How to Revive a Garden Bed | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Lee Gilliam helps a homeowner give their backyard a fresh look. After amending the soil and adding some drip irrigation, the homeowner’s blank-slate backyard takes on a new life.

When a homeowner who travels a lot called the team at Ask This Old House for help with her backyard, landscape contractor Lee Gilliam answered the call. With a quick assessment, Lee knew the soil needed to be amended and the two would have to do something about the heat. By mixing compost and fertilizer into the soil and adding drip irrigation, the pair fixed this ho-hum backyard in short order.

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Revive a Garden Bed | Ask This Old House

[mattpinto]

No one can replace Roger, but this guy seems to know his stuff. I look forward to seeing what he does in the future.

[psdqvdf]

No need for drip irrigation or intense soil amendments with nice hardy native perennials. And you get a ton of birds and butterflies as a bonus

[tjtampa]

Nice job. 🌿🌷🌿 One thing is I see in my neighborhood ... a lot of people putting in underground irrigation and then they never use it later. This is commercial properties like Condominiums and Townhomes and also at the Walmart near me. They paid a lot of money for the landscaping and for the irrigation and then they just never spend the money on the water and all the plants die. Makes no sense to me.

[JJ-toqu]

Explain soil ph and why it matters. Talk about the importance of grading so close to a house’s foundation.

[will]

I like Lee. I think he'll be a good replacement for Roger.

[randyd]

I love the look of it but in a few short years I feel like it will be way too crowded as the plants grow.

[biffy]

From Vila to Lee. Welcome Lee. Nice job.

[richardp]

Looks nice when it’s finished, but I’m curious how well it drains, and how much of that mulch is going to wash into the sidewalk at the next heavy rain.

[ovidiuciuparu]

6:23 2 things here. 1. 100% i like the garden! 2. I think they just screwed up the house! Digging that out… will let the water inflate the foundation…and that basement will be filed with water in no time!

[siriany]

What is called the machine to toil the soil? I gonna need to rent one

[EvgheniiDoroschevici]

How about water going right under basement? i didn't notice french drain on that side of the wall. How safe is it to water almost continuously under the house wall?

[Bahamamama]

Are there new episodes still being made? Anyone know by chance? Thank you ❤

[josereyna]

Nice segment. Was there any reason why a weed screen wasn’t installed? The mulch will keep weeds away for only so long.

[Bigdrawss]

Should of lowered the garden bed, first good rain all that compost and mulch will be washed out.

[juliebarnett]

So what about the pH makes the moss? That wasn't explained at all.

[TacoVic]

I guess the skipped the part where they power wash those nasty blue stones and pavers. Did anyone else catch that??

[Yaketyyak]

Not a good idea having soil against an out side wall.

[patirvin-bzpg]

Nothing against Lee, but seriously, this woman can't manage this pocket garden? I'm 79 and manage a 1/3 acre garden, with heavy clay. I'm 5'2", and top out at 107 pounds. Maybe midwesterners are tougher.

[stavroslask]

Way too many plants. In 3 months it’ll be a disaster

[rknotz]

Boxwoods will get destroyed in the heat.