How to Perfectly Pest-Proof a Raised Bed

If you're dealing with digging pests like moles, voles, gophers, or rummaging pests like skunks and raccoons, or even birds and insects, we've got you covered. Join @jacquesinthegarden and I as we show you how to perfectly pest-proof the bottom of your bed, and build a frame to hold any time of top cover to your bed, like shade cloth, bird or insect netting, or frost cloth.

00:00 - Intro
00:55 - Leveling Soil
01:36 - Landscape Fabric
02:50 - Hardware Cloth
03:21 - Cardboard
04:44 - Top Frame
08:54 - Filling Bed With Soil

IN THIS VIDEO

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[BensMusicDojo]

As a hillbilly who built his raised beds for free with large stones gathered from my property, I absolutely love Kevin’s methods for gardening with no expense spared!

[willsolarski]

Stapling hardware cloth to the bottom of my raised beds is literally what I did and it worked like a charm against the voles we have up here.

[juliemclaren]

The main (above ground) pests in my garden beds are deer, raccoons, rabbits, opossums, rats and mice. A more in-depth video on how to construct something to exclude these from the beds but still allow easy access would be very much appreciated. I don’t have the Birdies beds yet but ones constructed from wood planks and the concrete block corners sold at HD that you slide the planks into, which means there aren’t true “corners” to the beds (difficult to describe but if you know these blocks, you’ll understand). Many thanks for your great videos, I’m always learning something new from them.

[RobbieAndGaryGardeningEasy]

Personally this is too hard of labor and work for me. Totes are cheap and stop all kinds of critters, AND Here I started using Tulle, many years ago I found it at the fabric store analyzed it and knew it would work. Bird netting can kill birds, I found tulle the very very best, and SO CHEAP, and works great, cost next to nothing. Nice Video. 🙂

[echols]

For digging pests I put garden stakes every couple of inches through the weed cloth.

[andreaworld]

I’m feeling very thankful I don’t need to worry about the ground digging pests you mentioned here in Queensland Australia. My garden pests are a few grubs, bugs, birds, and an occasional possum or rat, but mostly just ensuring my cat doesn’t treat the raised bed like a litter box. Looking forward to building a frame for some shade cloth.

[amybyte]

Hardware cloth does contain lead in it, when I found this out I took it out of my raised bed over concrete and opted for a wood base to hold the soil in.

[rajillustration]

I had like 4 tomatoes eaten by voles a year back before we staple gunned metal mesh to the bottom of our raised bed--it was the only thing that worked. It's amazing how much food those little tiny voles will eat! XD

[slyffr]

I have been gardening for 3 years, and I just discovered your channel. Thank you gardening dad.

[missu]

OMG you literally did this video days after I put up my raised birdie beds. I searched all over your site and even reached out via email on your shopepicgardening site for instruction. I know it's probably just a coincidence, but seeing this up only days after I inquired makes me feel like you and your staff are really listening to the needs of your followers. Thank you so much for this video! Although I didn't get a chance to view it before my attempt, at least now I know I did it correctly (for the most part). I just didn't install the weed barrier, and probably should have tried to level a bit better. But hey I'm a beginner and you learn from your mistakes (LOL). I'm just thankful to see a step-by-step to keep those nasty gophers out of my beds, as they've taken over my entire back yard :(

[catherinefrasier]

I'm getting ready to set up my birdies. Your video is perfect timing. I couldn't decide how to put the layers down. Now I know exactly what to do. Thanks so much for all of your help!

[johncaswell]

With 4 dogs and 6 foot privacy fence all around, I don't have to worry too much about most pests, because they're scared off by the dog's scent, so I just need to deal with cabbage whites. I'm putting everything they might want to go for as well as other things that don't need to be pollinated into the same bed so I can just make hoop covers with rebar and pvc pipe and bug nets since I don't have to worry about bees getting in to pollinate.

[SowGrowandSustain]

Great information, love the idea! I installed the half inch mesh in the bottom of my asparagus bed and I’m regretting it. The roots didn’t grow down as far as I would have liked because of the mesh. I think it would be great for other kinds of vegetables but I prefer not to do it with my asparagus bed. Hopefully you have better luck!

[PrincessTS]

the hardware clother center overlap may still have the intrusion of gophers, saw them get through in a video from the next level garden homestead, i think the mesh overlap needs to be tied with a wire in a tight connection to prevent it be more aggressive with overlap and wire it up

[bradmaas]

My .02, I would have put the hardware cloth down first, that way it keeps the chewers from getting to the cardboard and the weed cloth. I also used 1/2" PVC, heat formed, zip ties and netting on the top. Nice back wall

[des]

I follow you on ig and i came here to ask. please make more indoor plant content, my grandma passed away from cancer recently and she was a very proud plant mom. She’s had a golden pothos for 30 years! It’s older than me haha! I want to continue to take care of her plants and the replace the ones that died off during her sickness. She has an amaryllis, an aloe vera, and some bamboo that managed to stay alive. Your videos are very informative and joyful to watch. I want my own garden one day and it’s inspiring to watch you create and build, but one step at a time ❤️

[grammaellen]

I use 2 layers of chicken wire on the bottom, a layer of weed fabric & 4 or 5 layers of cardboard. I do use Hugelkultur (sp) so my beds all start with logs & limbs then dead plants, weeds etc. grass clippings, then old potting soil etc. My problem is that although I can protect the bottom & put shade cloth or fabric over the top it seems that my major problem is wind. Many of my plants don't make it through the winds that we have in the Southeast panhandle of WV. I have tried a variety of things but many of the plants are not strong enough although they have been grown in my greenhouse with a fan on them from the beginning. If they make it initially they usually acclimate but its hard to get them strong enough to withstand the winds.

[pandabear]

Just upgraded to these beds this planting season and love this framing idea just simply for the shade cloth. Thanks for sharing! :)

[ROCKIN]

Best I've found that lasts is ultra fine insect mesh or screen. Be sure to read reviews when shopping, check if it tears or shreds. Get the polyethylene comes in black or white.

[Arcticstar]

I need this video. Had a bush turkey dig out a foot of dirt with most of my plants a few weeks ago. It was one of those 78cm raised beds. Lost a bunch of my seedlings, but managed to save the tomato I over-wintered. There were many tears shed that day.