I HATE My Garden!

My 4x8 beds are 24” high. Some are 5 years old. No cross brace is necessary; what you’ve got will be enough. I fill my beds hügelkultur style, so only need about half the soil. I think you’ll enjoy having the deeper beds.

I got rid of root knot nematodes using 12% chlorine in a 50% aqueous solution with an equal amount of plain vinegar as the chlorine. Don't inhale the fumes, Water it in well leave it sit. The chlorine evaporates the vinegar washes away the hpochlorous acid (developed from mixing the base and acid) breaks down into mineral salts quickly and next growing season it's as if you never had nematodes,

I did concrete blocks for my beds two years ago. This last year I doubled the height for all of them. It makes for a much better and easier to access garden beds. You will like the added height.

I’m an older gardener at 34 degrees south, South Africa. I’ve learned so mush of the basics from you. Our main problems are birds, big bugs and monkeys. They take 70 percent of our produce, but hey, they need to live too I guess. Thanks for making these videos for us.

You grow so unnaturally. A roof over your garden? Are you for real? Get back to nature, and stop doing things that have no kin to the natural world.

I built all of my raised beds as double height from the get go...2*6 or 2*8 or 2*10, used pieces of 4*4's in the corners.
Currently landscaping the front yard...removed about 2 yards of crap soil to reuse behind fence line. Used 3,000 # of concrete, about to buy some new soil in bulk, plus bulk shredded mulch then plant cannas, iris and mums....all acquired cheaply....now to find some bulbs....

I have to say I hate the way I set out my garden! I wish I did a market garden

My raised beds of the past have just been mounted up soil. That's got to change due to aging and mobility.

I’m 73 and you just sound like an old man

I got my 3 year old dog a 5 month old puppy. His days of moping around unless I stimulated him are over. They love each other and zoom around constantly. I think I added at least two more years to his life.

I hate that you are moving from NC. So much of your content is extremely relevant to me.

After 5 seasons in Florida rains my wood beds have started to rot, so I’m looking at making some changes in the not-so-distant future as well. But getting to a point like that is a great time to assess what’s working and what’s not.

Well done! I did the same thing, but for different reasons. My garden has almost outgrown me and I wanted to divert some time and effort to my other interests by combining my 2 lowest beds into one taller and more manageable bed. Although plenty of garden space remains, about half of it requires less daily/weekly maintenance. I really like your idea of adding a protective cover to shield your crops against the heavy rains!

I built my owne raised beds all around my property . When I moved in I needed a fence the one on the property was rotten and old and falling apart so I used 42” wide galvanized steel sheeting and Playground safe rated wood as frame material beds are 42” high 36” wide all around the property perimeter and then I replaced front and rear lawns with same built raised beds .

What kind of lumber did you use, mine rotted out in a year

An ounce of prevention...er...people need to do more pre-implementation planning. Thus saith the engineer. BTW, have you thought of roll-away awnings for your beds to combat excessive rain? You could even makeshift something like rolls of clear plastic that divert rain but let sunshine through.

a problem I've run into with stacked wood raised beds is that dirt seems to find its way out in between the planks. I suggest a liner of some sort around the perimeter to prevent that. Not sure what yet as that will be my adjustment next year.

and yeah ... I lost my blueberries and regular grass in backyard at the end of our NC endless rain this summer. I feel ya.

This is great, I thought you were going to rip out all those beds and put in those gorgeous metal garden beds that pretty much every YT gardener is sponsored by and gets for free it seems while we shleps have to pay for it. (No judgement, I would take them if they were given to me too). My respect for you has just grown 1000x. Kudos.

Do you tend to eat all your production or give away large parts? Hard sometimes to find takers?

Great idea to stack your frames. I built my original raised beds from rough cut 2X8s in 2012. By last year the frames had rotted, were slumping into the pathways or just generally coming apart at the corners. I had reinforced the corners with short lengths of 2X4 like you did. This area was likely hayfield in its former life so I was always fighting grass encroachment and infestation with Cardaria (white top). I live in western Montana but the dry climate made no difference in how fast wood rotted.Last year I finally decided to set up my raised beds in a drier, not hay grass supporting, part of the property. I ditched the wood frames and went with 19” high galvanized steel beds. It took a whole year to get them all laid out, lay down wide fabric walkways, then fill with an abundant supply of sticks/small branches, then composted chicken bedding and then “topsoil” that was absolutely chock full of pebbles to small stones. I sifted every single shovelful to have some semblance of real topsoil. I went with the taller beds because I was/am trying to be proactive in keeping my 71 year old body from straining from all the bending over I .planted three of these new beds this past summer and was more than pleased at their productivity and ease of tending the space. Be grateful you can work all winter. Not gonna happen here in the northern Rockies starting real soon. Good luck with your project.

Your new bed looks great. I have a combo of raised beds (8 in), in-ground beds and a couple 17 in metal beds. Bending down doesn’t bother me. Also enjoy digging, shovelling and raking. In my 60’s. I like all the different ways I have to use my body to garden. It contributes to me staying in shape.

You are a great inspiration! My wife’s dog always distracts me from the garden chores also!

Young man…. Speaking as an older man, you made one mistake. Next time make your 2x4’s 2 foot long… so next year and the following year you add one more layer of boards till your garden beds are a minimum of 2-3’ high. You are about half my age…. You’ll thank me by the time you’ve been around the sun 70 times. LOL

I was wondering! You are so organised and thanks for showing how you do things, your channel is fun and educational!

Wood rots in raised beds and I replaced with 8 inch limestone this year...

Such a great thoughtful video. As our gardens age, so do we and sometimes changing things can make it so much more enjoyable and easy. 🌼🪱🌼

I doubt you are past 40 yet, or not much past 40. I am in my 70s. I still garden. Some in big raised beds, lots of containers, and in ground. My oldest will be 50 in the spring... ;) I do most/all the work myself. Hope you enjoy your new gardens.

very excited to see your projects!

Do the nematodes not move up into the raised beds?

Great ideas & nice work! Thanks for illustrating options. Looking forward to the projects you have lined up. ❤

Dang, u move fast. Lol. We may be getting frost next week here near Dallas. Alfalfa pellets going down soon on my garden beds. Got a bunch of berry plants to get planted too.

I live in central FL my problems are bugs related.

I had one like that until termites got into it! 😮😢

why don't you use those 4x4s to wire up some greenhouse plastic, like you had the shade cloth wired up? wouldn't that be a cheap roof solution?

Since it's rainy could you just use an airier soil mix? And you could get a clay pot waterer if you notice it dries out a little too fast.

Brilliant. Will do the same and now will have room for a greenhouse which has been sitting in boxes in the garage for three years!
Thanks.

Can the perimeter beds be used to make the other beds deeper. The are already filled with soil and look to be long enough.

Love this- you’re a Gardening Coach in the best sense of the word! Good luck on the garden changes - veery inspiring! Living in piedmont of VA - some similarities to SC and your references to our zoning differences is always so helpful. Cheers to you!

I know about that rain then the weeks without water then months of pure rainfall. Have you considered running 2 hoop tunnels. Could do 1 this season then one next season if cost is an issue and to see if the investment is was what you liked and could modify the design on the 2nd hoop house more to your liking. Would be a big overhaul but surly could have some buddies come hang out for a weekend.

Who is ever going to arrive at the perfect gardening set-up? It seems natural that gardening should be a constant state of evolution and improvement.
Personally, I am having a hard time trusting pressure-treated wood to not leach chemicals into the garden soil, despite manufacturers' claims to the contrary. For the sake of everyone using it for gardening with it, I hope I am wrong. I am going to try torching untreated wood to act as a preservative. As I live in zone 4a and we do not have the kind of moisture you have, I am hoping it works. At any rate, I am looking forward to seeing what you will change in your set-up. You videos are always informative and inspiring!
p.s. Dale's bath-induced zoomies are adorable :)

Good for you. Happy you were able to reuse materials! Looking forwards to the setup.

I’m irritated about my garden too. I’m adding multiple
Sub irrigated planters and a sub irrigated worm bin.

Thanks

love your energy. we have some changes to make here too. Wish i was closer Id come help you build the roof.

Those raised beds are great homes for slugs. Here in wet UK, no dig without beds, is the way to go.

Rip it

Great idea to make you garden work for you as your needs change. I have a damaged spine so I struggle to dig......so I figured a shop vac could do the digging for me and it has changed my life lol - plus it helps break up and mix soil to fine and fluffy goodness (and simply vacuuming patio/lawn/all around house builds up a lot more soil/compost material than you'd think so free soil is a win win for me!

Do you mulch your onions? If you do, when do you put the mulch on them? My garden needs added on to. I have 8 beds, I need more, but I can't afford any right now. You will love your garden again when you get your beds the way you want them. Thanks so much for all your help. God bless you and your family.