Stop WASTING MONEY Filling Raised Beds! Fill Them Like This.

In this video, I share how to fill raised garden beds with the best garden soil mix for as cheaply as possible. Gardeners spend way too much money filling raised garden beds with expensive, pre-bagged mixes and unnecessary additives like peat moss, coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite, but that is a mistake. Stop wasting money filling raised beds! Fill them like this.
This method of filling a raised bed can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars depending on the size of your garden. Don't pay high prices for soil at big box stores!
How To Make Potting Soil: • Make Your Own PREMIUM ...
I use the following products* were featured in this video or used for raised bed gardening:
Raised Bed Kit (4ft X 2ft): amzn.to/49bjdWa
Raised Bed Kit (6ft X 3ft): amzn.to/3TPAnnP
Raised Bed Kit (8ft X 2ft): amzn.to/3voCKoc
Grow Bags (Many Sizes): amzn.to/4a0MHa5
Perlite (4 Cu Ft): amzn.to/4cy8OXh
Vermiculite (Coarse, 4 Cu Ft): amzn.to/4cuU6Af
Vermiculite (Medium, 4 Cu Ft): amzn.to/4cwAr3e
Coco Coir (2.5 Cu Ft): amzn.to/4asr1Ul
Coco Coir (5 Cu Ft): amzn.to/4crhbnB
Jobe's Organic Vegetable Fertilizer (4lbs): amzn.to/45YHmh2
Jobe's Fruit & Nut Fertilizer (4lbs): amzn.to/3sI3OwW
Alaska Fish Fertilizer: amzn.to/3XP5EHU
Burpee Bone Meal (3lb): amzn.to/48bcBGw
Jobe's Bone Meal (4lb): amzn.to/3uC5klp
True Organic Blood Meal (3lb): amzn.to/49IkFk3
Espoma Plant Tone (36lbs): amzn.to/3Zgk98f
Jack's All Purpose 20-20-20 (1.5lb): amzn.to/3MQ4I2A
Jack's Blossom Booster 10-30-20 (1.5lb): amzn.to/3KyPTzg
Jack's / JR Peters All Purpose 20-20-20 (25lb): amzn.to/44DUV58
Jack's Blossom Booster 10-30-20 (25lb): amzn.to/45FIuXh
Grow More All Purpose 20-20-20 (25 lb): amzn.to/44pSQK2
Full Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/themillen...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Container Garden VS Raised Bed Garden
2:34 The True Purpose Of Raised Garden Beds
4:29 Why Potting Soil Is Wrong For Raised Beds
5:27 Detailed Soil Cost Analysis
10:48 How To Dramatically Reduce Soil Cost
13:21 How To Fill A Deep Raised Bed
14:46 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about how to fill a raised garden bed, want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and "how to" garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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VISIT MY AMAZON STOREFRONT FOR PRODUCTS I USE MOST OFTEN IN MY GARDEN*
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EQUIPMENT I MOST OFTEN USE IN MY GARDEN*:
Miracle-Gro Soluble All Purpose Plant Food amzn.to/3qNPkXk
Miracle-Gro Soluble Bloom Booster Plant Food amzn.to/2GKYG0j
Miracle-Gro Soluble Tomato Plant Food amzn.to/2GDgJ8n
Jack's Fertilizer, 20-20-20, 25 lb. amzn.to/3CW6xCK
Southern Ag Liquid Copper Fungicide amzn.to/2HTCKRd
Southern Ag Natural Pyrethrin Concentrate amzn.to/2UHSNGE
Monterey Organic Spinosad Concentrate amzn.to/3qOU8f5
Safer Brand Caterpillar Killer (BT Concentrate) amzn.to/2SMXL8D
Cordless ULV Fogger Machine amzn.to/36e96Sl
Weed Barrier with UV Resistance amzn.to/3yp3MaJ
Organza Bags (Fig-size) amzn.to/3AyaMUz
Organza Bags (Tomato-size) amzn.to/36fy4Re
Injection Molded Nursery Pots amzn.to/3AucVAB
Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips amzn.to/3wiBjlB
Nylon Mason Line, 500FT amzn.to/3wd9cEo
Expandable Vinyl Garden Tape amzn.to/3jL7JCI
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Me on TWITTER (@NCGardening) / ncgardening
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ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8B
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*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #raisedbedgarden #raisedbedgardening

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please “Like” and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching😊TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 Container Garden VS Raised Bed Garden 2:34 The True Purpose Of Raised Garden Beds 4:29 Why Potting Soil Is Wrong For Raised Beds 5:27 Detailed Soil Cost Analysis 10:48 How To Dramatically Reduce Soil Cost 13:21 How To Fill A Deep Raised Bed 14:46 Adventures With Dale

[@jedpusczykowski4955]

@@TheMillennialGardener you are and engineer. Didn't you cover a fertilizer mix ratio to get the percentage you want?

[@oliverhel9629]

So there where your doing volume, run that number against a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood @ I thinK 1'3" heighdth

[@marybethr6798]

what do you use for containers?

[@dontcarejustwatchvid]

Your whole channel and persona makes so much more sense when you state that you are an engineer by trade. Great attention to detail! Peace.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Uh oh. That could be interpreted in many ways 😆

[@dontcarejustwatchvid]

ALL positive my friend. @@TheMillennialGardener

[@emilybarner3440]

I too had an 'ah, yes. That makes sense' moment when I first heard you mention being an​ engineer. 😂@@TheMillennialGardener one of our dear friends is an engineer and a gardener and I see many similarities -- very methodical!

[@1boortzfan]

I must have missed that somehow... what kind of engineer are you if you don't mind me asking?​@@dontcarejustwatchvid

[@Earthy-Artist]

@@TheMillennialGardener You also have warmth, joy, care, helpfulness, and lets not forget love of dogs. Initially those are what drew me to your channel. And how thorough, orderly, calm, focused, planned, organized, and educational your content is which kept me here. So finding out a while back that your an engineer certainly does seem to fit your M/O {modus operandi }!

[@katcruz876]

My dad is so proud of all of the hard work that I've put into my container gardening that he wants to make me 2 raised beds 🥲 I'm 26...he's 47 and has been having heart problems lately I love him so much and I hope we have lots of time to grow tomatoes and strawberries together ❤

[@RealBradMiller]

🫂 wishing best health and luck to both you and your father! I just built to raised beds from an old fence. Dwarf peas just popped up in one of them! Cheers!

[@weitang1196]

Great dad. My parents did not give me anything at all. My mom still has no idea how to plan to plant or take good care of plants(aka, she only knows watering daily, lol). I'm the one taking care of the garden I built for her. I need to move on with my life eventually after everything is done here. It's a long story.

[@Mrsmetamorphosis2012]

@@weitang1196honor ur parents. U will never ever regret it!

[@Mrsmetamorphosis2012]

Your dad is young to have ❤ problems. Did he get the covid vax n boosters?

[@weitang1196]

@@Mrsmetamorphosis2012 My dad is almost 60; it's nothing about age; it's a personality thing. I have no idea. We haven't seen each other for nearly ten years

[@shirleysuchdolski6042]

I lucked out and got peat moss for 4.99 at Tractor Supply. They were leftover from last year. Regularly $14.99

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's pure luck. I wouldn't bank on that. Talk about being at the right place at the right time.

[@isabellalucia7820]

But the wrong place for the mine where it was harvested. There is no way to harvest peat moss sustainably (it takes decades and requires specific circumstances to grow) , no matter what it says on the package. Please don’t buy peat moss unless you are growing plants that require an extremely low Ph.

[@mslascorpia]

The coco coir is great and kinda fun to watch expand.

[@meemaw100]

I got peat moss for $6.99

[@purplesocks9745]

@@mslascorpia Kinda expensive

[@terrinegron]

Thanks for mentioning the Hugelkultur method. I used that method on my deep raised beds and 3 years later the whole deep bed was full of incredible rich soil to grow my veggies.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I figured it would come up, so I wanted to try and be thorough.

[@sherriianiro747]

Same here!

[@SandyStallard]

Mine sinks every year!

[@barbaraflagg983]

nutrients in __food out, nutrients in-- food out__etc@@SandyStallard

[@MrIamnoone]

@terrinegron Do you need to keep topping off your Hugelkultur bed or do you keep planting as it sinks? My 2 year old Hugelkultur raised bed has sank to half its original depth.

[@Planzman1]

If I might add: I got this info from Scott and Helen Nearings’ book, go to the gravel yard with a bucket and get some gravel dust ( I think it’s called M10) and put a couple cups in each new bed and mix well. Adds necessary source of minerals that plants can get and last a long long time. Enjoy your videos. Cheers.

[@mpsorrentino]

I think it's fair to note that sometimes raised beds are being used for plants with particular needs such as Blueberries with their acidity requirements so topsoil and compost alone aren't going to be enough at the end of the day it really comes down to what you're trying to grow and where you're trying to grow it.

[@bevkelly2734]

I fill my beds halfway with shredded cardboard it rots down over time and worms love. I give them cardboard they give me castings. It’s a win win. 👍🏻

[@pmd428]

Cardboard has glue and chemicals in it, I would never put that in my garden bed.

[@tuxedocatpicasso8917]

Thank you so much for the time and effort to calculate the cost. I just built 2 raised beds and took a Square Foot Gardening class. First I racked my brain trying to find the ingredients and when I calculated the cost I thought, I’m trying to save money on my grocery bill by growing my own food. This is NOT going to help! I think I will go with your recommendation. I sincerely appreciate your channel!

[@sandrahawkins7328]

FYI...I live in upstate SC. Tractor Supply always has the best prices for peat. Right now it is $14.99. Love your channel. I have been gardening all my life. I learned from my dad. I am now 67. Never too old to learn. Thank you!!

[@Earthy-Artist]

I wonder how much my Tractor Supply in NJ sells if for? Here at Home Depot it's about $23.97 a 3 cu. ft. bale, eeek!!

[@DeniseLSessler]

We started out with the SFG method so we made 'Mel's Mix' - equal parts peat, compost and vermiculite. We have learned to fill some of the deeper beds with some limbs and shredded leaves, then add 'Mel's Mix' for most of the bed.

[@Scott-jf1nh]

I live 30 miles North of Atlanta, GA. I have Georgia red clay with about 5 inches of good top soil. This is my 3rd season growing mostly tomatoes. I have built 9 raised beds 7 are 4 x8’ and 2 are slightly smaller for blueberries and melons. This year I am using all the things I have learned so far. Soil is expensive but I need less as time goes by. I collect oak leaves and grass cutting which I mix in. Also my property has a burn pile And I used a bunch of charred wood and ashes in one bed. This year I used a roto tiller and am very concerned with Ph and rain water for irrigation. I set up my rain barrel last week. My plants really respond to rain water so much better than tap or even drinking water. I made a grow box inside last year and my seedling are ready to go. They have been growing well since 2/14. Planting Friday after last morning in the high 30s ( I hope). I dug up and threw out several big oak logs from season one. They were too big and had not really broken down except the bark. Enjoy your great videos-Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Sounds like you're making great progress! Gardening is iterative. Write down the results each year in a journal and improve it overtime. Pretty soon, you'll have a full system down that'll run like clockwork.

[@Scott-jf1nh]

Thank you, I do have a journal and phone pics to look at dates and progress. Using my own seeds for some of these tomatoes as well. I started following you as you are not too far away zone-wise. Lots of good tips.

[@therantman879]

"Because if your watching this video years later, obviously things are going to be cheaper than it is now" I see what you did there!! 😅😂 we are at the height of 🤡🌎 right now

[@brianpaul9767]

Can you tell me your opinion of placing hardware cloth under raised beds to keep out pests but still allowing worms?

[@barbaralewis3281]

"Things are going to be cheaper later..[in years..]...I had to go back & relisten to your presenting ! Very good! Very true!

[@lisakruger5289]

I can't tell you how many videos I have watched lately about how to save money on soil, and this is the best one I've seen so far! I love the simple 50/50 compost and top soil recipe. That is simple enough for me to remember and easy enough to implement. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@lorihardman1833]

I really needed to hear this! Thank you so much! I will definitely be doing this! 😀

[@jade-d314]

Such helpful information for us beginners. Thank you! (Love the dog interaction at the end!)

[@leighannf.4730]

Just wanted to say that I really appreciate your posts alerting us about great Amazon deals for gardening supplies! I'm sure that takes a lot of time. 👍

[@barco581]

Spot on. This might be your number one money saving video yet. It makes us feel lucky that in our part of the country the topsoil is pretty good so we just amend with organic matter and don't have to do raised beds.

[@patriciafarran9742]

I went with raised beds to save my back. I filled them with dried leaves at the bottom and this wonderful 4way mix I bought and had delivered from my local landscaping yard. One yard really went a long way. I was able to fill my beds and add the rest to existing plants around my yard. My food garden was excellent last year, minimal pests and maximum yield. Getting ready to do it again this year. 😊

[@123WorryFreeGardening]

Very nice explanation of what raised bed gardening can accomplish and the problems they solve.

[@elizabethalexander-pukerud7951]

Thank you! This information helps me a lot! And I love your dog!!!!

[@patriciaterry5539]

Outstanding information! Thank you

[@lorindad8307]

Great video! Good practicle information. I appreciate the cost comparisons. Thank you 😁

[@denisbelanger4473]

I've watched all your video's learned so much. I can't wait till I get out there and use some of your knowledge. I live in Maine so I will have to wait a bit. Oh You have such a great dog love to see Dale at the end.

[@cn4492]

You are an excellent gardener and a great presenter. Logical and to the point. Great job! Thanks so much. I pass your content on !❤

[@rexroman5211]

Thanks for the metric conversion 😊

[@kimberlyhelms5168]

Hello from Union County! Great video, Anthony! I love the price comparison on soil mixes. We have a wonderful truck load of growers mix delivered; we call it growers gold. When I filled the beds, I used the hugelkultur method then layered dried leaves, growers mix, lastly, mulch. Four year later the beds are full of life underground and above. The right soil is the key to weed free, nutrient rich, healthy organic food. Thanks for all the growing advice and love and hugs to Dale!

[@deborahhasty8515]

Always learn something from your videos. Many thanks!

[@cindygoodwyn1655]

I am so excited to have found your channel! I live in Rocky Point, just north of Wilmington in Pender County. I am still very new to gardening and have had many challenges. I think this is my third year and so far, I've sucked at it. But, I still enjoy trying. One of my first discouraging fails was when I discovered that I had root knot nematode in one of my raised beds. Since there is no real way to get rid of that crap, we finally made the decision, this season, to empty the bed and start over. I'm glad I saw this video because I was trying to figure out what to get to refill it. I will probably get some top soil and compost from Seaside Mulch. It's still a LOT since my beds are 2 feet tall. But at least I will feel more confident that what I plant won't be a waste. Anyway, I love your videos and the fact that they are so relevant to me since we are very close in proximity. I have subscribed and will support your channel as much as possible. Happy week after Azalea Festival!

[@eggsinhell1532]

All so well said. Just one thing to add: not all compost and soil mixes from local landscapers are created equal in terms of their ability to supply nutrients. A few years back some friends of mine compared the same plants grown in different local mixes and were astonished to see that the compost supplied by our city’s most beloved “green” supplier actually performed the worst, and by a large margin.

[@kimberlyomeara5450]

I got a 6x4 galvanized raise bed for Christmas. I filled it with straw from last yrs strawbale garden, compost and topsoil. I cant wait to plant in it.

[@Mettie7]

This video came at just the right time for me, omw to buy some topsoil and compost!

[@khwaldrop]

Enjoyed your video about saving money filling your raised beds. I inherited the gardening gene from my dad and grandmother. I mostly plant flowers, trees, shrubs and ground covers. Unfortunately I don’t have a good eye for design but work with some good local landscape designers for guidance. One thing has changed over the years is the weather is more extreme now and warmer. This is the second year in a row that Charlotte has not experienced a snow fall. In the past, we would have several snowstorms. I look forward to watching more of your videos!

[@peterizzo6527]

Another great bunch of advice, as usual! Thank you for all the info you give us. Not sure I saw it in the comments, but another nice side effect of using bulk materials is minimizing plastic waste.

[@trisha4829]

Thank you for making this video!

[@kellyforeman1703]

you are 100% correct on the buying in bulk ... I just ordered a 12 yard truck of compost to be delivered to my house... I am adding 8 raised beds to my back yard this spring

[@karenburrell5188]

Thanks for the price breakdown. It will save me $$$ big money.

[@leslieapplegate65]

I am just getting ready to start putting together my raised beds. This will help me out a lot!! Thanks.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@daveb1870]

We just had 5~6 cubic yards of compost delivered to start our container garden. Most of all of our stuff was purchased via your store. In our area this compost was 650 delivered. It sure does look good. Man are the knats in abundance this year!!!

[@KF_Jaymon]

damns thats still pricey

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Wow, it's crazy how the cost of things have gone up. When I filled my beds in 2019, I paid $500 for a 10 cubic yard triaxle load delivered. Usually, the 50/50 topsoil/compost mixes are a lot more affordable.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@KF_Jaymonit is, but if you compare it to bagged mixes, it's an enormous savings. Unfortunately, getting a garden started is going to be a little expensive. But, it is an investment. After the up-front costs, you don't have to do a whole lot. The first 2 years is a lot of investing in beds, soil, tools, etc., but then it starts paying you back in food, exercise and overall better health.

[@RustyBobbins]

Wow that’s pricey. 5-6 yards of compost here is $210-$240 delivered.

[@Agrillot6]

3 yards is $29, with $80 delivery.

[@cjsingleton2533]

Thank you soooo much this was very helpful, only because I just got 2 raised beds and was going to fill with them with the usual potting soil, so now I’m just going to mix top soil with my home made compost thank you so much, I saw this video just in time, thanks

[@ObsessiveAboutCats]

I've done all of these methods (and yes that includes making your container mix for two raised beds, and yeah that was a lot of work). By far the best pricing option has been getting one or two cubic yards of soil in a trailer and hauling that home. I haven't needed enough for delivery since I built out my garden in pieces. Good video. Dale is such a good assistant.

[@1gselectman]

Don't forget to contact your state organic recycling company.That is where I get my compost from every year and it's really good and a cheap price

[@nildaotero2933]

Excellent video. Wish I had known about the 50/50 mix 2 years ago when I started my garden. I will keep it in mind for next time. Thanks for sharing.

[@heyikindalikeyou]

Very informative, made me change my mind about what i was going to do in my garden 8a

[@ellendavis9940]

I love Dale and all of your gardening advice is perfect in helping my garden grow at its best. Thank you so much

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome! I’m happy to help!

[@MrKim-kv2vv]

Thanks for all the great information and break down of costs!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@MikeR65]

This video opened my eyes. I know about cheap raised bed mix . Lowes sells organic bed fill that is absolute garbage! The Home Depot by me sells a much better mix. But if I can save money using your advice I’d be stupid not to! Thank you for the well timed video!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

In my opinion, all the raised bed soil sold at big box stores is junk. You can find nice compost and topsoil. You can find nice potting mix, like Pro Mix, if you're willing to take out a lien on your home to buy it. But what you can't find is nice raised bed mix. It's a bridge product - stuff that isn't nice enough to sell as potting mix, but it can't be sold as a nice mulch. It's like they blended the rejects together to make some middle-ground product and slapped a price tag on it. In my opinion, patronize real local landscaping companies and get a truckload of the stuff delivered and mix it yourself, or see if your county landfill or recycling center gives out free topsoil or compost. Some actually do. Mine gives out free load-your-own mulch, but not compost.

[@janetm7894]

Millennial Gardener, I just love the way you explain things. ❤

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I'm happy to know the videos are helping.

[@jo-annjewett198]

In the beginning I spent a small fortune filling my container beds/pots. I now follow your garbage can method for composting. I topped dressed most beds with this compost. I don’t have any of those reasons to have raised beds, except space. I should have filled them with soil but I didn’t. I wish I had because year #1 didn’t do great. However all the organic additives I added have now broken down and the soil is so much better. Mind you a few beds we filled the bottom with logs and brush. Going forward I am doing your method.

[@galinamazuryk2036]

Great video! When we started our raised bed garden seven years ago, we ordered a truckload (5 CF) of the best soil available from the local landscrape company. Back then we paid close to $200 including delivery. Of course we had to ammend it with some pit moss and compost - say another $50. That was enough to fill in 220 sq feet total eight inch deep garden beds, lots of containers, and leftovers for two more years to backfill in all the settled down soil. This is the most economical way to go. Don't forget to make your own compost to save even further. This way, you know exactly what you put into your soil. The worms in my soil are happy. Happy gardening!

[@mistymick4905]

Your video has just popped up at a very opportune time. My wife and I have moved into a new home in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿. I’ve just built some raised beds this month. Thanks for the video it is very relevant as we have clay soil. We too get an awful lot of rain this side the pond as well. Thanks for sharing some of your vast knowledge.

[@charlotteprosser9099]

Shared your video with a grow group and on my FB page. Always good information. I'll be watching.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it!

[@christopherashby8256]

Greetings from Wilmington! Just started 4 raised beds this winter and thought I'd skip on the peat and perlite to save money and just used topsoil topped with a good layer of compost. Things were going really good with lots of lettuce and brassicas until that heavy rain a few days ago made it very hard and compacted and many of my plants became waterlogged and wilted overnight. Definitely wish I'd thought more about drainage!

[@NicoleLevit_]

This is so helpful! I was wondering if 50/50 method would work if trying to fill raised beds that are sat on concrete? I calculated that I would need at least 1200 litres of compost and coco coir alone to fill my container garden (grow bags and raised beds)....

[@gwenbush6184]

Goodness I’m one of the ones that has been filling my raised beds with the homemade expensive stuff for containers. Thanks for the information, I was definitely confused about what I was doing! I can get 1 yard of topsoil from my local recycle plant for $6! Oh the money I could have saved 😣

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's not too late. This gives you a reason to expand your garden for pennies on the dollar. Just be careful with the recycling plant stuff. It's very affordable, but talk to them and make sure the soil is clean and not contaminated with anything. It's also probably not screened, so purchasing a nice compost sifter could be a good idea. I just bought a big metal one with handles on Amazon that'll last centuries for $32 and it's pretty awesome.

[@ToddSmithPartners]

Here outside of Atlanta Ga, always appreciate your input. We do have a very similar climate. Thanks always

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! Glad the videos are helpful!

[@Scott-jf1nh]

Hi Todd, also just outside Atlanta. Helpful to get an expert near to our zone.

[@spicencens7725]

Good information here! I like the 50/50 compost/topsoil idea! What I did in addition was the hugelkultur method, although only about 6-8" worth, it was still a cost savings. Living north west of you in the State, I am in no short supply of many varieties of dead wood! I tend to stay away from adding oak unless rotting, and cedar. I've had to add soil after 2 years, but it's welcome & expected. In the meanwhile you have many living organisms that produce much love to your plant roots.

[@emkn1479]

Any time we dig up an area and remove sod or soil, we add it to a pile that “composts” in place and then draw from that pile when making new beds. The mineral content is important in raised beds. When buying bags of things, look for broken bags at big box stores and ask for a discount. I used to always get them at 50%, no matter the condition, but now they’re getting stingy. It’s still a little savings though.

[@RealBradMiller]

Right? Discount plants... They took a mere dollar off, the damn thing was near dead!!! I still managed to save it. Bought a flat of sedum for fifty cents, and I've never wanted for another one since! I'm hoping when they get new product in there will be damages, and I can swoop in and haggle. 😂

[@Firevine]

The raised beds I use are a foot deep, and I use that hugekulture method, then prebagged mix. I'd been using Jungle Growth, but it went up by $3 a bag at my local Lowe's. I end up only filling about six inches worth of 5'x3' raised beds with soil. Garden scraps, leaves, bunny litter, etc all get tossed right into the raised beds. It's really a great method to save some cash as well as build the soil.

[@jSheapullen]

We live on a hill. Were older and wanted taller raised beds. We had to dig them in so theyd be level. All of the North Georgia clay went into the center of the beds , raising the soil level to a manageable financial height. So we then filled it with toosoil, compist, vermiculit peat mix. Added veggies from our kitchen and worm eggs. In 2 months itll be ready for its first planting. Were excited cause 2 other we added logs, but soil sinks faster and it can house critters. But they turned out fabtastic too. Love your videos!

[@glow1815]

Your videos is always helpful! Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@clairebillette6051]

Very good informations. Thanks. Your dog is so cute. I love the way you interact with him.

[@Kylie4Queen]

You’re completely right. Last year, I bought “raised bed mix” and it was complete trash. Very little actual soil and mostly bark. The veggies I put in that garden bed performed so poorly. Now I know better

[@matthewlblair]

About 20 years or so ago, I lived in Brunswick County, NC. Lived on Oak Island. Been back in my home county in Alabama since then. Doing a lot of research to try a successful garden soon. I’ve been learning a lot from you, Huw Richards, Steven Cornett & Mark Valencia. Thanks for the great content. I worked a farm with my cousins a couple summers when I was 12-13, but the gardens I’ve tried as an adult have all failed haha. Hoping I can make a better go of it this year and next & have success. The ground in my yard is pretty much red dirt with rocks all in it, so going to go raised beds I think. Going to be so expensive though to bring in soil. Thanks for the ideas and comparisons. If you are near Southport, check out Generations Church. I helped plant that church when I lived there. Praise God, it has grown much better than my gardens haha. Blessings.

[@marybertagnoli1346]

😊 Thank you! Excellent info!

[@valoriegriego5212]

Another great video, MG! I can imagine a lot of folk getting their happy dance on now that they know they can afford to build that garden bed!😄👍 Awwww, Dale!😴💕

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Unfortunately, filling garden beds is never going to be cheap, but it doesn't have to be expensive, either. Dale says hello 🐶

[@BettyBoopWynne]

I had great success with huglekultur in my 18 inch raised beds last year, even though we don’t really have ‘hard’woods here in Hampstead. Still had 12+ inches in dirt depth. Niw gave 4 raised beds w this in them.

[@teenagardner3623]

Excellent! You broke it down 3 folds for different folks' situations with cost comparison. You're just awesome. I've learned so much from you over the years now. My garden gets better and better. Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I try to be thorough and cover all the bases.

[@BloomWhereYourePlanted]

You made a lot of sense! Thx😊

[@Reject06]

Hell yeah, the one I ordered from you arrived a few days ago. I’m following along with mine to see what we planting. DFW area here

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I’d like to hear how you like the bed. I’m impressed with mine.

[@sylvia10101]

Thank you for making this video! Great info! 😊👍👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I'm glad the info was useful.

[@timothywilliams8907]

Thanks for sharing this info. I am getting ready to make a custom mix, and the 50/50 topsoil and compost mix will be the beginning of that mix. I will be doing a mixture that will incorporate the custom mix you mentioned early on, but only a small bit will be add3d to the 50/50 mix. I will also be adding builders sand to help increase the drainage. When I'm finished with the mix, it will be double the volume, which will fill more beds, and each batch will be customized further with the addition of minerals needed for each individual bed according to the needs of what I'll be planting.

[@Jordan-dg8tp]

I know it likely has been said already, but check your local landfill for compost delivery. My township picks up yard waste and will deliver 3 yards to your home for 60-$80 total depending on distance. If you go there yourself, you can pick it up for free. Basically, if you have a truck and have a small-ish area and want to put in sweat equity, you can pick up the compost for free, minus gas, and fill your beds. Topdressing would be even easier since you wouldnt need nearly as much.

[@BenNawrath]

In the late winter/early spring I tend to go around my yard pulling weeds and chunks of Poa Annua from my lawn before it really starts growing. The year I got my bed, which is 16" deep, I was really going nuts pulling stuff. I probably had a good 4" layer of just raw yard waste in my 16' by 4' bed! Got lots of settling over the summer, but it was a great way to help offset the cost of filling. I have a log or two also haha.

[@cbak1819]

I bought pearlite in Feb.. I went back in March and it was 2 dollars more. So true about buying in bulk.

[@petanisukses_garden]

Very inspiring and makes us all want to garden

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding!

[@breathnstop]

I love Dale and he loves his dad. ❤

[@capnjan9835]

Love Dale! Invite him back often! Thanks for all the videos and advice, most helpful. No. Doubt you are an engineer,.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Dale does what Dale wants to do 😅

[@odomshomestead]

Great information as always happy gardening

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks for watching!

[@johnc7206]

I did my raised beds one third topsoil one third compost one third farmyard manure and it seems to work very well

[@Crashbangable]

I’m entering my third year with 32 inch tall raised beds. I filled the bottom with firewood and then native soil with compost then better topsoil, compost, and then the top 6 inches with higher quality mix. It’s amazing how much it takes to fill them. I do recommend not filling all the way to the top so you have room to add Amendments and mulches without them blowing away in the wind.

[@MariaInSoFla]

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it ❤

[@jameshack485]

I use the hugelkulture method. I dig out the soil where I want my raised beds about a foot deep and set the topsoil aside. I then place tree branches and wood chips and bury them with the topsoil and some compost mixed in. Works great

[@EducatedSkeptic]

Jealous of how lush and green it is in your video! I'm still looking at a foot of snow on the ground here in Maine! 😁

[@jturie]

Good analysis....I work at Lowes and get 10% off, so the topsoil/compost option is great. I built a couple of additional 4x4 beds and lazily used that third option and was very unhappy with the results. I can also cut back a bit on the compost because I can use what I've created in my compost bins.

[@mythiccass3837]

This answers a question I've had for a while that caused me to delay getting more raised beds. They should be filled up like raised beds, ie with top soil & compost, not like a container using all that fancy stuff. For me that basically means that the main thing I should be looking to get is top soil since I am producing at least some homemade compost.

[@mikeellis9419]

I collect leaves in the fall and mix grass clippings and chicken bedding over the summer to make my compost. By the next spring I have 2 cubic yards of compost to mix with topsoil, so have been adding a pair of raised beds each year.

[@karricompton]

Last year we got a yard of dirt for our 2 raised beds for $10 and then put cow manure, worms, and fertilizer in it. Plants were very happy. Hoping to use that same soil this year, rotating crops accordingly.

[@ksparks689]

Most of the potting mixes I’ve bought this year are mostly wood chips. Even the Miracle Grow brand.

[@Earthy-Artist]

I learned how to make/mix my own It's so much $$$ cheaper and much better quality making it myself. I buy ingredients separately in bulk usually 4 cu. ft. bags then mix them myself, they last and go a really long way.

[@pamelaspooner7183]

Yes, what I call floor sweepings! Disgusting. No mineral soil, just a way to charge us more for what amounts to mulch!

[@ogtripleg9237]

just ordered my first raised bed and it's the one you posted about! Gonna fill it this way too lol thanks for all the tips and advice.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're going to really like it. I can't believe how nice it is for the price.

[@ogtripleg9237]

also I had no idea you were an engineer. I'm an civil engineering EIT studying to pass my PE currently. Guess us engineers also love gardening haha

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@ogtripleg9237ah, the good ol' days. I have a PE in NC, SC, AZ, IN and OH. You start collecting them like baseball cards 😀 When I took it, it was the paper test where you had to bring 500 lbs of books with you. I almost literally died carrying them from the car! The new way they're doing it is so different.

[@ogtripleg9237]

@@TheMillennialGardener WOW that's WILD, you got a bunch! I'm trying to get my first down here in South Florida. But yes, I've heard it was like that before it went full-on digital. It's so funny to imagine all those wheelbarrows of books. I just have tons of digitized PDFs now clogging my screen.

[@jaylewis8789]

I do hugelkultur with 25 gallon pots. I use branches and sticks and lawn clips and yard debris and in a year it turns into beautiful soil. I also find worms and put them into my pots. Then I mix my own potting soil. I do 8 peat to 1 vermiculite to 1 perlite to 1 Tbs. of lime per gallon on soil mix. 30 Qts. to a cubic foot/1 gallon =7.4 cubic feet. I also amend with Azomite, Langbeinite, Bone meal and other micro nutrients.

[@bradlafferty]

Your vid arrived just as I finished filling 3 grow bags of the special 3-parts mix for my carrots. Thanks to you, I’ll be filling the rest of them with top soil and compost. Thanks!

[@weitang1196]

Check the soil quality, holding it tight. Try to break the tight soil to see if it loses easily. If not, add peat, vermiculite, and pearlite to improve soil quality. Everyone's situation is different here.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Grow bags are container gardens, so they do benefit from the peat moss or coco coir. You’ll find the grow bags dry out quickly in summer, so I recommend to stay with the 3-part mix. Raised beds are open-bottom and not containers, so that’s why I recommend you use topsoil/compost blended in them.

[@knoxrunner]

Great tips, thanks!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You’re welcome!

[@aantosca]

Great content!

[@Gonzalo_M]

OMG! I’m impressed by looking at how your garden looked like when you first started. I’m truly impressed by all what you have done! It’s just beautiful now! 😃 And thank you for the video! Very interesting! 😊

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It's been a long process. It took me 3 years to build out my garden and 6 years to build out my yard. I just did it on the weekends one piece at a time. Have a plan, take your time and do it slowly. In a few years, you'll be surprised what you built, and it's a lot cheaper that way.

[@Gonzalo_M]

@@TheMillennialGardener truly inspiring my friend! Thank for sharing all that! truly impressive! :D

[@dinobravo23]

I always fill my raised beds with a 50/50 topsoil and compost mix. Been doing that forever. I also add new compost to the boxes yearly. I built mine 6'x12'x10".

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's the cheapest way to do it and have a nice growing medium.

[@elisabethjones4917]

Such a great guy! One of my favorite things to do is to repeatedly rewind the beginning of your video, so it sounds like wh-wh-wh-what's going on gardeners? 😁😁😁😁

[@mariapina1973]

what a life that Dale has when I die I want to come back as Dale lol 🙂🌻