Why Raised Beds Are Best for Gardening (10 Benefits)

[@gailstritzel9066]

Another good reason is that the soil does not get packed down around your plants from walking around them. I have had 2 back surgeries and sadly still cannot bend over too much without hurting. If it weren't for raised beds, my gardening days would have been over and I live for gardening. Thank you for all of your helpful info, love your videos.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Gail. So glad your gardening days can continue.

[@gailstritzel9066]

@@GardenerScott Thank you

[@tonybr2469]

Hi Scott pleased to meet you I’m Tony and I’m a virgin gardener just starting on raised bed veg growing ordered the book and am almost ready to get going

[@GardenerScott]

Hi, Tony. Enjoy the gardening journey.

[@tonybr2469]

@@GardenerScott thanks my friend I’m from uk Staffordshire moorlands recently retired and I really appreciate any help I can get stay safe Scott be in touch with my problems if I get some…….which I will I’m sure

[@autumnspring6624]

You're one of my favorite gardeners.💖👍

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you very much. 🙂

[@carole6779]

Second comment: I would like to see more people putting the FUN back into functional. Raised beds can (should?) be an assortment of shapes and sizes ~ squares, triangles, hexagons, diamonds, octagons... Too many rectangles too close together can make a bountiful garden resemble an abandoned graveyard in the off-season (imho). You have mentioned many times in other videos that we should ENJOY being in our gardens. Raised beds offer a terrific opportunity to incorporate art, personal touches (like having your grandkids' paint their handprints or other designs on the sides) and also seating areas. Benches on the edges of, connecting or between raised beds can create a space for relaxation and observation. Yup, so many reasons for raised beds lol. Love your videos and the inspiration they provide. Thank you! 😊

[@GardenerScott]

Great suggestion, Carole. I agree that they lend themselves to wonderful designs. My school garden had 100 beds lined up and I wasn't the only one to refer to them as coffins. I didn't have control over that part of the design, but in areas where I did, I enjoyed spirals, triangles, curves, and lots of benches. Thanks!

[@cathyrowe594]

Carole, I built a square patio & then built raised beds around each corner, leaving a entry on each side. It makes it enjoyable to have a patio table to set harvested veggies on or sit & have some ice tea while I tend the garden. I also tend it more while I'm out relaxing in the evenings or BBQing because I'll just pull that stray weed.

[@carole6779]

@@cathyrowe594 NICE!!! That sounds like a terrific set-up. Love it! 😀

[@DanlowMusic]

I have designed mine in the shape of a capital E. 3 foot wide in each spot with an L shape (across the long side and bottom) of it being a concrete foundation that was poured but never utilized. So I can use less wood.

[@heidiclark6612]

I put in all raised beds 4 years ago when i had to start from scratch in a new home. I never had raised beds before. I learned from you how to amend them in fall and mulch them. There are several reasons Why I love my raised beds. The first reason is my knees and back are not what they were. Second reason is the soil here is clay. The third reason is i can amend the beds individually to what is going to be planted in them. The fourth reason is that I can easily set them up with drip irrigation.

[@mariaw593]

I now have my first raised bed this week. It is about 3 feet tall with legs and connected onto our back deck. We bought Miracle Grow soil and planted strawberry plants in the wooden boards box. I just found your channel today and have subscribed to it and hoping to learn a lot by watching your teaching videos.

[@GardenerScott]

Welcome to the channel, Maria. Enjoy gardening.

[@advancedrescue4083]

I just recently found you on KZbin and I think you’re absolutely wonderful! You’re easy to listen to, very knowledgeable and how you treat your dog is awesome! You can tell a lot by a person, on how they treat animals ❤️🐾 I have learned a lot from you in the last few days. Thank you so much!

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you very much!

[@sarahkirbach5040]

I agree 100% I’ve learned so much from Gardner Scott 😊

[@sandi9546]

We use raised beds for ALL of these reasons. Your dog is adorable.

[@johnryan1287]

All great reasons. As far as pests, raising the plants really helps me control slugs. There's so many more in my ground level areas.

[@GardenerScott]

That's a good reason, John.

[@najimasacredseven3915]

I’m already a fan of raised beds but I have never thought of kneeling to pull weeds rather than bending over. Thanks for your marvelous series of videos. They are perfect for February viewing!!

[@sandyp2485]

I have a brick planter in my south-facing front yard where the soil is modestly elevated. Since it's right against my house, the rose bush in there will often keep most of its leaves through all but the worst Virginia winter. Anything planted there will over-winter easily, and any perennials will sprout very early. I have visited Mount Vernon (Geo. Washington's home) and, of course, I had to tour the garden areas thoroughly. Their kitchen garden is on a south facing hill and terraced with many stones. The docent said that the stones take in the sun's heat and help extend the season. Geo. Washington also built a greenhouse that he kept heated throughout the winter via underground furnaces to keep his tropical plants going through the winter.

[@InisMor]

Sandy P. wow, thats so interesting, thanks.

[@GardenerScott]

Stones and bricks are a great way to create good microclimates, as you discovered. I didn't know about George Washington's furnaces. Thanks for sharing.

[@grovermartin6874]

@@GardenerScott Isn't it interesting that at least two of our founding fathers were gardeners? I find it touching that Jefferson said in his Farm and Garden Letters that he would rather have been a farmer than president.🥴

[@matthewstclair3052]

I'll be starting my first garden this year. It will be a raised bed garden. The reasons are... 1. I'm 48 and don't bend or kneel like I used to... 2. I live in North Central Texas with terrible soil (more like red clay) which covers two things really. Soil and drainage... 3. There are a lot of wild rabbits around here and I can't keep them out of my yard to begin with, so raised beds are definitely the way to go. Love your videos, I've already learned so much watching you and a few others on KZbin. Thank you for a ton of great information!!

[@GardenerScott]

You're very welcome. Glad they're helping.

[@jackbrammer9418]

Hi gardener. I have gardened for many years wanting to learn more and more. You have inspired me to garden with raised beds. This past year i built 8 beds what a wonderful experience. Wood chips between the beds has made my gardening so easy. I started making leaf mould and compost. What fun. You have taken me to all new expieriences i love it

[@sibylc2908]

In addition to all the tips you mentioned, I like that they can be used to create a beautiful architectural feature in your garden.

[@GardenerScott]

Definitely. As I pointed out in an earlier video, that was my reason for the types of beds I put my arches in. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@Bina6019]

I never thought of mulching the pathways. I will do that the next garden season.

[@lisaboudreau5390]

Great video. Very helpful.

[@joelwhite4963]

I built raised beds this past summer. I also built a simple stool to sit on while planting seeds and weeding. It really helps make gardening more comfortable. You can also just use a short board between beds to sit on. I got some slab wood from a sawmill for free and made some stakes to hold them. The dirt inside and the stakes outside keep the sides in place. As the boards rot I plan on just putting new slab boards on the outside. And logs are good for making raised beds. I have one made of pine logs with stakes made from branches holding them in place. It's kind of a sideways hugelkulture, the old sides rot and add to the soil.

[@GardenerScott]

That's a great plan. I like the idea of adding more boards to the outside as the old ones break down.

[@michelles1517]

That’s beautiful and the weeds won’t take over! Your Lily loves you! Rabbits don’t like jumping down! I have learned a lot about Rabbits when I moved here and wanted to do a garden. I followed the lead of a guy from Australia on KZbin who put a fence up for 2 miles to keep rabbits out and it worked. Now going into my 2nd fall garden .

[@ryano292]

Just want to say, you're doing a great job and loving your videos. Thank you for all the tips

[@brendachapman4559]

I always heard that you get four times more yield of vegetables in a raised bed than in a in ground garden. Much Love and Blessings

[@ketogenicknowledge245]

I like this guy already. Both calm and informative.

[@kathyjamison2164]

I was looking for hoops mentioned, I thought over the top of my standing garden. I watched a few previous videos of yours and am glad for the tips.

[@CampfireKathy]

I absolutely LOVE my raised beds!!! ♥️♥️♥️ Been using raised beds for about 10 years now! The planting and weeding are so easy and the loose compost is amazing to plant in! Not going back! When we move, I'm gonna start my new beds as Hugels and benefit for years to come!! Thanks for your channel!

[@TNBushcrafter]

When I build my raised beds I keep the corner posts at 4' above the sides of the bed. Then I can easily wrap it in any kind of flexible fencing to keep the deer out. The fence around the in ground garden took several weekends and several hundred dollars.

[@GardenerScott]

Great idea. Thanks.

[@mermaidwe2743]

I am creating raised beds with things i have. Old trash cans about 3 feet tall, the bottoms are gone. I will fill part way with yard waste and place large plastic pots on top with the good soil and add plants. These are all things i currently have in my yard.

[@victorschrand4412]

Thanks for the response.

[@veracampbell9583]

I haven’t been able to garden for years because of my bad back. My Son built me a raised bed and I’m so looking forward to a garden this year.

[@GardenerScott]

Good for you. Enjoy it!

[@veracampbell9583]

Gardener Scott thank you.

[@chriswillock2177]

I've got some large stock tanks coming for raised beds. Your videos are giving me good instruction and ideas for placement and usage of the beds.

[@stuartlevitt9476]

My three beds just arrived and I will be placing shortly. These videos are very helpful. Thank you. Reason #11 (from California)- They look totally cool.

[@GardenerScott]

I completely agree. I list that as a reason in my other video about raised bed benefits. Thanks.

[@reneebanbury7066]

I just found you! We want to plant for our first time ever in raised beds. Your information is extremely helpful! Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@SColan910]

For about 5 years I had a regular ground garden. For those same years I constantly had spring rain that flooded a portion of the area. I tried rotating the crops, late planting etc. but at some point during the summer we would be hit with a deluge of rain and flood my plants out. One year I had some 2 x 4's and decided to make a raised bed to see if that would solve my problem. It has turned out to be on of my greatest gardening decisions. I've since extended my 4 x 16 section with two 4 x 8 sections coming off the end. Now I want to make two more stand alone raised beds because I want to grow asparagus and strawberries. I probably wouldn't have had a garden or just had containers if it weren't for this revelation I had.

[@GardenerScott]

Great example of their benefits. Thanks!

[@Gretchen5010]

I just love your videos and your channel! I can’t wait to see your garden come to life this spring.

[@lindamcclellan8434]

I can’t bend down and so I’ve not been able to garden but this year….thanks to you…I’ll try..thanks

[@heihei4478]

OMG. I just did a research about your location. In Colorado!!!! Me too. I will definitely follow all of your suggestions cause they are based on our local climate. I think I am going to watch all of your videos tonight.

[@billcereske7211]

The hard clay soil here in Boise made us choose raised beds, which have worked out well. Now up to 21!

[@GardenerScott]

Good for you! 👍

[@josenogales3408]

Great, helpful videos. Thanks.

[@GardenerScott]

Glad to help.

[@y8581]

Hi! I’m a gardening beginner. I’m learning a lot from your videos. My first language is not English but your explanations are easy to understand. I’m going to make a first raised bed today! Thank you so much!

[@jonr.johansen5691]

Thank you, Sir - and greetings from Norway! We have a Hauge lawn that gathers a lot of leafs. I have built four raised beds. One is always the depository for leafs and other wastes, creating compost. Every two year or so, I shift which is the compost bed. The other three grows huge, juicy strawberries. The beds are too big (yeah, you listed it as the first mistake in your other video), so I´m starting to build narrower and taller beds. Once done, I´ll shift the soil from the old bed, mixed up with compost and manure, to the new beds. Gives more room for the robomower too... :) Thanks for very informative videos! You´ve given me a lot of useful tips.

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you, Jon. I'm glad they are helpful.

[@rmorleyanderson]

Thanks confirmed what we built for our garden

[@GardenerScott]

Confirmed 👍🙂

[@josephbanko3052]

Your videos made me to decide to build my own bed. Thank you.

[@CastroMKE]

I'm in zone 5b as well (Milwaukee, WI) and extending the growing season sold me. That means I can put my tomatoes and peppers in sooner, in theory. I'm all for it! :D

[@scray00]

Especially if you make or buy the greenhouse canopies to put over them in the spring and fall. 👍 I watch a lot of homestead rescue from Alaska lol

[@relicretriever4130]

I really enjoy your videos on gardening. I left off gardening over 10 years ago because of both my wife and my own health problems. There were also other issues but this spring we decided for me to try a little garden. Our backyard butts up to a sandstone quarry spoil and our ground is littered with pieces of sandstone just below the grass which makes it almost impossible to use it for a garden. Our neighbor had brought in loads of topsoil for his garden which helped but we also have a herd of deer plus I have a bad back. We decided to try a raised bed, our first, so I began watching videos on raised beds. Yours were by far the most helpful for my style of learning so I watch many of them and a few of them more than once. My plants are now growing and I have hopes of a plentiful crop. Also, I hope I have solved the deer problem. I bought some 3/4" PVC pipe and made 6-4'x 3' frames, wired 3' fence to the frames and made brackets from 1" PVC for the frames to slide into. The frames fit snugly into the brackets but I can easily slide a frame out of the brackets and work in any area and then replace the frame. Thanks for your guidance.

[@GardenerScott]

So glad to help. Hope you have a great growing season.

[@feliciabrasuell1997]

I am so glad I found you on youtube. I love your videos. They are so informative...... Thanks for sharing your garden tips with all of us.

[@seamonster323]

If it was simply the hard clay soil in our yard, we could get around it. However, in the spot where we are gardening, there used to be juniper bushes that have been removed. The roots, however, were not. Plus, we have a small stand of pines growing nearby that also have roots growing beneath the area. We chose to raise our beds up since we have no desire to put in the work it would take to do away with all the roots. I absolutely love using the raised beds for all the reasons you mentioned, as well, and have had great success! I'm looking forward to another successful year this year and am expanding my small garden by another couple of beds.

[@GardenerScott]

Good example. Digging out roots can be difficult. Adding a raised bed isn't. Hope you have a successful year.

[@jefdby]

thanks for the tip on voles. I have a terrible problem with them as well as rabbits and ground hogs. I have been digging a trench and putting in cardboard to deter them while pea seeds germinate, but that doesn't prevent the rabbits from eating them once they're growing! great video

[@Mrpurple75]

I use clothes dryer drums, free and in high supply. Thanks for your videos.

[@GardenerScott]

I don't know anyone who uses those drums. Thanks for the idea.

[@Mrpurple75]

Gardener Scott could also maybe use washer drums, the side holes would do a good job with air pruning. Dryer drums are easier to remove that’s why I use them.

[@lori-annallen9186]

Good idea! We have used pallet skirts (they are frames that are placed around palleted items to help keep them wrapped securely. Basically, just four boards attached at the corners with hinged metal brackets.) Ready made small beds, and they can be stacked for height.

[@Mrpurple75]

Lori-Ann Allen very familiar with the technique! Have used them in the past, very handy

[@MS-ti8ub]

Where can I get some of them, please?

[@MarkDMoore-rr1rv]

Thanks!

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you, Mark!

[@erinvalora5848]

I'm in Colorado Springs. Just filled my raised beds. Now I just need may to get here.

[@millicentrowan]

Thank you for talking about this. I was wondering why so many people promoted the use of raised beds.

[@GardenerScott]

You're welcome. There will be many more examples in future videos.

[@freedomflyer6650]

Your # 6 reason is my reason # 1 !!!!!

[@LisadeKramer]

I love raised beds. I never had luck growing directly in the ground except for squashes.

[@aldente3585]

my first raised bed was pallets and a thick hard plastic liner, built like a table with 4x4 legs. I mean the bed was raised about 3 feet off the ground. there was no bending or kneeling at al i remember it was such a pleasure to work in that plot. I will be doing another one soon. the key is building it very strong with a leg in the middle because that volume of dirt and water will get very heavy.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds easy to work in.

[@johnnyirish456]

Over the fall and winter I have built 4X4 boxes out of pallets...I guess my issue is what to put in these boxes once they are ready...At present I have 4-4X4 boxes...I am going to make more. My space is roughly 25'X40' and is fenced in. I love zucchini and I was wondering how many to put in my 4X4 spaces because the plants can grow so big...any ideas...pruning maybe.

[@GardenerScott]

Johnny, I typically space my zucchini plants about 24-30 inches apart. Depending on how much zucchini you want, you can try two plants in a bed and then fill the rest of the space with plants like lettuce, spinach, herbs and peppers,

[@stevethorn9221]

going to give it a try; with all the advantages given for a raised bed i think it would give better wind protection as well

[@elenidemos]

It's not so much a bed. But I planted my orchard into 42 ltr (12gal) tubs. Have very heavy clay. Haven't had enough time to improve soil (clay is at least1.5 mtr [5 ft] deep). So I had to plant, or in some cases replant into tubs to avoid water logged trees. At times I'll have satturated soil for up to 6 weeks at a time. I also have raised beds, but you have mentioned most of the reasons already.

[@GardenerScott]

Whether containers or raised beds, the benefits can be easy to find.

[@theoverworkedgardener5648]

Very true. I have Rock only 2 to 5 inches under the top soil. So I don't have a lot of choice . unless I want to bring in ton of dirt and watch it wash away lol. It's good for us younger people to who's bodies don't know that they are young lol and definitely it helps with my great Pyrenees not jumping all through my garden he took out quite a few plants. That I did try to do in the ground

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@tomstack6871]

I like the raised beds because they are easy to hoop house ,more control of hail heat and moisture.

[@GardenerScott]

Another great reason. Thanks.

[@cheyneturbyfill4727]

I am building 4’x4’ 20” tall raised beds and have been looking into efficient ways to fill them and ran across your video on hay bale gardening which was a great inspiration. I am going to place the bales in the beds and leave a couple of inches airspace to fill with gravel (to hopefully slow the deterioration of the hemlock I used) and top it off with compost mix. I haven’t seen anyone else use this method, let me know what you think. Really been enjoying your videos, very informative

[@GardenerScott]

A number of gardeners do straw bales inside of raised beds with success. The gravel shouldn't be necessary.

[@LeeCraftyHomestead]

all ten reason why I do raised bed in the city. there perfect

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks.

Thank you Scott. Your videos are very informative. Love the dog too.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I'll let her know.

[@lori-annallen9186]

All of those reasons are exactly why I have raised beds! With heavy, compacted soil (that was previously grass seed and then neglected pasture) my ground really doesn't like to grow much. It costs me the same amount to buy the compost and such to fill a bed as it would to attempt to amend it. In the Willamette Valley, in western Oregon, we get 3 seasons of RAIN, too, so drainage and erosion cause a problem in ground plantings. Our area is acidic, and great for blueberries- but the flip of that coin is that it's not great for everything either. Gophers, voles, rats...ugh. Yes. We made the mistake of not putting the hardware cloth in our first bed- a rat made a burrow under all my plants and out the bottom so all my good soil kept being pushed out into the pathway and my plants uprooted. Even then, they faired better than the ones in the ground, since it was easier to repair the damage. Hoses, weeding, leaning over.....all of it. Every little bit of efficiency helps twice!

[@GardenerScott]

Good examples of their benefits. Thanks.

[@mikemueting7344]

I do mini raised beds, (3 cubic ft.) within my 12X12 garden. You hit on a few of the benefits. My main issue is water control (I get too much). I can easily and cheaply control amendments. I mulch the shit out it. I can keep plants pruned away from soil borne pathogens. My tomatoes topped 11ft in my zone 3 garden this year. Gardening is fun!

[@GardenerScott]

It is fun! Good reasons and water control is a great benefit. Thanks for suggesting it.

[@ImFearonMachismom]

Loving your channel. Thank you

[@valeriademacedobaylis1427]

Benefits I operation my nee and erased beds helping I sitting in edge and weed easy and better organising

[@PacMan257]

I live in Florida and the property I own is basically a big sand hill. Raised beds give me much more control over the soil without having to spend a fortune amending large area's. I also have moles and wild rabbits the raised beds help control. Not sure what I'm going to do about the ferrel cats using them as litter boxes but the cats and I get along otherwise.:) Thank you for all your advise and these videos. I have made many changes to the way I do things based on your input. God Bless.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Paul.

[@brendagates4833]

Yes answered my questions

[@DavidBrown-vx6fb]

Great job on Raised Beds! I am going to use cinder blocks for my new raised beds (initial price may be a little higher but treated lumber really increased in price!

[@SmallGardenQuest]

Another benefit is that the soil in the raised bed gets warmer sooner. This can help germination and growth in the early spring! One of the benefits at least for me is that they look beautiful. A garden must be also a beautiful relaxing place. They look more neat and organised.

[@GardenerScott]

I like the look too. That's a big reason I do them.

[@tomallison4103]

In order of importance: 1) Dogs; 2) Knees 3) Soil (and all the others as well). Great Video.

[@Obliv69]

with those stock troughs, if you drill holes on the side an inch above the bottom (and not through the bottom) you'll have a "self watering pot" that can hold a little bit of excess water and help prevent the soil drying out so quick. It may help if you're in a hot region where the metal trough gets hot enough to dry the soil out quicker than usual

[@GardenerScott]

That's a good idea. I'll try that with my next batch of these planters.

[@jimpeter3453]

Great thoughts, thanks. Regards from Baltimore.

[@smithy4121]

Thank you for this video. I have done bits of container gardening in previous years but this year I wanted to expand my gardening. We (mostly my husband) dug up a section of our garden and I've grown lots of vegetables and salads in it. We didn't do raised beds as we didn't have time or the money to build them and getting compost was extremely difficult this year. Now don't get me wrong I enjoy growing and especially harvesting but I have a bad back and some aspects have been like torture such as planting, thinning carrots and weeding. There are currently way too many weeds in my vegetable garden because my back is too bad to get down to the ground at the moment. I tried a hoe and they seemed to multiply. I am hoping I will now be able to get wood chips as that is another thing I was unable to get due to covid. Another benefit I can see is that the soil level will be pretty level as long as the bed is leveled right. I am already sourcing the wood to make the raised beds as soon as I can before it gets too cold. I loved your video on how to fill raised beds too thank you. Can i ask a question please? Because of a compost shortage I dug out a lot of soil out of my garden and used it half and half with compost to grow potatoes in bags. Now i have tonnes of soil and spent compost as im harvesting the potatoes. Can this be put at the bottom of fairly deep raised beds on top of the logs and sticks ect and topped with compost? Thanks

[@GardenerScott]

Sure. That soil blend should be good for filling raised beds.

[@jasonnantze438]

Wow double plaid flannel

[@severenkoski856]

I am using raised beds because of poor soil, moles, critters, uneven yard, and it just looks nice & neat in the yard.

[@GardenerScott]

All good reasons. Thanks.

[@adampetherick7836]

Watching your Channel what's a cup of coffee with a pad of papper to take notes thank you very much your garden looks amazing. I watched your video first time you laid the foundation.for the garden.it will look amazing in the summertime cant whate for your videos now an update. Glad that you're in my corner gardening. Knowledge and tips and methods. They're sure I'm doing a different Garden I watch the video on High Valley food crops it made me think .thankyou for the y .the benefit s

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I'm happy to help.

[@annestudley8235]

I have mostly raised beds, but they do not deter my neighbor's cat or deer. I put fancy cages over them in years past, but the work of taking them off and putting them back on every time I went out there wasn't worth it. I find that, as you intimated, only the higher one I have guides the hose. And I had to trade out my electric whipper snipper for a gas powered one to keep from going nuts and destroying my veggies in the lower beds with the cord (lots of backing up and extra running around). I do like the defined spaces, easier reach, and looser soil, though.

[@mx1867]

Great video! Your pup is a cutie. I have many acres of property in zone 5b Ontario, sandy soil known for potatoes and Christmas trees. I made the mistake of not considering raised flower beds. Hostas, Sedum, Yucca, Iris, grapes and several others grow great with little maintenance. However weeds, basic lawn mowing, and deer in winter takes it toll. Mulch between beds aren't an option, as I have too many. Perhaps suggest room for a push mower in addition to room for wheel barrels, in extreme cases as mine. Also would you suggest garden fabric at the base to help with weeds for multiple beds? Thank you. G

[@GardenerScott]

I don't use weed fabric. Thick mulch keeps the weeds down in paths and the depth of soil in raised beds, along with mulch, keep weeds to a minimum in the beds.

[@matggarcia]

Another great video in the Good In Bed series

[@marcherceg5640]

I also have raised beds and it was the best decision I made in the past few years. At the beginning it is a bit expensive but it pays off in a short time

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

We went dumpster diving for our the neighbors were doing renovations and they gave us the wood they did not use we also filled the beds with leaves on the bottom and used the good soil at the top

[@GardenerScott]

Definitely a good decision.

[@movednorthhomestead7244]

Raised beds are great because they are allowing us to plant the starts without dangers of in ground contaminates (like Juglone from the black walnut trees.). And with the boxes soil can be amended to specific plants -‘one for your climbers, one for acid loving, one for nitrogen needing..... Plus, they are esthetically pleasing and inviting!

[@ThahnG413]

Lol my clay soil is neutral so you could technically do the same so I think I'm pretty biased

[@GardenerScott]

Great reasons for raised beds. Good example to avoid juglone. I'll mention that, and you, in a future video. Thanks.

[@ThahnG413]

Juglone wouldn't that just break down

[@GardenerScott]

Juglone will break down in time, but a raised bed gives immediate planting opportunity.

[@robertduncan2742]

I'm putting one in and it's going to help my wife to get outside more since issues a few years ago. Were using 5x5x8 and a second layer. It's a bigger one but it will be fine. I'll need to figure the fertilizer and mulch, if you have pointers I'd appreciate it. Stay well in these rough times

[@GardenerScott]

Organic matter like compost in the soil will help. I typically fertilize in early summer and again before harvest. Good soil reduces the need for extra fertilizer. Always have a mulch like straw or leaves and the soil improves too.

[@robertduncan2742]

@@GardenerScott thanks so much

[@yvencia1150]

Thank you for sharing🤗🤗🤗🤗

[@GardenerScott]

You're very welcome.

[@wildelorme4409]

I’m using composite raised bed boxes that’s are feet wide.

[@ivanivonovich9863]

The idea of "drilling holes" in the stock tank is not needed for drainage. Just use a few inches of large gravel, and equip a hose/pipe to the drain hole on the side, and then you can "re-use" the water for other areas. You just have to run the pipe/hose to a central catch basin for collection/re-use. I live in a near-desert environment so water is at a premium. Every bit I can conserve is great.

[@carole6779]

Great overview! Love that you put accessibility first. After watching this video, I went outside and discovered two deer strolling through the field next door. They glanced my way, as if asking what I am going to plant in their buffet this year. So Defense Against Deer could be #11, since raised beds are easier to "fortify" haha. 🌱🦌 At least, in theory. 🤣

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. They can work against deer, with just a little fence. Deer like to land without obstruction if they jump a fence and the beds are a great deterrence. My wire fence was just a few feet high but I didn't have a problem with the beds behind it.

[@victoriajankowski1197]

One advantage is that if you’re a renter or if you have to move kind of often depending on the types of beds you choose it’s a lot easier to pick up your garden and move it if you have to I’m using a cattle feed or water thing for my raised bed and while it is currently empty at least I know what size my bed will be and now I have to figure out where to put it on the new property so I don’t have to worry about what size of garden I’m going to have when my gardening season starts

[@GardenerScott]

Great ideas, Victoria. Thanks.

[@JesusSanchez-xc7qj]

Im a renter so I use those kind of planter's and I prefer it. Than in the ground and I make my own

[@faithroussel1440]

Starting our first garden as a family, I was feeling extremely lost! Love your videos and just purchased the book recommended. We own 12 acres of land and are excited to start our journey with your virtual guidance!! Thanks for all that you do to help new gardeners like me!!

[@silverskyranch]

One of the main reasons I built raised beds is More Light. With a very tiny back yard, there is only a single strip of space not shaded out by trees, but still partially shaded by being between the house and tall privacy fence (thankfully it does face South though!). By building 20" tall raised beds, I've been able to increase the sun exposure to my garden plants by 1-2 hours per day (from 7 to almost 9 hours in summer, and from 5 to about 6.5 hours in winter). It also helps prevent my garden area from getting waterlogged, due to being on a slope with heavy clay 'soil', that can turn to a muddy deathtrap during the heavy spring downpours.

[@GardenerScott]

That's a great reason. I hadn't thought about more light available. I'll add that to my list and give you credit for it. Thanks.

[@tommysbuckets1610]

I would like to ask how do you water in raise beds for carrots,or radish, onions things that grow close together.thank you and I really injoy your videos

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Thomas. I like to hand water most of my beds.I'll use a wand waterer for a light, diffused spray of water.

[@kristaladcock7194]

We are about to do raised beds honestly just tired of tilling up our Mississippi red clay yard :/

[@JLmedia-hpattern]

Great video Scott, you’ve sold me. I’ve been contemplating raised beds for my site in Australia, My house site is on an extremely large granite rock with only very shallow areas of soil, also the soil itself also isn’t great. I plan on planting bonsai and pre bonsai in these beds to thicken the trunks more quickly or regain vigour faster than in a pot. Thanks, Jake

[@thekezzey95]

I love raised beds, and I have had them before. But at my current house, I have great soil... amazing soil. I just can't waste it.

[@eziozanelli3585]

Real interesting videos . I want to start new raised bed veg garden in front of my house but I don't know if it's better to do it in south or south-west part. First is full sun ( north Italy ) , second is shadow in the morning but in the sun from 11 am. Thanks for answer.

[@GardenerScott]

Most plants will benefit from full sun and in the south is better. But for plants that prefer cool conditions (Lettuce, spinach, beets, peas) some early shade might be better.

[@peaches5712]

Sadly we made the decision to do away with our ground level garden as it was just to much work to keep it up. And also the amount of work to what the harvest was it just wasn’t worth it. This video gave me hope to try it again only using the raised bed method. I will only do one so I can plant a few things we really love to eat fresh. I’m going to watch your video about free soil. That was another problem we had was the soil quality. Thank you so much for providing this great information!

[@murukeshvp253]

sir do you have section drawing of the corner joints of raised garden

[@GardenerScott]

The outer boards are just screwed into another board in those corners.

[@NancyfromCanada]

Love your channel info! I have here in southern Ontario Canada, 6 beds all different sizes and we have plans for 4 or 5 more! For all the reasons you said and I love my strawberries in one bed so they can’t run or grow into other growing plants! We have plans to build a sweet potato bed for the same reason! Grew some last year with the peppers! They don’t share space well! Nancy from Canada

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Nancy. Good examples. I'll be building more beds soon and I like dedicated strawberry beds too.

[@johnnyirish456]

I love your videos very helpful.

[@bbtruth2161]

I will be adding a number of raised beds for specific use next year. There are a lot of benefits to raised beds. That said, they won't ever be my main method. The argument for raised beds changes a bit when you have very healthy, incredible soil in your own ground and unlimited means of making amendments. I live in the middle of critter central. Raised beds or not I build heavy duty fencing around all my gardens. My next bed will be heavy fencing with the raised beds built in as part of the construction, which does allow me to be creative with trellising etc....should be fun. Not being critical, but you should also discuss if and what any drawbacks of raised beds may be.

[@GardenerScott]

That's a good suggestion and I do have another video where I discuss some of the problems with raised beds. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bauVZX2Zet2Wedk

[@babystepsgarden6162]

Sometimes, especially in very wet or humid areas your beautiful wooden raised beds will leak between the cracks. Your best bet for preventing this is to fill the cracks. Where I live we use red mud. When building, put a layer of mud between the boards. Press them solidly together to fit them tightly. This will squish out most of the mud. Then go back along the filled crack and just plaster it, or use a mudding paddle (sheet rock blade) to finish. Let it dry thoroughly before adding your soil. This keeps the soil and nutrients in the bed instead of them leaking out between the cracks. 😊 ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ - Cathy Jo - from Baby Steps Garden