Best Raised Bed Design and Materials

A review of the best designs and material for raised beds.

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Best Raised Bed Design and Materials

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[tammy-lynnstewart]

I had little choice but to use raised beds. My back yard used to be a small parking lot so there is no actual soil. Just rock, sand, bolders and concrete chunks with a layer of gravel on top. I would have had to put out a lot of cash to get that all dug up, hauled away and garden soil trucked in. So .. I built raised beds mostly out of upcycled wood, then filled the bottom half of them with leaves and soil on top of that. Gardens do great! Between the beds I put a good layer of wood chips (chip drop) and inoculated them with "winecap" mushroom spawn. I get lots of mushrooms spring and early fall. I also planted multiple fruit trees. Where the trees shade, if there is a garden there, I plant stuff that likes shade. I also planted grape vines, kiwi vines and some other vine plants for the flowers which help bring on lots of bees and other good insects, birds, and so on. I do a little bit every year. 12 years at it so far and I have myself a little backyard food forest lol.

[dac]

You’re exactly right on in my view.
One I think under appreciated benefit of the in-ground beds in cold climates is the thermal protection when trying to eek out every last Fall growing day and I also expect an advantage to cooler root zone during heat of summer in hot summers like ours. I think not a giant benefit but every bit helps.

[thereseboogades]

Love how you're collaborating with Greg at Maritime Gardening! Love both of your channels! Thanks so much for a great video! Ive been teaching how to use raw & reclaimed materials to construct raised beds & support sections for swales & berms - trying to help build some excitement locally to better care for our environment. 😊

[bart]

There might be one regional consideration. In regions where drought is common, adjacent trees will eventually invade your raised bed garden. The roots from the trees suck up the nutrients and moisture and significantly reduce productivity. I had to convert my raised bed garden to container gardening. The productivity is much greater.

[crabtrap]

i use the galv metal beds and also just in-ground. the metal beds are great and the best option for cost/longevity

[GARDENER]

I plant marigolds in my polytunnel to attract pollinators & can't say I've had any pest issues (never knew they were supposed to repel pests but the do attract hoverflies & bees.
The last raised beds I built were from plastic scaffold boards, themselves made from recycled material.
I moved home 10 years ago but have kept in touch with & visit the people who bought my last place & those beds are still as solid as when I made them in 2008.
Today, I grow at ground level - much less hassle & with going 'no till' I do a lot less bending (I'm happy to sit on the interbed paths to weed & harvest, as they're all woodchip).

[Not_So_Weird_in_Austin]

Central Texas here where cut limestone 6, 8 &10 inches height x 4 x 2 ft+- is readily available reinforced by rebar as needed...never rots...Marigolds are spider mite magnets in Texas. I started with pine and after rotting chipped into mulch.

[janesgarden]

I was just wondering if putting weeds into a bucket of water can make fertilizer. I thought you had a video on that but can’t find it. Just asking for a friend. Thanks for all your help and hard work!! You are the best YouTuber.

[gsdggasgs]

Could you try straw bales?
I had a idea that you condition straw bales with urea and use plugs (starter plants) and let it turn to compost over the season.
You essentially get a 1 season raised bed that turns into compost.

[cherylj]

I bet those brick beds keep the temperatures steady- unlike an aluminum shell.

[kburgess]

What are your thoughts of the Vegepod? I bought one to put on our deck as that is our only sunny location in our yard. I absolutely love it. I am hoping to start my seedlings in it in the spring as well as extending the the growing season.

[barrylomond]

I am wondering what your view is on coating wood raised beds with linseed oil, inside and out, prior to filling?

[australianwoman]

Marigold does nothing against white fly. My neighbours planted it everywhere & their tomato crops were decimated. While inspection of the marigold revealed huge infestations of white fly! 😂

( Neighbours removed marigolds & now tomatoes are flourishing every season ! ) 🤔

[Raul]

the cost oh the cost. Galv roofing panels used to be cheap but now it's about $50 each bed now.

[crabtrap]

the only time you need to bend-over for your garden, is when your property taxes are due