How to Use 90% LESS Water With Core Gardening

[@MissJens]

I did the core method this year for the first time. I barely watered all summer. I used the straw bale that was my fall decoration last year. So thankful I watched the original core method video. My garden thrived this year.

[@jasonlist3253]

Thats what i do every year and have for years before i even heard of core gardening. I decorate with them also. I just always threw it in my beds and mixed it in in the spring. I am going to try it as a sub layer this next year though. 😁

[@paulcharpentier7095]

I've been doing this for 50 years. Never had a name for it. Just tryed it on my own and it worked. Just a little variation. After a few years instead of dead slew grass I started using a combo of that and green hay. Than I put a layer of manure out of the chicken coup Than put the soil back on top I also bury a pipe that I drilled holes in and after planting I fill with water from my creek. I live in northern Saskatchewan canada with a very short growing season and some years little to no rain. By the way I love your little shoes Luke.

[@TippmannAlphaCinqo]

Watching from Saskatchewan too. Couldnt believe he said he only watered 3 times. We didnt even get rain 3 times this year.

[@gathercreatelivewithleslie8340]

This is great to know, I had heard not to use straw because it has no nutrients and hay has a ton. I also was worried about the seeds from the straw (wheat) being present since they grow it out then cut after its seeded. Also was worried about the glyphosate being spray on much of the wheat and therefore the straw. Where as most alfalfa isn't sprayed. How did the combo work out?

[@mildredwilkins5781]

Oliva. My garden last year was primary about 25 containers. Huge success using this core principle. It was my first garden (I'm 71 now) since I left my family farm at 19. I didn't know anything about "core gardening". But I know garden principles. I had a limited budget. And clay soil. So I created a layered process to fill up the lower section of the containers for the purpose of.. A. Filling the space B. Absorbing and releasing water as needed My layers. 1. Section of cardboard 2. Some small sticks from the yard 3. Leaves, kindda crushed up in a trash bag, taken from the yard 4. Shredded paper (this year shredded cardboard, courtesy of my friendly furniture store) 5. Straw, intermixed with the paper Next. Mixed compost (purchased) and leaf mulch ( FREE, from city recycling place) Use this for the top 5-6 inches, being heavy on the mulch Topped the container with straw as mulch once I got plants in place, whether I planted seeds or plant starts. EVERYTHING grow beyond my wildest expectations. I had a massive crop of all the things I planted. In the containers.. Collards, turnips, watermelon, squash, bush beans, snap beans, zucchin, eggplants, early June peas, Okra, cherry tomatoes, field peas, bell pepper. I think I'm missing something but that's OK. Seriously. Limited watering, no grass!!!! Lots of great food to eat. Enough to fill up a huge freezer for this past winter into spring. I will have great deal of food left over when crops come in this spring/summer. Used the same method for a 50 ft sweet potato bed. Enough sweet potatoes for my FAMILY AND friend's family. Many potatoes put into freezer and we both have S. Potatoes for our households for maybe 3-4 more months at the pace we are using them. Ive added more containers, expanded my area, increased the size of the potato bed. Been shredding paper like crazy to be ready to refill all my containers and the potatoe bed. Also planning to use large contractor bags to from carrots, peanuts and regular white potatoes. These 3 crops grow deep (up to 20") and need loose, pliabble soil/growing medium to grow to their highest potential. By creating a BETTER growing medium than my soil could possibly be I am expecting spectacular results from these 3. My experience last year with what I now know is called "core planting" is the only way I will ever grow. I planted 3 short rows of field peas, Kentucky wonder and Squash By scooping out about 2"of native soil and then adding my Millie Mix . Same method, same great results. Im hooked.

[@Tinyteacher1111]

Awesome! Do you mind if I ask you a question about this? I’m 68, have back issues, and now suffering from Lyme disease, so I’m trying to lessen my gardening load, and I have a large suburban backyard. Thank you!!! 🌷💫

[@GreenLove1]

Northern California here - we go 10 months of the year with no rain, and keeping a garden watered is a challenge. I tried this in one of my beds last year. Used it in combination with a really thick layer of mulch (6 inches). And I was able to grow a couple of large vining squash plants in the bed, with huge leaves, in spite of no irrigation. So yes, this works well with the addition of the mulch layer.

[@micheleanderson2710]

I live in Northern California, too, and was wondering if it'd work here. Thank you for your comment.

[@CaptFoster5]

This was technically my second year of gardening but really my first since I just bought my new house in May ... I had to quickly put a garden together and so really couldn't properly plan it out. I have between now and next growing season in N. Illinois to plan. I also have a first grandchild as of last week who will be grandpas little helper ... eventually 😁

[@wordwalkermomma4]

Congrats! Grands are great! And Gardening is a good way to bring them up right. Happy growing!

[@tamararoberts9307]

Congratulations grandpa 🎊 👏

[@kellyc2425]

Growing memories! Love it. ☺️ I think you'll see there's not much to planning.. especially if you have raised beds. This ''core gardening' technique is GREAT! I saw Luke's first video on it 3 years ago and put it to use in my raised beds, and he's spot on about only having to water 3 times all season I always have the BEST produce in my neighborhood and everything I know about gardening, I learned from Luke's videos, so you came to the right place! Oh, and a big CONGRATS!!

[@barbaracarbone4658]

Congrats on your grandchild.

[@CaptFoster5]

@@kellyc2425 the "planning" has more to do with which vegetables where, how much space for each, vege placement based on pH levels loved or hated etc ... I am super lucky in that a coworker of mine lives on a farm and has excess straw to spare for a hundred backyards my size.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I did this with hugelkultur this year, using the scrap and rotted wood I had lying around, along with hedge trimmings and fallen branches. Buried it 12" (30 cm) deep, and had pretty good results. I'm currently experimenting with using bales of newspaper that would normally have gone for curbside recycle. They're bound with organic twine, so it should decompose. It certainly adds a lot of volume to the bed.

[@nancydrew6010]

I have no way of getting newspaper but am going to try putting something down, love the idea of the straw. Oh how nice not to have to water everyday! Thank you for replying I really appreciate it.

[@cynthiamcmahon9656]

Great ideas

[@bradley244ify]

My raised bed has a lot of yard waste as a base. I will need to rebuild in the spring to raise the level of the soil. Thanks for this video. It will simplify my rebuilding.

[@benderaviation]

I just built and filled One 10' x 4' bed with some yucca tree arms I cut down last winter, and placed some 3 gallon ollas in as well. 3 inches of straw mulch on top from tractor supply. I will fill the other 10x4 bed with straw mulch and see which does better.

[@mahendrapatel3221]

I’m going to try seaweed instead of straw because I live on coastal line and it is plentiful here.

[@Randy_Smith]

Your previous core gardening videos got me so inspired that I went ahead and buried straw in the bed i built in early August. I knew it would probably be too broken down to be of much use for next spring but I figured if nothing else it will provide some good organic matter for my new bed. I just ordered some winter rye to use as a cover crop and I figure in the spring I'll put a new straw core in place after I terminate and turn in the rye. Thanks for all the helpful vids. You inspired me to try late summer/fall lettuce and spinach and they are rocking in my self watering 5 gallon buckets. Cut and come again for the win!

[@donnayoung5942]

You are my “go to guy” for gardening! I love how you explain things, visuals, and answer all my questions. This is my first year gardening and I have learned soooo much from you! I bought your book, your fertilizer, seeds and I highly recommend them to everybody that will listen. Great info, I’m going to give it a try.

[@danalane3156]

What is your opinion on using oak leaves and pine straw or cardboard which are the most available to me.

[@AlliyahPerry]

I can say for sure that we will continue using the core gardening method. I did an experiment used the same everything except the core. I watered the core bed a lot less. I actually forgot about it and was so confused as to why I wasn't having to water that bed as much.

[@DinnerattheMcGills]

We used core gardening this summer and with the drought we had this year in the west I was so thankful I did. Rarely watered and still had a great garden.

[@gabslife7525]

I do this in all my pots and raised beds with old leaves, sticks and twigs but I use more of a hugelkultur approach rather than core, either way it works wonders for water retention/nutrients and soil health!🙌

[@MB-wf8si]

Hey Luke and team! I saw your core gardening videos a few years ago and have been using it ever since. We used to live in a suburb where I would mulch all my fall leaves and chop all the dead plants from my garden then bury it. I never had to use any kind of added fertilizer and my garden was the envy of all my neighbor. It was the perfect way to use up all that Fall plant material. Now that we have moved to the countryside, I still do the same, with the added benefit of my chicken, rabbits and goat used bedding and manure. I bury the manure and bedding until the ground freezes solid, then bury as much as I can in the Spring again. My garden is even more amazing now that I have manure to use, but you're right, use what you have!

[@smm72]

Love it. I use a no till version. I chop and drop. Add leaves and straw in the fall with some compost in the fall on top and plant in spring under the mulch. But my beds are basically leaves and straw some logs on the bottom then topped with soil and compost. Very easy on watering.

[@Cherbear609]

Thanks so much! I live off grid in Arizona, this is most helpful👍

[@NettieScraps]

When we put in some high raised beds and were faced with the cost and effort of filling them, I used entire bales of straw, then put about 8 inches of compost/soil over the top of them and planted. That was 3 years ago. As the straw decomposed the beds slowly sank and we have kept topping them up with compost and/or Mels mix. Worked a treat!

[@ryanw4998]

If I'm planting several plants 6 inches on Center (or every 3 inches), throughout the entire bed, do I still just dig 1 trench down the center or should I put a few trenches going across the length of the bed? Also thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and wisdom with gardening! I am just beginning to grow a garden this year and I have learned so much from you already! I can just feel it in my soul that you know what you are doing and that your methods are true! I am so grateful the Lord helped me find your videos! I know I will be able to grow a garden with greater results thanks to you!

[@AMKB01]

I'm in zone 3, central Canada. Last year was our first year of gardening since our move, and for the new beds we prepared for fall garlic, I'd put down layers of straw and the contents of our compost pile, mostly kitchen scraps, which hadn't had a chance to actually compost, yet. LOL This year, those beds got converted to low raised beds with box frames, so I dug down until I reached the old straw layer, then used a modified hugelkultur. At the bottom I put branches, then layers grass clippings, shredded paper, and the contents of our compost pile, in between layers of some of the soil I dug out. Soil tests showed our soil to be nutrient depleted, though this area was better than anywhere else we tested. We'd bought a couple of dump truck loads of garden soil, which is the only reason we were able to garden as much as we did this year. I mixed the last of the soil dug out from the bed with fresh garden soil and hardwood pellets (made for stoves, but we use it as cat litter, so we've got lots) for the top layer. That got a mulch of grass clippings, as we will not be planting garlic in those beds again, this fall. I don't know that the original beds with layers of straw and compost actually helped with retaining moisture, as we got hit with drought conditions again. Hopefully, our somewhat deeper beds, with the branches on the bottom, will work well for next year.

[@juliehorney995]

Thank you. Looking forward to adding this to our tall raised garden beds!

[@lilal3753]

This is very interesting. Incidentally, you can grow crops in straw bales, so this all makes so much sense. Thanks Luke!

[@dgerdi]

I knew how to mulch my garden beds with grass to protect moisture and the soil from the sun and wind, but this what you told us is a true upgrade. Thank you so much. I suppose this wisdom will save a lot of gardens in the future. I will sure make it so.

[@reginaweiner3817]

It's true that grass composts faster than straw. For this very reason, straw is an effective mulch, because, being heavier, it doesn't blow away, and being slow to break down, doesn't constantly need supplementation. Most of my straw mulches last a full growing season. I use chopped and composted leaves and manure layered underneath to hold moisture in my sandy beds. My pepper beds were constructed this way, and they thrived in this summer's drought when everything else went toes-up.

[@northofnowhere3611]

I’m preparing a version of this. My new-to-me greenhouse has really deep raised beds, and I filled them 3/4 with straw and am putting high quality soil and compost on top. Glad to hear that I’m not totally out to lunch!

[@Auburn7543]

3/4 is alot of straw

[@northofnowhere3611]

@@Auburn7543 yes, it is, but I still have room for 8 inches of soil on top of the straw

[@robertadunaway7030]

How quickly with the garden beds collapse or shrink to where you would need to refill?

[@northofnowhere3611]

@@robertadunaway7030 I guess we’ll see! This is all experimental for me :)

[@ecobluefarms223]

I have 2x6x2 beds and I did about 3/4 Hügelkultur fill on all 7 beds same size Thought it would be too much Turned out perfect It’s only been 1 year this Feb and I’m happy to say there was great breakdown I only had to top it off a little in November just to prepare for fall winter sowing I’m sure your test will be successful

[@KaleidoscopeJunkie]

"Waxy coating" - Thank you. I always wondered why large, round hay bales stayed dry for the first season. -KJ

[@kathyengland3534]

I love core gardening. I tried it last year and my plants did well. I didn't use it this year and really noticed a difference. I'll go back to it now. I live in Southern California and have deserty conditions. I envy that you only had to water 3 times! Not to mention we had 102' recently and 91 ' for the next few days!

[@PippiLong1]

I needed this. Garden was not holding water so well the past few years. Thanks!!!

[@wifigrannyl.1354]

Thanks for sharing. I've never heard of core gardening.

[@tamararoberts9307]

Me either

[@cherylgreenfarb6623]

Oh wow! Look at your subscriber numbers. I remember watching you years ago with not even 100k subscribers. Congrats on doing well. I had watched your original video on this and was thinking about doing this in mine this year so thanks for the update!

[@MIgardener]

Thank you so much!!

[@lesleeclark7991]

TIMELY! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I am about to add a few beds--BUT ALSO hesitant as it means MORE watering😒 You have presented a great way to get more beds and LESS WORK 🤗

[@VoiceAndPianoByChristaFord]

Excellent video thank you! Actually this is the first year we've ever had land so I've been container gardening for years and years and because of the pandemic New World order attempted takeover I am planting constantly outside on our property and so because of high winds where we live in Arizona I found that straw is an excellent solution to mix in with the soil and put some on top to keep the soil from eroding from the wind and to protect the plants from drying out too quickly and I've loved the results! I also will probably try your technique too! I mix mine in with the soil and then I put some on top

[@denisereynolds64]

thanks Luke, this is amazing info. thank you! sharing 🧡

[@clarkl4177]

Greetings from North Alabama ❤ was listening to this as I was preparing a bed for my sweet potatoes. Well, thanks for letting me know how I will do it😅

[@HowToCuisine]

This video is exactly what I was looking for! 😱👍😍😍

[@MIgardener]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MarkFaust]

You have so many great ideas, I can't wait for next Spring.

[@MIgardener]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@x21gokartracing]

Same here, 7 months is a long time. 7 months waiting to start, 7 months to grow as much vegetables as the garden will allow. Then the cycle starts again.

[@cookingwithlie445]

Great sir for sharing how to core gardening I support your channel always thank you

[@melissarobi]

I love this channel. So fortunate to have found it. I'm looking for people to teach me new things that Ive never heard of, and I believe I finally found that in this channel!

[@marisevilla662]

Thanks to channels like yours, I have begun experimenting with different ways to garden. It has brought back the passion. Thank you!

[@southerncomfort971]

Excellent video, I got myself a small chipper this past fall and used it to make mulch from some small branches. But this past spring I thought I would try to chip my ornamental grasses. I have a number of tall plants. I usually like to leave my grasses stand until spring before cutting them back. This spring was the same but I found the grass was still to greenish and would not chip completely. Had I seen this video I would have laid the uncuttable stems into the trenches and used the balance on top as mulch. good thing I made a pile of the unchipped grasses and come fall or next spring will use them in the trench. I also plan to cut the tall grass in the late fall and store it in a dry place so it might be more chip worthy next spring. As always thanks for the great tips.

[@leona5589]

I’m a novice gardener and have learn tons through you channel. Wondering if you could share what type of crops could be used for this Core method and which ones it wouldn’t beneficial for. Thanks! ☀️

[@jenniferhazell9488]

Thank you for bringing us this information I would really like to try this method keep up the good work Luke 😅

[@eco-campindigo8732]

We live on a very dry land, almost only compressed sand. We've been square foot gardening on raised beds, and we have very little water so we try to avoid watering in general (and it grows delicious crop that way). We make our own soil mix and use our compost and manure. Watching this opened a new door :) We will definitely apply this now and share the results! Thank you!

[@sheilawomack8847]

Very good information! Thanks so much!

[@kevinkastner7238]

This coming spring will be my first time core gardening. I have straw from the fall holidays sitting and waiting for spring. Great videos and thanks for the educational content in this video that answered all of my questions.

[@azpeach5680]

I can’t wait to try this core gardening method! I live in a very hot state and water is scarce! This will be a more efficient technique:)

[@OliviaLovesPugs]

This seems like the perfect solution to make gardening easier for me as someone with health troubles and disability; it’s not every day I can get out to the garden, but if it isn’t going to dry out as fast I won’t have to water every day in the summer and still have a successful garden. Definitely trying this out next spring. One question, however; is this technique of creating a core possibly implementable for container and grow bag gardening as well? I imagine the main principles would remain the same but I’m wondering if anyone has experience trying this (putting a core in the middle or bottom of a container), and whether or not it would be successful.

[@Infiniti25]

I tear comfrey leaves up and place them at the base of the hole I plant my tomatoes and potatoes in pots and bags.

[@OliviaLovesPugs]

@@Infiniti25 do you find that doing that seem to improve plant growth or slow drying time for you?

[@Infiniti25]

@@OliviaLovesPugs I should note I’ve not been very scientific about it. I usually take two or three large comfrey leaves, tear them three or four times by hand, place in the bottom of the hole and I notice that I get better results than without, but that might be because it acts as a season long feed rather than affecting watering. I am very inconsistent with my watering, sometimes bordering neglectful. Certain summers I get periods of at least 7 days where I don’t get to watering my plants and they still last into October. I forgot to do it this year and they were all showing signs of deficiencies in late August for tomatoes and late July for potatoes. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year.

[@OliviaLovesPugs]

@@Infiniti25 thank you for the clarification; I’ll be trying out a version of this method this coming spring

[@Infiniti25]

@@OliviaLovesPugs is add the comfrey into the bottom of the hole or bottom third of the core material if I tried this method, then there is the season long feed and water retention benefits.

[@quintamaria022]

Thanks, Luke. I will try this method in my container raised beds this season. Last summer, we had a drought and the pests were outrageous. I did not get muc of anything. Hopefully, it will be better this year.

[@pamelah6431]

This is completely new info to me. Thanks for sharing!

[@heavymetalbassist5]

I do huegalculture here in SC in my raised beds. I also grow about an acre in rows; till clay, remove rocks, add 6inches compost, till that in after the first 2 seasons, till 3inches deep and add 3 inches compost, planting right in the compost

[@parkerpastures]

I do hugelkulture in our raised beds too here in GA zone 8. AMAZING!

[@gardenlady58]

I am in the southern U.S. and had an interesting experience when I did this a couple of years ago. That fall something kept eating off brassica seedlings at the base. One day as I picked up a dying broccoli, I saw a termite scurry down into the soil. I learned that they like brassicas. Replanted with DE in the holes and had no further problem.

[@gardenlady58]

used old wood.

[@irmasanchez5274]

What is DE? Could you be referring to diatomaceous earth?

[@paulabeattie8565]

I saw your earlier post before this season and I tried it this year. I didn't water once and I had great spuds!

[@adamfoley1902]

❤️🥰 Hey there Paula x How are you ? I will be glad & happy to know more about each other’s if you don’t mind, doing that.. Best Wishes & 🌷💫 From Board-Way, NYC.

[@raykim1661]

Thank you for this video. I will definitely implement this.

[@terrychuong3782]

Hi Luke, thank you so much for this. Never heard of this before and having watch many gardening channels that seems to just regurgitate information from each other, I know this is the real deal. As a newbie gardener, I have to say watering is one of my least favorite gardening activity. Such a time saver this technique would be. Thanks again!

[@KM-rw3er]

I really enjoy your channel because you share your knowledge and teach the viewer. I feel like most gardening channels show off and give an unrealistic view of gardening. You present and teach. Thank you! Keep doing what you do.🙌🏻

[@jacquelynfales4661]

Thank you for solving my watering problem.

[@Infiniti25]

I do this in my pots. I put some torn up comfrey leaves in before I plant my tomatoes or potatoes out for summer.

[@katiem9644]

Terrific video. This could be a game changer for so many people. Im preparing my beds for my garlic, and I have some old bales of hay. This will be a great use for them.

[@CherylRenay]

Hi Luke! I've been a subscriber since Jan 2011 and love your rather verbose videos:) I hope you haven't planted your garlic yet because in the 18 yrs I've been growing garlic (my favorite crop) I've arrived at what I think is the perfect spacing for high intensity gardening and it's 3" between plants in a row and 5" between rows. I live near Seattle and it works great. Grow big or go home!!! 😎

[@angelaengler2387]

Great video and information Luke!

[@heatheringram2976]

I’m building three new beds this spring. I’m going to line the entire bed with straw then top with soil/compost. This is exciting! I just hope I don’t end up with wheat stalks coming up which has happened in the past.

[@shirleyk623]

That's a great idea for Florida and the hot climate we have. My 3x5 8" deep beds dry out so badly that it takes a lot of water to wet the beds. I'm setting up my beds for fall and I'm going to try it on some of the beds. Thanks for sharing.

[@FloridaGirl-]

I made hugelkultur raised beds. They are doing awesome! One thing I might add. Be sure you know where the straw comes from. And they are not using herbicides. As this will definately effect plants and kill them. Homestead heart on youtube lost her whole huge watermelon patch because of it. And another youtube homesteader, her whole garden tunnel. Because of the straw where herbicdes were used (round up), in the growing process. Even her manure was contaminated and killed her plants. Now I am very VERY mindfull of where I get my straw and manure.

[@shirleyk623]

@@FloridaGirl- That's a great idea. I made hugelkultur 5 gallon buckets for my peppers. They did well. I don't use straw or hay because of the concern of chemicals being used. I only use grass clippings and leaves from my yard and my neighbors. I know neither of us use any chemicals. I have limitations on how much I can do because of osteoporosis, I haven't been able to redo my beds yet. I'm also on my second round of crops for the year. I'm in central Florida, so I put some of my winter plants in pots so I can move them indoors if we do get cold weather. Happy gardening 🦋🐝🥒🌻🐞🌽🍓🍆🫑🥕🥬🌶️

[@FloridaGirl-]

@@shirleyk623 👍 u2 🤗

[@FarmerGarden]

I love gardening🌱

[@resourcefulgirl]

Such great information! I should be moving into my new home this summer and can't wait to put your tips into action!

[@antoinettegainous4883]

Thanks for such an interesting method of planting. Love your videos.

[@pattitrojacek3249]

Just added on to my normal garden. We live on a farm and cut our own hay so I’m excited to give this a try. My normal garden may get an overhaul mid season depending on how this works out.

[@greenthumbpatriot3295]

8-10 weeks without rain that would be nice, NorCal 6 months of no rain. I tired the straw method worked well but not great still watered 2-3 times a week. This year I am using three different stages of decomposing wood chips burying them then adding six inches of compost. Then covering with pine bedding. So far it is retaining water very well in 65-75f days. Now I am only watering every 8-10days that’s a big improvement I’m very happy with the results now for the 90-100f days for three months that’ll be the true test for sure!

[@michelleounanian8262]

I love how normal your backyard looks. Feels so accessible, like you're in the middle of Livonia with a whole homestead! LOL

[@dottiehockenberry3813]

Hi, I'm so glad you decided to review this,I've never heard of it! So I now grow my vegetables in Smart pots. I'm always watering because they dry out so fast. Is this something I could do? I already have soil in them? And how would I incorporate this in my containers? Thanks so much !!

[@analemus3815]

I think this way will work for me. I haven’t had Success in my tomato plants. Thanks

[@dachreport]

I throw all my veg peels and scraps into a packet then when it's full I dig a trench in the garden throw my scraps in the trench and plant butternut squash on top of that. It grows amazingly. Best fertilizer I have ever used

[@michelestarkey5564]

Scott at Black Gumbo farming does this in what he calls squash/melon pits. He dug up a pit in a video in the last 6 months and the only thing left was a bone from leftover beef he put in the hole😎!

[@dachreport]

@@michelestarkey5564 it is really effective. I always Bury my scraps 😁

[@BELEIVE-IT-OR-NOT]

I made my in a Spring and it was the best part of the garden that lasted through Meditarean summer heat. I did water it through hot summer. But had ti level it in the hot and dry weather for a week or two. Other parts of Garden suffered much more.

[@mrmacgregorshomestead233]

Hey Luke! Id love to come visit you some day soon! We are practically neighbors! As always, love the vids! Very similarly, Hugelkulture basically does the same thing. Only difference is that the base is deeper and uses logs and twigs to hold the water. As it decomposes it becomes spongy and holds that water. Virtually no watering needed. Love this definition and the info. Ty again! Love your channel. Greetings from lower mid Michigan!

[@freddythefrog]

thanks for the back story on “Core Gardening.” … since I spread straw and cardboard on walkways, I’ve plenty to rake up now for my core… : ) Thanks, MI Gardener! 🐸 … trying to get my water usage down… : )

[@brandyjohnson6694]

Thank you for sharing this. We added straw to our raised garden beds this year. This is our first year gardening. Love your channel! So many helpful tips!

[@MIgardener]

So glad you enjoyed! Happy gardening :)

[@mildredwilkins5781]

Shredded cardboard works for me. Great resource, I swear by it. I Use it with leaf mulch

[@maggiemanzke7926]

This seems to be like hugelkultur, but without the mound. Same physics. Thanks Luke!

[@Demebeso714]

I really needed this video.. I use a lot of water 🌊💦 during the summer. I mean the plants always seem so dry all the time

[@MIgardener]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@irasemacalvillo6851]

Aww it's to late for me, I just did 4 raised beds, but next time I will definitely try this system. Here in SoCal we really need this, not much water available. Thank you for this information!!!!.

[@susanolson4486]

Thanks Luke!

[@tamararoberts9307]

Ty for this video, I learned something again 😀

[@MIgardener]

Glad it helped!

[@mariannatodd7010]

I did not know this was a thing! I guess I accidentally did core gardening when I cleaned up a couple beds and was in too much of a hurry to carry away the weeds, so I just buried the weeds in trenches right in the soil, mulched it, and left it for a while until planting. The pole beans seem to like it! Although I still water every day here in FL, I'm paranoid about my plants wilting.

[@lupuslunainnorcal157]

Hi Luke, I’m a big fan of your channel. I live in drought-ridden CA, and core gardening sounds like an excellent method for conserving our precious H2O. Question: does it apply to container gardening? Thanks!

[@MIgardener]

It is a bit harder in containers because of reduced soil, but you can certainly try it.

[@GreenLove1]

Northern California here - we go 10 months of the year with no rain, and keeping a garden watered is a challenge. I tried this in one of my beds last year. Used it in combination with a really thick layer of mulch (6 inches). And I was able to grow a couple of large vining squash plants in the bed, with huge leaves, in spite of no irrigation. So yes, this works well with the addition of the mulch layer. I would hesitate to use it in containers because of the reduced soil. The core will tie up nitrogen as it is breaking down, so this would not be ideal in a container, unless you are frequently fertilizing. The other thing is you need soil life (worms etc) to break down the core. These are far fewer in containers. But try it and let us know the results!

[@GardeningWarrior]

This is like my composting in place growing containers..I do not know how I missed this video.

[@t.m.button7229]

I am learning so much for you

[@joelyamasaki7780]

I purchased your book, “The Autopilot Garden.” A very good read, definitely, worth the price. How often does the core need to be redone. If it’s every year, doesn’t that equate to tillage? I live in Rancho Cucamonga, CA… hot weather, here. This year I’ve used biochar in my beds and in-ground plantings. Next year I plan to give this core gardening a shot. Also, should all plants be directly over the core? Thank you .

[@deborahtofflemire7727]

I am trying this method this year.

[@doloresreynolds8145]

I hope to try this next year as well.

[@selinanguyentv5125]

chia sẻ hay quá ạ

[@colleenepage]

I did learn something new. I have chickens and constantly have barely used straw I clean out of the coop along with the droppings. I'll be burying that straw next year.

[@carollyncheeyen]

I used bagasse (leftover of sugar cane scrap), compost it or not, bury it in layers with banana peels, fallen leaves and any other vegetative waste I have. All of that I got for free, thanks to local hawkers and trees. I cover all that with soil until the bed is filled. And soil can cost a bit, not to mention the work to transport it. Doing the layering seems to reduce the amount of soil required. As the waste break down and the levels go down, I will either add more soil or compost.

[@cbak1819]

Q? Is there anything you wouldn't recommend.. obviously no weed seeds.. but besides that? Great core gardening video Luke.. I'm doing this next Spring with daylily stems, tall grasses, and straw.

[@ecobluefarms223]

Thanks for sharing Luke and Team this is so timely because being new to TX and having experienced the drought last year and still managed to grow all year for the first time I wondered what could I do for the months of July august which are just waaay too HOT in TX as a norm every year THIS is a summer changer I’ll be buying straw TODAY Question I have used alfalfa pellets in this same way before and I think I learned that from your channel So is that the same thing ?

[@jackieturner7132]

I can’t wait to try this... Can this method also be used for container gardening ?

[@JLFord78]

This popped into my recommendations today, and I have a question...can I use sawdust pellets (like the stuff used for animal bedding) in place of straw? Or how about cedar chips (again, the stuff typically used for animal bedding)? Will those work? Can I cut up some cardboard or use shredded paper (like the stuff from my office shredder)? Love your videos and I'm looking forward to trying to get a fuller garden this year! *crosses fingers* Last couple of years, I've only had the time and energy to do a single potato plant in a single container, but I've got more time this year so I'm going to try to expand to do some cut and come again salad greens, some tomatoes (kinda nervous, not sure what I need to help them as far as cages or such, but that's a video I'll track down soon), peppers, and other stuff. So I will maybe be asking questions on a few more of your videos in the weeks to come!

[@klsimon4]

Good question for @MIgardener We use the compressed paper litter for the bunny. Would the bunny litter then make a good core material in beds or containers?

[@bradleykay]

Great video thanks

[@pennylaur7687]

Also in MI. I watered 2x this year. We had a lot of rain. I use rain barrels at my downspouts n havent even had them empty. Hoping it causes less snow this winter. Not looking forward to shoveling. Lol

[@pumacatD]

Same here in Detroit, MI!: ) My rain barrels were never empty this summer and no need for ever breaking out the hose which obviously keeps the water bill down but also, plants are not exposed to chemical-laden municipal water!

[@jaimezimmerman161]

That's so awesome! I'm definitely going to try this! Would it work just as well using the straw from my chicken coop which is currently residing in my compost pile?

[@demesrvl6761]

Yes! Maybe even better, as long as the manure isn't too hot.

[@cozyoakshomestead832]

was zonering this too with the wood shavings and hemp litter.

[@clipsfromcherie]

This is really good, thank you.

[@8cupsCoffee]

Thanks so much Luke. This year we had two very drought-ey spells and my tomatoes and peppers struggled. I am going to make cores this year. I know you guys are super busy, but I think it would be really wonderful if you could find out more about the indigenous people who used this method and give them a specific shout out and some credit. Sub Saharan Africa is a big place, (I know I don’t have to tell you that, but it’s for the audience’s benefit.) I’m aware that this method has been used in many places and cultures around the world as well, but it means a lot to some of us to really celebrate the specific indigenous cultures that passed on this hard-won gardening wisdom. I’m so glad you mentioned the origins of this method and really appreciate it! And I hope next time we talk about core gardening on your channel you have a little more specific information for us so we can celebrate this cultural knowledge even further. Thanks for all your hard work, I’ve learned so much from your channel.

[@sophisticatmom]

VERY interesting. I'm going to try this next year! Question: is there any point to doing this in a garden bed containing a permanent crop? We're setting up an asparagus bed next year and obviously the core would decompose long before the asparagus have lived out their lifespan. But maybe it would give the roots a better start than they'd normally have?

[@jeanniewahine5443]

At the very least, the roots would establish down deeper where you want them than if you didn't use the core, so I think you're correct about it having a benefit even if it was just for that initial year.

[@familyfruit9833]

A lot like runner bean trenches in the UK, except we use damp newspaper and kitchen scraps.

[@charlestessier7843]

Grazon has been THE number one plague and it’s enough to make Round Up almost seem like a fertilizer by comparison.The most troubling thing about aminopyralids is the fact it goes under different names depending on where you live or what you use it for I.e. in the U.K. the same product is called Front Line . Charles Dowding did a whole show about it which I am sure you’ve more than likely already seen. On a more positive note, I am leaning in my mind to try this method you demonstrated next spring. The straw bales where I live are quite clean . Had one that I used for hot composting and got results I am looking for.

[@jeevnamurlidharan2887]

Thank you so much ☺️