesque]

It’s like you knew I was just about to measure out some raised beds and I’m even in cue for B&Q website to check what I’ll need to buy. Cheers for a well timed video once again! xx

[@HuwRichards]

You're so very welcome and the best of luck with your raised bed building👌

[@frankcoldwell4424]

B&Q are expensive.

[@shawtop]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYrKoqyrrd9kfpI

[@toneyjohnson8910]

I am loving both of your books.

[@pandorainrainbow548]

I love your videos. They are nicely clear and give one the will to start. Thank you so much for the inspiration you send! Much Love! 🙏❤❤❤

[@patriciavincent5076]

Always great information. So encouraging! Thank you Huw!

[@NedtheJanitor]

You're doing such important work!

[@bethanskitchengarden]

It's always amazing the amount of materials that can be recycled and repurposed in raised beds. Great tips and advice as always 😊

[@2potornot2pot]

Just bought your books. Have been watching you for a short while. I started gardening with Mel Bartholomew in the ‘80’s while watching PBS in Houston, TX. I now live in SE KS and my growing zone is 6B here. We have very hot summers, 90’s and cold winters, 5 to 10 degrees F. I am starting to garden again since I retired and would be able to compare my garden with yours better if I knew your zone. Then I could tell what might work for me. We are also humid, because we are in between the Kansas prairie and the Ozarks in Missouri. I like to garden in morning to early afternoon sun, giving my garden shade in the afternoon. Otherwise my garden shrivels up by late July. We love to grow yellow squash and Zucchini, (Courgettes) but fight squash bugs and vine borers. I have always grown organic. We have wonderful weeds Lol! here and have a good amount of rain usually. Tornado alley too. I used to grow pattypan squash but picked them much smaller (as I like to pick all my squash small) and never tried to keep them on the windowsill. I have learned a lot from watching your channel and I look forward to reading your books and truly enjoy seeing all the UK and European gardens. Thanks for being on KZbin. It is all I watch now. KJPG

[@1888gp]

starting my 1st own vegetable beds this season,cant wait ..this guys my new hero 🤣

[@joanneoakley3581]

Thank you so much for all your inspiring videos and your Grow Food for Free book, which is brilliant by the way and really useful for a beginner like me! I only have a small space but you have inspired me to grow some veg in containers and plant some fruit bushes. I have Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue but by doing a few small jobs each day, I have achieved quite a lot and given me something to plan when I can't get out into the garden. I am even making compost on a small scale in some mushroom crates stacked up! Thank you so much for all that you share and loving the beard by the way! ;) Keep up the good work and take care!

[@casadepanda4012]

These videos are great! Keep up the great work. Huw makes gardening interesting! I'm someone who hasn't a clue about gardening and Hue makes it actually possible for me to learn and try these things, without getting overwhelmed. Gardening helps bring me in better spirits about the world right now and something productive to focus on.

[@yasseribrahim7836]

Fantastic informative useful vid . Thanks for sharing.

[@MaggieLinstead]

We are planning to fill our raised beds over 3 years. We building them on well dug ground. We will raise them by 10cm each year, this also spreads the cost of building the beds

[@mrgreen1633]

Thanks! Excellent tips especially cheap raised beds to get started (pallet collars). Keep it up

[@tucaferrer1867]

beautiful farm ,congratulations, and god bless you from Brazil.

[@BraveSirSausage]

i just got given a raised bed to look after at an allotment, looks like this is my channel !

[@hobbs1]

Hi Huw, just found your videos and found them really helpful, as we're starting to grow our own veg (albeit on a small scale!) Thanks ☺

[@andymoore9977]

2:30 Regarding size of beds Huw makes a good point about both width (for reach) and length (to avoid walking through the bed). 10 feet is an ideal length and is also a standard size for planks in the UK. But 4 feet wide may be a little too wide for some of us shorter folk. I respectfully suggest that for many buying 10 feet long planks and cutting them in 3 to make beds 10.00 feet x 3.33 feet could be preferable and saves a potential 2 foot 'off cut' in the process.

[@cottagemommy5116]

I have used the hugelkulture for my beds- saves $ and works great!

[@TomekLach]

Thank you! Very informative and insightful video. I am starting my little project today :D ...greetings from Poland!

[@simplifygardening]

Great video on beds Huw. lots of good tips for folks

[@SmallGardenQuest]

One additional tip to grow more in your raised bed is to follow the square foot gardening spacing. And plant one crop in an 4-8 square foot area. So in a 4 by 4 raised bed with 16 Square feet plant from 2 to 4 different vegetables

[@trockodile]

Great timely stuff again Huw and very much appreciated! Keep safe and keep up the great work. 👍

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you very much!

[@tairanisa]

I have just finished building five pallet raised beds. I have two left to build then i will put them into their right places and fill them up huglekultur style. Really looking forward to getting things growing in them 😃

[@barbkafilmout9449]

Thanks for showing how to do this. It’s so foreign to me I don’t know where to start🌺

[@suburbanhomestead]

Great comprehensive video. I think 5 by 5foot beds work well despite breaking the 4foot rule, because they are square. 6 by 6 would be too much though.

[@patdaly6644]

Hi Hew great tips and presenting quality of your vlog

[@rjb6919]

3/4 of the way through filling an 800mm high bed (2400Lx800W) and Hugelculture was only way to go given the volume. Had the apple trees pruned so had lots of good wood available and some pruning from shrubs. Put a tonne of topsoil onto that and then one of my partially finished compost bins. Just waiting to find out when I am getting my delivery of compost now to finish and get the seedlings transplanted.

[@christiansmith6766]

Them leeks look amazing!

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you

[@tomadams94]

Great video, instant sub! I guess fence boards are out of the question due to them being treated? Am i better using pallets in that case if we are talking about repurposing materials? Cheers

[@kevinliddle3006]

Great video!! Thanks for all your hard work .. please could you tell me how much soil I would need for the 4 x 10 ft ?

[@Mostandsure]

Great channel, really knows his stuff. Can I bury prunings from my roses, buddleia etc in the bottom of raised beds? To save how much soil I need to find to fill them and save on garden waste collections?

[@gyanwei7402]

very good.. ❤

[@rikkebadsberg8544]

Thank you so much for a great guide! I am looking into raised beds made of wood. Do you line the inside of the raised bed with something, to separate the wood from the soil, to help it last longer?

[@n.k.63]

Do you fill the bed right before planting, or do you do it some time before that? It's currently far from planting time for me (it's still snowing), but I've already built the raised bed, but haven't fully filled it yet.

[@car9140]

I don’t have raised beds.. but I have had to use logs next to my garden to keep rain water from destroying it during storms. This year I dug a ditch around my garden instead. This would be great in a more permanent residence.

[@lindapenney5207]

Awesome update Huw hoping to make some beds soon ?

[@charlesayache6801]

Thank you for your advices. Old tyres...definetely not!

[@thefarmtrepreneur-building6539]

If you want very long beds just add a plank that goes sideways to cross from one side to the other and you can maximize your space. Or better yet one of those stone steps right in the middle and you just used the walkway space for growing.

[@andymoore9977]

Can't get a wheel barrow easily over a plank or a stepping stone but your point is valid.

[@Wanderingdesertflower]

Could cut brambles be added to the bottom of a bed or would they root and regrow .. thanks for the videos the information is really helpful

[@catherinelomax]

Hi Huw, my garden is just chippings and a few slabs, should I line the bottom of the raised bed with something? Thanks in advance!

[@dazblake7907]

Hi I have just started out in home grown veg, I have sowed direct carrots beetroot onion radish and spring onion I was wondering what you recommend the watering schedule should be? Thanks Darren

[@nickymiller4595]

I live in new south Wales Australia inland where we get to 48⁰ in summer and -12⁰ in winter. I have a Kikuyu lawn love it to bits but it gets everywhere. I am using risen beds and am wondering do I sit straight on grass or do I put weed mat down first?

[@maryfernandes8238]

Hi saw your videos for the first time today. I am just fascinated by the idea of raised bed. Thank you so much for sharing and making it feel so simple. I need to know two things. One ...what do you put at the base of the raised bed. Secondly.... I am staying in Goa,India where there is heavy rain from June to September. Will the raised bed take so much rain.?wont the wood get spoilt with one rain?. Please suggest.

[@commentscorner617]

Excellent. When you say use 50%-80% or 90% of soil are you referring to topsoil? Thanks

[@stevendowden2579]

cracking video

[@charleyfolkes]

Thank you for the nice channel and good, easy to understand advice because once something makes sense I can remember it ! Now I know you guys favor broad beans, but what’s the difference between ‘runner’ beans and ‘broad’ beans ? Is it true of some toxicity with either bean if not cooked ?

[@sabirul-haq1154]

Runner beans are climbers and will climb 6’ plus. Broad beans are shorter and don’t need staking. I have eaten broadbeans raw, but not the pods. When young and tender we eat the runner beans with pods on raw or cooked. When older, pods of beans are too tough to be enjoyable Hope that is helpful.

[@wanda726324]

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

[@bigbossshligo1266]

Silly question but if you did 100% compost is that ok? Also being watching your videos for a while now and there the best on KZbin :)

[@elladunnet]

How do you feel about brick raised beds? I built two from a fallen down wall in my garden but I was wondering if there are any pro's and con's.

[@jrisner6535]

They crumble slowly don't they...

[@bartvanboterdael5275]

1 question : at the end of the season with the no dig method you have to put 3cm New compost on the raised beds. But then after some time your raised beds are not enough height anymore...correct? And then ? You have to remove some compost ?

[@FrankEdavidson]

Which sizes of Containerwise plug trays do you use for each crop please?

[@thesketchingsisters]

Thanks Huw! Quick question about old railway sleepers... we have lots on our farm that have been used as walls in an old Dutch barn and open to the elements, I’m very tempted to use them for raised beds but am worried about them leaching whatever chemicals they used to apply to keep them from rotting on the railways... any thoughts on this? I see you have some sleepers for some of your beds, which is why I ask (they’d be very comfy for perching in too 😅).

[@frankcoldwell4424]

Old railway sleepers are full of creosote, diesel, oil and god knows what other chemicals. Including human waste, I’d never use them, even the more modern ones. It’s why they last decades.

[@getrelaxed3848]

Maaan how much i love this guy's content,i have been following his channel for years,even tho i don't have a farm but that's my dream,my parents bought an acre and i just wanna invest all i have to make everything grow and feed them what's delicious and natural and raised with love and watching this amazing guy's videos,it just gives me hopes to start and take the risk,especially that i hate signing slavery contract to work from 9 to 5,i want to be free and grow my own food and make an income out of it as well cuz why not,and for anyone who has the same dream as i,i encourage you to take the first step,soon i will start mine,wish me luck,and please Huw i need your advice on this,it will be so motivating :D

[@casadepanda4012]

You're not the only one who feels that way! I'm in this same boat.

[@getrelaxed3848]

@@casadepanda4012 so Glad i ain't alone,thanks for the support :D

[@jaylaw6970]

Me too Sharko. Focus this Yr is get the cut flower stuff in and growing (I'm a trained florist) with veg again for family and friends... Several ways I can make money here,... 😁 Just need to choose which, whilst my blooms get established for future years... I Feel certain the investment will be worth it. Good luck with your dreams guys Huw, keep up the great videos. Facts, simply stated with reasoning too. I'm a fan.

[@getrelaxed3848]

@@jaylaw6970 good luck to you too and thank you this is really beautiful to real and i hope you will make it soon :D

[@howardvaughan3742]

Hi Huw, you have a great channel...can i cover scaffolding planks with black plastic to make a raised beds so that they don't rot away to quickly, i intend to attach the plastic with staples? Thanks Howard.

[@HuwRichards]

Hi Howard thank you so much! You could do yes, however because they're so thin anyway don't expect them to last more than 5 years. Best wishes

[@howardvaughan3742]

@@HuwRichards thanks Huw thats great, i hope you have a productive year on your plot.

[@HuwRichards]

You too thank you! :)

[@TheWBWoman]

Really want to do this but how do I keep my naughty Husky out of it? I built a raised bed last year out of garden brick and over the winter he dug that up. I think because a mouse or vole was using it for a winter home.

[@exeterbeekeeper]

I am using the pallet collers as raised beds only trouble I can not get enough of them

[@HuwRichards]

Yep if only you could get them in bilk and cheaply!

[@robertastewart2083]

I’ve just assembled my first raised bed 4x8 feet and plan to grow bush beans, carrots and onions. Is there a preferred way of planting? - crossways or longitudinally?

[@panjab6119]

Is it ok to build a bed out of slabs?

[@kamilfrancoolczak]

Have u any video with your bloopers ?

[@memowr]

Can we make bed on hard floor like the roof on building

[@orbweaving]

You can! You may consider nailing/screwing in boards to make a floor for the raised bed and to give it good drainage. This video I watched helped "DIY Garden Beds | How to make raised garden planters for a deck." In the video, aside from adding the floorboards, he also added chicken wire and landscaping tarp to prevent rodent problems and later a bird netting to prevent them snacking.

[@kimberleycostar4053]

Do you ever treat the wood for your raised beds. We can source scaffold boards for a good price but they are untreated

[@samengelage3521]

He's recommended against using treated wood in the past.

[@benxamin13]

I've seen videos of syntropic agriculture and they plant lots of vegetables, in a high variety high density fashion. Have you tried that?

[@HuwRichards]

Not very suitable for a temperate UK climate

[@ferretman511]

How about cardboard placed on lawn and 5 inches of mushroom compost?

[@ecocentrichomestead6783]

I have short arms so I make my beds 3 foot by 10 foot.

[@Shane_O.5158]

hot tip: settings, change playback speed to 1.5

[@HuwRichards]

Great tip! I use this setting all the time 👌

[@Shane_O.5158]

@@HuwRichards it's a little bit cheeky but i can still understand everything. i shared your vid, cos i was telling a neighbour about hugelkulture yesterday.

[@HuwRichards]

@@Shane_O.5158 It's not cheeky at all, time is everything ☺️

[@Shane_O.5158]

@@HuwRichards yeah i'm about 3 weeks late planting peas ( our winter is coming) and in australia we plant peas around saint Patrick's day.

[@Probity100]

Shane Forsythe ya ya I do this too as I have no patience, you still get all the information in half the time 😁

[@marcherceg5640]

please don't use old wheels thay often have heavy metals that bleed in the soil and in the plants and in your body

[@WATCHINGTHEWATCHERS]

Those tires are raised beds.

[@stefano_4593]

You say turn it every month and after 6-9 months....this is quite some time and some work; I understand the need to spare money, but this riased beds partially filled with non-composted organic matter seem like unefficient compost boxes to me. I write inefficient because when I watch video's about composting, many recommend to go quite up, about 80 cm, either with the pile or the box, because it is in the center of the pile/box that the temperature wil go higher and the composting speed up. Similarly about the second method, burying the organic stuff under the top layer of soil, boxed in the wooden/plastic sides, means the organic matter will risk to decompose anaerobically instead than composting.

[@smithlinda8901]

i hope those log are not train railroad very toxic

[@jonny_mazerati9410]

😱 tires are toxic - full of heavy metals !

[@bornyhitch1975]

raised beds dry out so quick tho ;/ only downside

[@teresaames972]

I thought this was how to build a raised bed. Not what to build a raised bed out of. 🤔

[@charleyfolkes]

teresa ames I think he has linked videos to the actual building