Inspiring Raised Bed Ideas Pt 2!
video description
Its because you're supposed to use wood that is a few years old, has been exposed to the elements and starting to decompose (healthy wood is way too hard to absorb water.
So, you put your bigger pieces at the bottom and going up you add smaller and smaller branches until it's small twigs. Then you put leaves, whatever material you have like lawn clippings etc, then you add your final layer: compost or raised bed mix or topsoil or whatever soil you choose to use.
And don't forget mulch!
For dry climates, it works best as an inground bed, with the top level flush to the ground level. That way water doesn't evaporates as much (no sides that dry faster than the center) and when it rains water flows in and rehydrates the land
In wet climates you're trying to have water drain as quickly as possible so raised beds make sense but in dry climate you're trying to absorb/retain as much water into the soil as possible as the rain is so scarce that when it really pours it runs off because the soil is too dry to absorb it. That is one of the causes of flash floods.
Sorry for the rant, i love this stuff
Date: 2022-07-16
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Comments and reviews: 9
Christina
Very enjoyable. A word of caution to all, including Laura. The gravel paths that look so great in the first 2-3 years will eventually sprout many weeds. May you learn from my experience. I constructed the paths in my 90' x 30' plot of timber garden beds by digging down 8-12, lining the bottom with landscape fabric, followed by a good layer of stone dust, topped by several inches of pea gravel. Over time, some garden bed soil eventually finds its way into the gravel. Weed and tree seeds travel in the winds, planting themselves in the gravel. Once there are many weeds, there are two effective solutions 1) Unattactive But Environmentally-Friendly Solution - cover the paths with plastic woven landscaping fabric (weighted down with pavers) for a couple of weeks twice a summer, or 2) use a blow torch to burn the weeds (uses fossil fuels and pollutes.
With my new property, the backyard is ledgy, so it was necessary to build up a vegetable garden. We laid a level crushed gravel base before constructing the timber raised vegetable beds. This time, budget permitting, I will cover the gravel paths with pavers, stones or other material (recycled rubber walkways.
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Very enjoyable. A word of caution to all, including Laura. The gravel paths that look so great in the first 2-3 years will eventually sprout many weeds. May you learn from my experience. I constructed the paths in my 90' x 30' plot of timber garden beds by digging down 8-12, lining the bottom with landscape fabric, followed by a good layer of stone dust, topped by several inches of pea gravel. Over time, some garden bed soil eventually finds its way into the gravel. Weed and tree seeds travel in the winds, planting themselves in the gravel. Once there are many weeds, there are two effective solutions 1) Unattactive But Environmentally-Friendly Solution - cover the paths with plastic woven landscaping fabric (weighted down with pavers) for a couple of weeks twice a summer, or 2) use a blow torch to burn the weeds (uses fossil fuels and pollutes.
With my new property, the backyard is ledgy, so it was necessary to build up a vegetable garden. We laid a level crushed gravel base before constructing the timber raised vegetable beds. This time, budget permitting, I will cover the gravel paths with pavers, stones or other material (recycled rubber walkways.
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meganC731
Laura, I have you to thank for a super fun weekend in the garden. We were going to hire someone to move a pile of dirt, but after seeing you work with large equipment in so many videos, I decided if we rented an excavator for a week I could take my time figuring it out and if all I did was fill my garden beds, we would end up ahead. I was super nervous to get started, but with my husbands encouragement I hopped on five hours later I had my three garden beds filled and my driveway clear for the first time in 9 months! We plowed through two more large projects today and I still have five days left on the rental
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Laura, I have you to thank for a super fun weekend in the garden. We were going to hire someone to move a pile of dirt, but after seeing you work with large equipment in so many videos, I decided if we rented an excavator for a week I could take my time figuring it out and if all I did was fill my garden beds, we would end up ahead. I was super nervous to get started, but with my husbands encouragement I hopped on five hours later I had my three garden beds filled and my driveway clear for the first time in 9 months! We plowed through two more large projects today and I still have five days left on the rental
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handmade
I purchased 4cu yds of compost from a company in oakland to fill in a 6X20 raised bed for cutflowers. In early March, I planted dahlia tubers in this bed and another bed that has different soil (home harvest organic is what its called. Organic soil bed dahlias are now 8-12 inches tall and none grew in compost bed so I dug them up and found wireworms in the tubers. How do I get rid of the wirewoms so I can grow in this bed? This is so crushing to me as it is my first time to plant flowers and the flowers are supposed to be donated to care homes and childrens hospitals. Thanks. - Zee, N. Cali zone10a
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I purchased 4cu yds of compost from a company in oakland to fill in a 6X20 raised bed for cutflowers. In early March, I planted dahlia tubers in this bed and another bed that has different soil (home harvest organic is what its called. Organic soil bed dahlias are now 8-12 inches tall and none grew in compost bed so I dug them up and found wireworms in the tubers. How do I get rid of the wirewoms so I can grow in this bed? This is so crushing to me as it is my first time to plant flowers and the flowers are supposed to be donated to care homes and childrens hospitals. Thanks. - Zee, N. Cali zone10a
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Ginger
Even though I have plans for my entire garden space, it is great to see what other people have come up with. Each design is different, color schemes give me some new ideas, and it is so encouraging. We have some issues: Our zone is 5b6a, but the local nursery owner said we should consider our space zone 4. We have high winds, a short growing season (north Idaho) and a lot of wildlife. Deer, rabbits, chipmunks, quail, turkeys, ravens, and even bald eagles can visit. We're working around all of those issues. I'm so grateful to have your help.
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Even though I have plans for my entire garden space, it is great to see what other people have come up with. Each design is different, color schemes give me some new ideas, and it is so encouraging. We have some issues: Our zone is 5b6a, but the local nursery owner said we should consider our space zone 4. We have high winds, a short growing season (north Idaho) and a lot of wildlife. Deer, rabbits, chipmunks, quail, turkeys, ravens, and even bald eagles can visit. We're working around all of those issues. I'm so grateful to have your help.
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Naomi
How lovely to see all these beautiful gardens. Thank you for sharing. We are in the middle of filling our raised beds which have been made from blocks and we are cladding them with slate, so they are quite formal. Not growing veg but just the usual shrubs, small trees etc. We cant grow in the ground as our garden has pipes running below it so weve had to get creative. One great bonus is that anything we put in already has height which feels amazing, especially as we can be a bit overlooked on our street.
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How lovely to see all these beautiful gardens. Thank you for sharing. We are in the middle of filling our raised beds which have been made from blocks and we are cladding them with slate, so they are quite formal. Not growing veg but just the usual shrubs, small trees etc. We cant grow in the ground as our garden has pipes running below it so weve had to get creative. One great bonus is that anything we put in already has height which feels amazing, especially as we can be a bit overlooked on our street.
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Sandy
Wonderful show of raised bed garden areas! I must admit Erin's garden is still one of my most favorites. Thanks for showing it and kudos to her for presenting it to you for consideration. One thing I have learned from all of you is just to go ahead and put really good quality soil mix all the way from the bottom up! And this has always worked best for me in my potted plants as well. Thanks.
reply
Wonderful show of raised bed garden areas! I must admit Erin's garden is still one of my most favorites. Thanks for showing it and kudos to her for presenting it to you for consideration. One thing I have learned from all of you is just to go ahead and put really good quality soil mix all the way from the bottom up! And this has always worked best for me in my potted plants as well. Thanks.
reply
Colvin's
Thank you for showing these. My husband and I started last year when we moved In CA. have 3 different sections of our raised raised bed garden. Now theres 22 beds when we are done there should be 36. now we have Cedar grove and Redwood Grove, Pine grove yet to be built. Its just hubby and I so hard to get them done. I am disabled and do my best not to be sick to help him.
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Thank you for showing these. My husband and I started last year when we moved In CA. have 3 different sections of our raised raised bed garden. Now theres 22 beds when we are done there should be 36. now we have Cedar grove and Redwood Grove, Pine grove yet to be built. Its just hubby and I so hard to get them done. I am disabled and do my best not to be sick to help him.
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Charlotte
Great to see the wide range of ideas, thank you. I have 2 questions for you: do you have ticks in your area? We are plagued by them here in western NY state, more so than ever this year by deer ticks. Also I wish you would cover Heptacodium or Seven Sons trees. I simply love them as they are gorgeous 4 seasons long. I am always learning from you fabulous videos.
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Great to see the wide range of ideas, thank you. I have 2 questions for you: do you have ticks in your area? We are plagued by them here in western NY state, more so than ever this year by deer ticks. Also I wish you would cover Heptacodium or Seven Sons trees. I simply love them as they are gorgeous 4 seasons long. I am always learning from you fabulous videos.
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The
I used wood chunks in the bottom of 2 large planters for some berries on my back patio, they are plastic planters with barrel look and I had to drill the holes out in the bottom. The soil in the top portion dries quicker than I would like but it's a trade off in SW Washington with the rain, don't wanna flood the roots
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I used wood chunks in the bottom of 2 large planters for some berries on my back patio, they are plastic planters with barrel look and I had to drill the holes out in the bottom. The soil in the top portion dries quicker than I would like but it's a trade off in SW Washington with the rain, don't wanna flood the roots
reply
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