2 Year Raised Garden Bed Update

Hey guys! In this video, I will be answering the most common questions from my original video, sharing my thoughts on possible improvements, and showing how the garden beds have held up after two years.
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Please do not attempt the processes in this video without adequate training and equipment. Proceed at your own risk. While we have made every attempt to ensure that the information contained on the video channel is correct, the Creator is not responsible for any errors, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. In no event will the Creator be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information on the video channel, or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. Seek professional assistance should you require it. Please stay safe and be careful.

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[jonathanhowell]

I'm preparing to build this today. I watched the first video and now 2yr update. I've enjoyed both. Wish me luck!

[mauricemcghee]

Thanks for all the tips.. I've built a copy of yours following the same steps, It's been 5 years today that I've had it. Still no problems with it, would recommend it 👌

[galacticbutterfly]

😮 Gorgeous ... functional... and modern👌.... also 2 years later i still found the original cardboard drawing of the garden bed humorous😂

[kayemoore]

THANK YOU for doing a real life update

[mattl]

I'm buying a house with 5 acres of land soon. I'll be building a bunch of these. Thanks!!

[payne]

In zone 5 - we need to paint the box black to gain some heat LOL Looks great 👍 beautiful work

[blakemcneill]

Your initial video is the motivation to me building my own similar garden this year, thanks. The bulging problem seems like it is not as bad as people fear, but having put some thought into this and looking at all the different solutions (most expensive) I came up with using short galvanized strapping (say 9" for example Simpson Strong-Tie LSTA 1-1/4 inch x 9 inch 20-Gauge Galvanized Strap Tie, you can use something heavier if you wish) attached to the bottom of the vertical braces pointing into the garden and then with a 12" galvanized framing nail (or rebar however long you want) pounded into the ground through the large hole in the strapping is a pretty good and cheap solution. It will prevent individual walls from bulging without stressing the opposite wall, and it is totally hidden from view and doesn't require drilling holes through the corrugated metal like the threaded rod method requires and being galvanized should last fairly well. The garden I'm building is larger so I'm using 2x6 and 22 gauge corrugated metal. The other thing I did was use concrete blocks as a foundation to keep the wood frame up out of the dirt. Thank you very much for posting these videos.

[MichaelRomero-pf]

Nice set up! Don’t listen to the negative Nancys saying the metal will rust and will overheat? Silly, Would ppl install this metal on their roofs if it rusted? heat? 😂 Keep posting vids showing your work and showing this planter will last a long time

[andrewpantalones]

I’m glad you are updating your journey with this!
Looks great.

[A_Cunning_Linguist]

Love all the respect you gave the keyboard experts!!! 👍🏻

[Ttenkampf]

Great update, i have a bunch of leftover corrugated metal that i can use, and I am glad to know it hasnt bulged out. I just cut down ten dead trees on the property so iys perfect timing for maybe fall planting!

[Tibs]

It would be interesting to have a rain water harvesting system in the next update.

[inigomontoya]

Hey just wanted to point out some stuff even though i'm really late to the video. When you where talking about the siding heating up the bed, Black sheathing would actually work just as well as the metal. Both will heat up the soil directly in contact with it, at most 1/2 an inch into the bed, but not enough to actually effect the dirt as most the heat as you pointed out would be reflected and radiated out. If you want an example cover your entire garden bed in black tarp after you rip it up for a week, you'll notice maybe a 1/2 in of dry soil but once you stick your finger in it will still be cool and moist. Point being don't worry about it.

The only "advice" i could give though on this design is if you don't have a ton of firewood to fill the bottom with, stones/brick/broken up concreate will work great, backfill that with gravel, then top off with potting soil and compost. I would avoid using as much dirt as you did as it can compact in an enclosed bed making it harder for the plants to really develop their roots. However the firewood decomposing at the bottom of yours causing constant voids and settling probably helps a lot with this. In reality though with how large this bed is as long as the top foot is mostly potting soil and compost you'll never have an issue except possibly with drainage if your soil has a lot of clay in it.

All told the bed looks amazing and i wouldn't be surprised to see it around in 5-10 more years holding up pretty decent

[Lee-mmg]

Looking good. Sharp looking with that stain. Subscribed too. Interested to see more.

[Legacy_]

Amazing, just needs a small table and chairs to sit and admire the garden.

[daninraleigh]

I'll make a deal. I'll like and subscribe when you note in your description what your location is. It's very frustrating to listen to many detailed instructions from dozens of gardening youtubers when I don't know if they apply to me in the area I live in. If I know where you are, I can adjust my understanding of your procedures to fit where I am. OK?

[Cristina-weim]

Just the boost of confidence I needed to hit complete purchase on my supply order! Thank you!

[slydog]

Nice update. Staining the wood is a great idea. I did that to mine, and it really helps with the weathering. Another option for the buried cross braces is to just wrap them with heavy weed cloth. Keeping the wood separated from the soil just with that will greatly extend the wood life.

I've been unconvinced of the longevity of metal beds built with roofing panels. Those panels are super thin and the galvanized layer is almost nothing. That works fine on a sloped roof where it is only intermittently exposed to distilled water (rainwater), but being exposed to the much harsher environment of soil, its life will be limited. If you don't mind replacing it ever so often, I suppose it will be fine. But rebuilding a deep raised bed can be a lot of work.

The dropping of the soil level is likely due to soil compaction. Depending on the size of the wood you put in the bottom, decay of that wood can take many years. Instead of just adding more soil, it would likely be better to double dig your soil once a year to loosen it. Take a wheelbarrow and a flat shovel. Remove one shovel-side "row" of soil into the wheelbarrow, then loosen the lower layer with the shovel, perhaps adding some amendments. On the second row, shovel the top layer into the first space and repeat. At the end of the bed, fill the last row with the soil in the wheelbarrow. This will allow roots to grow deeper and make use of that deep soil. You'll get healthier, larger plants and bigger yields doing that.

Keep us updated in years to come how this works out. My pressure treated beds lasted 13 years. I've seen cedar beds last for about as long. Lining the interior walls of a wood bed with heavy weed cloth should extend the life by another 6 or 7 years.

[jimjim]

Even though you used pressure treated lumber is there a reason why you wouldn’t have stained all the wood prior to the build? This might be overkill but I’m sure adding that extra additive would prevent the lumber from rotting even longer. Using threaded rod is a great idea but maybe use a rust proofing product on it before the install. Thanks for these excellent videos 👍👍

[beebob]

I love the design. There are composite materials available that could help. Line the bottom of the bed with decorator or one of the other products. No rot. As for the metal siding, it's going to last a long time. If it begins to rot in twenty years or so, then just cover the outside with a nice wood siding. Make it last even longer