Raised Beds Guide for Beginners! 🤔👩‍🌾// Garden Answer

[@trace9657]

Sunday morning,; fresh hot coffee, a cat in my lap, and gardening videos. This will be the best part of the week.

[@DannySullivanMusic]

Nice!

[@jereynolds51]

You sound like me.

[@laurastout1807]

Sounds perfect :)

[@ssncns]

I feel you.

[@maxinericheson9210]

Me too ❤!

[@missdevemissdeve8266]

It took me a year and a half to get my soil the way i wanted now it's just how i needs it to be. Thank you for your help, and information. ❤❤❤😊😊😊

[@maxinericheson9210]

My husband used old cedar for my raised beds and cedar never rots! Good to know! AND a friend who had a cedar tree cut down and the fellow who cut it down was happy to deliver the chips to our place next to my raised bed! I’m 86 & disabled so I can’t garden 1/4 acres as I did years ago! The chip mound grew cantaloups last year as volunteers from my compost! And we live in the Pacific Northwest! We’re not melon 🍈 country! ❤😂🎉😊😅I’m so pleased & excited! ❤😂

[@weeg0880]

As someone that is just starting my first raised beds, I've been doing all kinds of research and have actually come across the very touchy subject of using Pressure Treated wood in constructing your raised beds. What I've found is that the Arsenic and Chromium based chemicals are no longer used in areas of the market where the wood might be used for residential purposes. That mean if you purchase the wood at a hardware store like Home Depot or Ace Hardware etc. it will use a copper based chemical. All of the wood from Home Depot for example is listed as treated with MCA (micronized copper azole) which is a liquid copper fungicide and liquid copper fungicides are approved for use on certified organic farms. So if you do your research and know what was used to treat the wood, it can actually be used to build a raised bed that will last a long time for less money that Cedar or Redwood costs. I looked into this because the cost of wood is so high right now that to build what I wanted with Cedar or redwood would be far to expensive and would actually mean I couldn't even start.

[@maxinericheson9210]

As I mentioned, my husband used, used (old) cedar! It doesn’t rot ever! I’m happy!❤😂

[@verawallace9055]

Good Sunday morning to everyone, hope everyone is feeling A little better ♥️🙏🙏

[@DannySullivanMusic]

Thanks!

[@georgiacahoone8043]

I am so happy you are thinking of the beginner gardner, I love your videos but sometimes understanding different terms goes over my head. I really do respect all master gardeners and have friends with amazing gardens. But I love it when your videos are for beginners who love to plant and are just starting out do to the inspiration you have instilled in them. Thank you Laura

[@genevapriest6190]

When this present situation eases, check with you university as to Master Gardeners courses in your or nearby counties.

[@papirojo4228]

I was able to get a hold pallets made of heat treated wood that are manufactured and supplies directly to that bakery that produces the Girl Scout cookies for where we live. Since my wife is the troop leader for my daughters group, I was able to get my hands on enough pallets to build fifteen 8’ long x 3’ wide x 40” deep raised beds. I had a major T5-S1 spinal fusion, so the height is perfect. I made myself a rolling cart with a seat with room for all of my supplies. I was able to get free wood chips, sans eucalyptus and black walnut, and filled the bottom 24 inches with the free wood chips and topped it all of with an acid mix from one of my favorite nurseries. Last season gave me the largest harvest I’ve ever had.

[@surf2trails]

Thank you for this. Just starting to plan the installation of raised beds and start a garden which I've never done before. You made this far less daunting than it seems as a beginner. Thanks!

[@marymarks7046]

Definitely brings hope to me about having a kitchen garden. I grew up in small city and lived in a duplex with a small yard. My dad utilized the spaces we had beautifully. We didn’t have raised beds. I remember my dad using a sifting box to sift the soil and bags of “things” to fortify the soil. Then he purchased plants from a local nursery peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, green beans, of course salad greens and garlic. He also planted marigolds and zinnias as well. His garden always looked amazing and he weeded the garden on a regular basis.

[@lisawalters5482]

Good review of this type gardening. We started several years ago, and now our bed frames need to be replaced. My number 1 tip would be NO MITERED CORNERS. Lol. They tend to swell open after used a couple of years. They look wonderful in the beginning but they will not stay that way. Thanks Laura. I love the size and lay out of your garden. Tfs. 👏🏻💕🌸

[@Sun-Soul]

Yes! Laura has said this herself a few times. No mitered corners! Some lessons are learned the hard way. 😞

[@aolson8185]

What is a mitered corner?

[@pennysimmons7316]

@@aolson8185 2 - 45 degree cuts brought together to form the 90 degree corner angle. It's better to use 2- 90 degree angle ends, one butted flat over the other instead, because the middle, diagonal seam of the 2 - 45s won't stay together like it first starts, and it will end up looking gappy and untidy.

[@Edu_Kate]

@@pennysimmons7316 And for added strength, add a 1-inch square block/post inside the corner.

[@cynthiafisher9907]

Kate Hillenbrand I’d say, more like a 2-4” block of wood.

[@marilynbaldwin2934]

Good Morning a sunny Sunday here in Pennsylvania very helpful video! Always nice to hear information about doing veggie gardens thank you Laura!

[@orrfamily641]

Just a little side note. Having been in construction and you mentioned being tempted to use soil from your neighbors piles be very aware that most excavator's DON'T scrape off the top layer of dirt (which has more anaerobic material within it. Depending on your area you live in most soil that is below 14 to 20 inches is what we call overburden and its in simple terms what we call dead soil, meaning it has fewer nutrients and more densely compacted. Having worked in pits they pile all this dirt off to the side and sell it as top soil or a blend mixed with the overburden soil .

[@robinscaramella6091]

This video couldn’t come at the perfect time! I am going to start a raised bed garden for the first time this year and your video really helped me make decisions on what to use, plant, etc...Thank you so much for the tips!

[@MichiganGardenGal]

I love my raised beds! Definitely a game changer. I find for me it’s a lot easier on my back and body. I still have to get down, but it’s not as bad! 🤗 Thank you for sharing! I love all of the clips you guys included in of the different kinds of raised beds.

[@maxinericheson9210]

I can’t get down for anything! I’m so disabled that if I get down someone has to pick me up! Had to call 911 for help! Raised beds is all I can do! I walk with a walker indoors and a scooter 🛵 outside!😊😮😢❤

[@vallis1469]

Talk about timing...this is fabulously perfect! Thank you. We are starting today on a raised garden section of our yard. This has helped me make some decisions. Thank you!!

[@robingrunzweig1880]

great information!! i love my raised beds! my yard/gardening area is small, and i love having a dedicated area for veggies and herbs that doesn't take away from my other plants and flowers, altho i do mix some plants in with my flowers, etc... raised beds are easy!! i would just add to make sure that you don't build them too large; in other words, make sure you can reach from one side to the other, or you have plenty of room to walk around all sides so you can access and work in the beds... fun stuff.. so thrilled to see so many people this year into growing food! i think it's a great idea

[@sana5762]

Instant gratification! Laura gets me the most!😉😊

[@adriankap2978]

First, THANK YOU FOR THE BEGINNER series you're doing! SOOO helpful! I'd like to do a taller raised bed with double height of 2x12"'s. For the bottom 12" what can I add that takes up the space before adding the top 2x12's with the soil? In a smaller planter I put in empty water bottles on the bottom but it's defeating the purpose of "organic". I'm paying $14/bag for the Espoma Raised Bed Mix so that's really expensive and not an option. I'm just looking for idea's. We have underground critters that every year I feed them some very expensive labor of love high quality plant roots into their diet and I had to stop. So what I did was to do 2x12 raised beds with 1/4" hardware cloth below the wood, layer of small "washed" gravel on top then liner before adding the Espoma, Soil Protector/Permatil for drainage and critter deterrent (moles and voles and maybe gophers) and BioTone (Love that stuff!) will be added when I start my planting. Lots to unpack I know but appreciate any advice and ideas. All the best and warm wishes to all.

[@madebymightywords2425]

I noticed at the beginning of the video you showed a clip of you adding your leaf mulch and bone meal that you did in the fall. How did that do for you? Did it break down as you had hoped? I’d love an update on that process for adding nutrients back into the soil. We are blessed with large silver maple trees and I’d like to be able to try this in my raised beds this fall as we get far more leaves than we have room for in our compost tumbler.

[@aolson8185]

Yes please. An update would be lovely.

[@colleenwnek3404]

This is my fourth year gardening in raised beds and this video answered how I'll fertilize them this year with the bagged fertilizer products. I also recommend topping the beds with a sprinkling of coffee grounds and a couple of inches of shredded fall leaves. Worms love that and you can push it aside to plant in the spring and then move it back when it gets hot to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. These methods also apply to containers and grow bags. The worms won't get in but the soil still benefits from the extra TLC. And the containers are portable so I move them around the perimeter of the raised beds, depending on what I'm growing and how the sunlight moves during the growing season. Thanks again, Laura, for the great info!

[@mariafolch8067]

Does it matter how old your coffee grounds are?

[@beckyc104]

And question number seven. Which one of those fabulous concrete pieces you got this winter is going in the center of the veggie beds?

[@sammielou7412]

Glad you said not to use treated lumber. I have seen a lot of videos that don’t address this. The chemicals can leech into the soil and then into the plants. Treated lumber often has arsenic in it to repel insects/pests.

[@ruthsalinas9479]

Someone built me a raised bed but after watching this video I’m worried the wood could’ve been treated with chemicals. How do I know for sure? Is there anything I can do to remove possible chemicals in the wood?

[@sammielou7412]

@@ruthsalinas9479 I really don’t know how you can tell without the original tags being on the boards. I don’t think the chemicals can be removed. My husband works in construction so he knows what to use for different projects based on what their function will be, so I leave all those decisions to him. He usually uses untreated cypress or cedar when he does anything for gardens because the wood is naturally rot resistant. You could contact a local landscaper or garden center to ask questions, they will probably be able to help.

[@julietaylor7094]

Laura you have been such an inspiration! Thank you so much for using your beautiful talents and positive influence in such a negative world. My question is are brick raised beds food safe?

[@chrissy3742]

Would you do a video for how to store bulbs correctly? When to dig then up, how to prep them, where to store (garage okay?). And then when to replant? Is it the same for container bulbs and just wanting to move bulbs around in your garden? Thanks!

[@bettyhuey9521]

You made this video just for me. 😉 I have raised beds on the way from Gardener's Supply. Although I have been growing more flowers since retirement, this is the first time I am attempting vegetables, except for tomatoes in a patio pot. Thank you for all the good information you share. I learn so much from a lady young enough to be my granddaughter.

[@ChickGardener]

Always such good info! This is my second year gardening and first year doing melons (watermelon, cantaloupe and honey dew) on cattle panel which are growing like crazy in my Zone 8a garden where it’s super hot so I can’t agree not to do melons depending on where you live. I have a TON of melons! They’re my most favorite and I’m super excited to harvest them soon.

[@joannmorford905]

Laura, Ambrosia Cantaloupe grows great in our area. I live in Boise and I have good luck with it here.

[@mathurinelouis4528]

She is so good and on point

[@pamnapier-uhl1362]

Could you remind us and are you happy with how much space is between the beds and what is the distance in your center isle? I want to have room for the wheelbarrow and be able to move around it comfortably too!

[@onemoredoll5791]

I can't find where anyone talks about how far to space the beds in a small backyard. Also, in a small back yard what is better a larger 4x8 or 4x10 raised bed or smaller beds?

[@tamit2392]

Thanks for the videos! I watch them every morning with my coffee. I garden in the midwest - Iowa. I have had bad luck planting strawberries in raised beds because they heave out of the soil over the winter with the thaws and freezes. Because of that, I try to just plant annual plants in my raised beds. I haven't had that same problem with rhubarb or asparagus.

[@ashleyskogen7838]

Im in MN and my rhubarb is so happy. I don't do a thing with it.. but I can't get asparagus to grow... I have no idea why.. 🤷‍♀️

[@margaretroberts6258]

I have had great success with galvanized cattle water troughs! They last forever and are easy to control weeds....

[@conniewright8080]

Always use "hardware cloth" in bottom BEFORE putting in the soil (keeps out ground moles or gophers)

[@NYMusic89563]

Connie Wright. that is such a great idea !

[@conniewright8080]

@@NYMusic89563 I saw this information on a Amish you tube showing us how to build raised beds & what kind of dirt to put in them..so I can not take the credit... here is the video link kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3rZhIB_rLeol5I

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

I was going to suggest the same thing! Voles and ground squirrels (chipmonks) are our nemesis here! Hardware cloth under raised beds would save a lot of heartache!

[@easyteh4getperson]

@@conniewright8080 amish doing youtube? sounds like it's against their beliefs...

[@Mrs.Jekyll]

what about sertan bugs? (I live in the desert)

[@lindakemer4950]

Do you have recommended flowers that would work best for attracting pollinators and/or repellants for bugs? Years ago I heard that marigolds were the go to flower for that reason. Thanks for all your amazing videos!

[@nannetteoswalt4138]

Hi. 2 years ago, you did a video setting up raised beds using the corners made by Gardeners Supply. You’re current beds do not use those corners, and in fact, you recently commented how you would not recommend mitered corners in the future. Is there a reason you did not continue to use the Gardeners Supply corners? Thank you!

[@malloryrecord2345]

After lots of thinking and dreaming about our garden space, I think I’ll be building raised beds this year. I’m new to vegetable gardening but want to do this all organically. Can you recommend the products you use for insect control in your garden and why? I have seen some mixed in to videos, but a recap like this how-to for raised beds would be so helpful. I’ve been watching you for years and can’t tell you enough how inspiring and refreshing your videos are!

[@j_stuchbury2123]

I love your educational videos, this one is very timely. Many people are starting a 2020 version of victory gardens. The best message you send is if you grow it, you control the conditions your crops are raised under. Can you go one step further for beginners and share compatible crops? Also, Is it important to rotate your crops from year to year in your raised beds as it is if you plant in a field or can you simply replenish nutrients in your soil by tailoring what you add to it?

[@mariafolch8067]

You may want to follow @bigcitygardener on Instagram. He puts out info like what you asked and he is very informative, like Laura. As to rotating your crops in beds, I understand that you should rotate them or change the soil. This year I removed the soil from all the large pots I was using to plant tomatoes and will put fresh garden soil instead. Some other pots, I will amend the soil and will plant a different vegetable. I hope this will help.

[@aolson8185]

I also have this question. Which crops to rotate where? Or is it even necessary?

[@mariafolch8067]

@@aolson8185 check out @bigcitygardener IG account. He talks about this. I know that you do have to rotate them to maintain soil fertility each season-or even in the same season, you can preserve and even boost nutrients in the soil. Differing crops use different amounts of soil nutrients and a few crops add nutrients to the soil. For pots use brand new soil every other year while amending it in between; then, change it all together, for a better yield.

[@aolson8185]

@@mariafolch8067 Thank you! I will check out @bigcitygardener and appreciate your tips.❤️

[@jonicarter9684]

Planting in our garden yesterday. Add a blueberry and blackberry bush and used the espoma berry tone.

[@shaunafleming5423]

Laura, I noticed that in your video on setting up raised bed you started with the shallower beds and now in this video you have 2 x 12 redwood beds. Do you have a video on building these beds?

[@lulubell711]

I have a silly question... do you till up the area or break up the native soil before you put together the raised bed? Do the roots grow down to the ground and if they do...& the ground's too hard what happens? I have a raised bed and I pulled back the cardboard, all the soil, compost, I laid down underneath the added soil, but my native soil under the cardboard, (clay), is still hard as a rock, I mean like literally. Thanks😊

[@camicri4263]

Happy Sunday to you! Thanks for the information! Very useful! I pray everyone is safe, hugs and love from across country! To both your families and siblings.🙏🙏🙏🤗🤗🤗💜💜💜💜❤

[@maxinericheson9210]

You too!

[@joannpilgrim1425]

Thanks for all your videos. I watch each and everyone of them. Stay safe.

[@GardeningWise]

I have set up my raised beds for the first time and I am so excited. I agree with everything you said and I think its my biggest achievement to upgrade to a raised bed from growing in patio pots. Last year I grew vegetables in garden beds as we do have really good soil here but still I want to grow in raised beds or at least in pots as things are so easy to control.

[@chompsmom6336]

I appreciate your videos so much ❤️. I've just built a raised bed from my gazebo frame that didn't survive my northeastern winter, and I lined it with leftover vinyl siding. It actually looks great LOL ! Times like these you use what you have! I'm very excited to get started with planting and appreciate you sharing your knowledge 😊❤️

[@susanlettis9085]

So excited to build my raised beds! Picking up some hemlock tomorrow (cost effective and can’t find any cedar or redwood where I live - I’ve heard people using hemlock around here). Thank you for sharing! And thank you for doing such a great job posting videos every day - your videos and my coffee are the first part of my morning routine. :-)

[@Edu_Kate]

About ten years ago, I used a broken-off pressure-treated post (back when I had a retractable clothesline) as straight edging with a small hedge along my foundation. Looks like I'm going to have to replace it this year as it's pretty much all rotted away. I had cedar boards for raised-bed vegetable gardens and never got around to filling them with soil. Last year, I discovered the bottoms in contact with the ground were rotted. Guess I'll repurpose the 4' boards as bed edging.

[@sherik233]

Susan, I think Niki Jabbour uses hemlock for her raised beds up in Nova Scotia.

[@venkatmaddi1760]

Thanks Laura for this wonderful episode it answers almost every question I had on raised beds

[@DannySullivanMusic]

She's awesome!

[@twilarogers1822]

I thought you started out with cedar raised beds with gardeners supply corners. Why did you change?? Love your videos, started watching years ago!! Told a lot of people about you and now they watch you too!!

[@margierousu468]

Love love my raised beds and I first became interested in them watching your videos! Last summer everything I planted in them did beautifully ! Very good information here for beginners 😊

[@jonathanmaner1157]

I appreciate the comment about the hard water. I'm new and my pepper plants are already dying, I believe, because of the water and I wasn't doing any targeted watering. I strategically placed a soaker hose and I'm going to see how that works. I want so bad to be successful!

[@carolbeatty2468]

Coffee with Laura and lots of good information this morning. I want to put in more raised beds up where I work at the Child Development Center so will use some of this info as a way to get my work mates on board!! Thanks for all the good information as it really helps!

[@KateLB1027]

I’m a beginner, and this was very helpful!

[@audreywy1743]

Good morning, I'm doing my 1st raised bed garden this year. I just received my irrigation parts from your previous video and will be doing that this week. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@peggyfleming656]

My husband is actually interested in building raised beds for me this year, so we'll see if he follows through!

[@boxwoodlaneflowers2972]

Or you could consider purchasing a raised kit with a few screws

[@mrs.m4702]

Thankful for you, Laura. We’re doing our first raised garden and this was wisdom so needed! God bless you and your family.🌸🦋

[@rahmanhussain153]

This is such a great video Laura - thank you for posting! These are exactly the things most of us have been thinking - so glad you've answered them! 😊

[@DannySullivanMusic]

She rules!

[@leesaaugustine1444]

What a great video guide for beginners! I wish I had something like this when I was a beginner! 🙂🌱🍓🥕🥔🍆🌽🥦🥬🥒

[@nataliegraves304]

Thank you, this is to the point and easy for me to understand! I’ve been to many different gardening videos so this is very helpful!

[@soniacirocco2632]

Good morning! Please explain a little bit about the domes in the bed behind you... What are the valves at the top used for? Also... Can you start seeds under them outside using seeding soil, and under what light conditions. Thank you so much for your wonderful videos. You have taught us all so much.

[@colormeorchid]

This is such a great video and one of the best beginner friendly ones I’ve watched. Thank you so much for making this!!

[@vlrissolo]

off topic, you really have beautiful hair! love it longer in this video, of course you have a new baby, but being a stylist with unruly hair myself, i find longer hair is BY FAR easier to keep from hanging in your face. Simply creating cute looks like quick twists and messy buns are fast and flattering!!! ... btw, I'm going to make a raised flower bed at my condo! thanks for all of the info and inspiration!

[@missholly709]

Is there a chance you could do a video on pruning your Summerific Hisbiscus? Mine are all sprouting up from the ground and it would be really nice to know exactly how low I can prune last year's wood.

[@vivac2268]

What do you put in the bottom before you add soil? Landscape paper, cardboard or do you dig into the soil?

[@rebeccawoodbixler9536]

Every question I might have right now about raised beds you answered. Thank you!🥕🥒🥦🥬

[@mariafolch8067]

I am so glad you decided to make this video, as I am getting ready to prepare a site for raised beds. Questions: 1. Did you include a wooden floor on your beds or is it just the outside boards put together and the soil on top of the existing ground? 2. Did you treat the wood with some oil to preserve and protect it? 3. Do you replace some of the old soil every so often or do you just amend it? 4. Can you add the link to when you first built your beds? If possible, can you edit this video and add it to it? 4. I wish you make a video just about watering, sprinklers, soakers versus drip and how to determine which size and kind of hose to use for various scenarios including the length, etc. As always, you are very thorough, enthusiastic and a great source for our gardening needs. Thanks for this video. 🥕🥦🥒🌽🌿👍

[@evaboldt653]

Thanks Laura. Would appreciate an update on the Beautiful foliage plants for part shade video from about 10 months ago, please. Would be helpful to know how these plants are doing this year before I plan my own shade garden.

[@janetstanley8840]

We are putting in raised beds this week, thank you for the timely video!

[@rvpark8327]

To this day this is still a super helpful video! Im thinking ahead to next spring and almost have decided to do 2 or 3 raised beds?😁

[@micheledispirito7906]

This video is so helpful!! Especially with which soil to use and the kitchen garden sheet! Thank you!!

[@katherinecornette5315]

I just changed out my old wooden raised beds for cement cinder blocks. I needed something more substantial here in N Carolina as we have heavy rains throughout the growing season. My challenge is setting up drip system from our well but am looking forward to growing a good harvest this year. I agree that raised beds are the way to go. We have clay soil, sloped land and tenacious weeds. Great video👍🌸🌱🍅

[@christinabentley8222]

How do you prevent chipmunks and squirrels from eating all your crop? Raised beds are impossible for us to yield anything that doesn't get demolished by the critters. Have also had trouble finding a good covered raised bed tall enough for tomatoes that prevent those guys- thinking about trying to build one. Thanks Laura- you inspire me every day!

[@PeculiarFinds]

Great stuff! There are so many benefits to raised beds. We made some on our piece of land out of whole round logs, they are brilliant and look great too 👍🏼.

[@buzzyanderson4131]

I would love to see a picture

[@Betruetoyou4444]

@@buzzyanderson4131 me toooo

[@seanmadden3620]

Thanks so much for the link to the Kitchen Garden Planner. Just what I need.

[@beckyscheller9358]

Would add to not use old railroad ties. As these have chemicals in them. Good information.

[@ElisabethFWScott]

We have been working on constructing new raised beds this year, using dry stacked rocks from around our property, cannot wait to be finished and plant! 🥦🍓🥗🥒🥕

[@suzanneb5229]

I've always wanted to have a raised bed for some veggies and I think this is a good year to start. It will help with my back and knee issues. Maybe a taller one to keep the bunnies out and a lower one for some corn. Not only do I love corn but I would like the stalks for fall decorations. Is there a variety that tastes good and has pretty stalks? I got seeds for some small blue pumpkins but hope I have enough room for them, any suggestions on how to keep them contained? Love your videos! 🌸

[@colsen4616]

Suzanne B I’m trying mini pumpkins on a trellis this year as my full-sun space is limited. Its also supposed to help with air circulation so maybe it’ll help keep powdery mildew at bay. I’ve even seen some trellises growing full-sized pumpkins and melons using little slings to support the fruit.

[@suzanneb5229]

@@colsen4616 thank you, that's a great idea

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

Just wanted to tell you something I learned about growing corn... squirrels love it! You may want to come up with a way to keep them out of your corn if you have them in your area. We have a fence around our garden to keep the deer out, but it does nothing to deter the squirrels. I would be looking out my kitchen window doing dishes and see a whole stalk of corn go "timber!" as the squirrels chewed through the bottom of the stalk! Lol! Little stinkers!

[@shellric4538]

Hi, I've got 2 raised garden beds waiting to be filled. Wanting to grow veggies and herbs but wondering if you have any suggestions as what to start with? I'd like to keep it "green" throughout the summer. Thanks!

[@Mel-jt5fl]

Gardeners Supply is a great company, but they are having trouble, at least for us, being able to get in stock and ship these styles of raised beds. It is more than understandable due to the times we are going through, so just a heads up, even if something says it is in stock, they are getting orders that are requiring a very long wait time (again at least for us). We ordered one of the 8' long cedar raised beds with legs, beautiful, but we see no sign as of today that it will ship anytime soon. It is also coming from the East Coast (we are in California). I am figuring out what to do with my vege starts, since I am guessing we have weeks to go before we may hopefully see it. You get a lot of things from Gardeners Supply, so with the enormous following that you have, maybe you don't know the issues they are struggling with. We ordered ours on April 1st, and it has gone out of stock twice now. We will keep waiting, but just know, it may be a very long wait time. They are trying really hard, and I do appreciate it.

[@peoniesanddahliaz]

Hi Laura, I am addicted to your videos and love seeing your various garden projects. You have a GORGEOUS garden! Could you please share where you get your garden arbors and the metal orbs in your pots from?

[@Eshamichelle]

Hello. I would love to know what is the foundation is under your raised beds. Other than the obvious gravel ofcourse. ie; just gravel over the existing soil? Or, landscape fabric, then gravel? Thank you in advance. 🤍

[@jugglinglifewithpurpose]

You are always such a wealth of knowledge and you explain thing so well. Thank you!!

[@terrya.]

Can you put a raised bed right on top of grass? Should you use a barrier between the grass and dirt, (like landscape cloth), or should you dig all of the grass out first?

[@ellison2024]

Terry A. Generally yes to remove. However a tip is to put cardboard or other things to smother the grass. The Rusted Garden does a series which is more detailed about building and more cognizant of the cost/effort.

[@jojoolson]

If I was to do a taller raised bed like the one you showed in the video. Does the whole container need to be the same soil? or can you put something else at the bottom of it as 'filler'?

[@dianebevans6864]

So a couple of questions. We are slowly going to raised beds. We had rows of strawberries that we moved last year to two raised beds, but there is a lot of spacing in between, can I companion plant with them, and if so, is there a good link to go to, to know which crops to intermingle.

[@bonnieroux6913]

Great timing Laura! With everything going on in the world these days, I think more people are focused on becoming more self sufficient. I'm sure this will be so helpful!

[@anortherngardener8918]

Do you have advice on how to prepare your raised vegetable garden beds for winter? Do you cover your soil? Or leave it exposed then add compost to the top in the spring? Or another answer! Thank you

[@rebekahtodd3293]

My question is, what hair color do you use?! I love it! Love the cut and color!

[@christianhansen3292]

long time no see/ this is refreshing esp. during Quarantine, happy spring.

[@debbiejacks2085]

Can you please talk about cool season crops and if you can plant those more than once per season or if you can plant cool season seeds, harvest them and then plant something else in that spot? This is my first time planting in raised beds and I’m so excited!

[@joygalbreath5856]

Question: Can you explain how you handle your newly arrived/received plants? During these times many of us are having to order our plants online for the first time, I know I could use a little guidance. Thank you for your videos and other social media outlets as they are such a wonderful source of inspiration and motivation.

[@victoriagarrett2200]

What do you have under the dome covers? Love your channel💜

[@GardeningWise]

Laura I saw you built a wooden lattice raised bed few months ago and you put it somewhere near your kitchen. Have you still got it and are you going to plant it again? I have got some similar raised beds and I have planted mine with peas alongside the lattice and radishes in front.

[@TheStabbyGinger]

Another raised bed option we do a lot of in Australia is Galvanised Steel Raised Beds, they last for ever!

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

Do you have to drill holes in them for drainage? And do you fill the whole depth with soil or something else on the bottom?

[@TheStabbyGinger]

@@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane Hi there, they're the same structure as Laura's beds just made out of Galvanised Steel instead of Wood, so there's no bottom at all. Also they're the same height so I just fill mine with a specific veggie garden soil mix from my local nursery :)

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

@@TheStabbyGinger Oh, I see what you're saying... I was picturing a large tub of sorts, with a metal bottom. Lol! That's really cool, and good to know they last a long time! I saw some corragated metal ones online, but didn't know much about them. We've been trying to think of an economical way to have tall raised beds... like knee or waist high because both of our backs are wrecked. We'll probably end up making some because they all seem so expensive to buy online. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@ronimiller1875]

I'm so glad you said that about watermelons! I grew some, but picked them too early and then too late! LOL

[@DelightfulSouvenirs]

Thank you for this information. I love the layout of your raised bed garden. I started with 2 raised beds in the backyard and I do wish I watched this first before starting. My beds are in a shadowy part of the backyard. May have to redo.

[@joanned951]

Thank you. What are your thoughts on putting down hardware cloth or weed cloth before putting the actual boxes down on the ground? Or, do you put any weed cloth inside the box?

[@michelealaimo4931]

Have you ever planted in bags? I have flower beds in front of my house and no back yard. I have quite a large front porch and the one side gets sun all day. I bought 5 10 gallon planting bags and a strawberry bag this year to start growing vegetables. I was wondering if you ever tried and what success you may have had with them.

[@ellison2024]

Yes! I have even grown micro greens in the soil bag. I used planting bags for the first time last year on a porch (meaning they too couldn’t absorb water from the ground). Speaking generally, plants that do not like wet feet seemed to thrive. Herbs, petunias etc were so happy. The hot peppers seem to love it too. Tomatoes were happy but had to watch the water and type. Some excellent videos out there about it.

[@emmalavenham]

We have had great luck using a seaweed-based fertilizer, particularly in terms of crop yield... The biggest challenge in our experience is managing fungal diseases. Any advice on how to combat the most common ones, particularly tomatoes?

[@CYRiPKK1]

I mostly plant in ground but last year I decided to give raised bed a go, I used the cheapest untreated wood I could find in the hardware store and had it painted to stop water from penetrating. Not even a year has passed and it already cracked on one side. Moral of the story, don’t be tempted to try the seemingly cheaper option, it’s not cheap in the end.

[@maxinericheson9210]

See if you can get used cedar! It doesn’t rot & won’t crack either!😊😮😢❤

[@CYRiPKK1]

@@maxinericheson9210 Thanks for the awesome advice!

[@thewhiteshores1371]

This is nuts I was up all night looking at ways to make a raise bed and then you guys release this 😍 need a way to stop puppy thinking everything is a chew toy 🙄🙏🏻🤞🏻 x

[@noorchamberlain8103]

Hi Laura, thanks for all the great tips! What would be the best surface to have the beds resting on? I know you have them on pebbles, is that necessary? Can I set mine on my grass?

[@melissamiew4056]

Question - Do you ever start beans inside or do you direct sow those? Or do you even grow them at all? Finally going to be using my raised bed this year. Got some new stuff like Okra and garlic chives starting in their trays under lights. Lot's of lettuce and flowers. Most of my food that my family enjoy are direct seeding plants, like corn and beans.