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A job always sounds daunting before you start. When I began mulling over the idea to convert my vegetable garden into raised beds, I assumed it would be difficult and very time-consuming. I was wrong! Putting a raised bed together takes a couple of hours at most and the benefits are endless. Raised beds offer great drainage, decreased weeds, and easier gardening. But you don’t need to hear me preach the benefits; I want you to see just how easy it is!
Watch how to make these raised garden beds:
My bed is 4 feet by 24 feet. This is large for most and I don’t expect anyone to actually want that. Attached is the layout for a standard 8-foot by 4-foot bed with all the materials needed. Download the PDF here.
Prepare your area by clearing the grass or anything that may be setting roots into the ground. I like to make the bed above ground then set it in place.
Here’s the general process for raised garden beds:
- Put the bed together starting with one post and continue until the bed is completed.
- Dig your footing holes for the posts and turn the raised bed over to set in place.
- Backfill holes with dirt. I use a mixture of 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 compost mixed with 1-2 cubic feet of perlite (or vermiculite). Add the soil, compost and perlite alternately and mix together.
- I finished my bed with post caps and finials because, well, it’s me and I always have to go a little over the top.
Once complete, you’re ready to let the bed set over the winter. If you don’t have access to good quality compost, place as many leaves in the bed as possible and let them compost over winter.
I’m not an expert but I do love gardening. While I may be young, I’ve been gardening for years and have found a raised bed to be super beneficial. I hope you’re inspired to try your own!
I am excited to use your instructions for an above ground planter! Dumb question…is it too late for me to build one and start the soil combination now! January in Greer, SC…
LOVE your videos and ideas!!
Thank you, Teresa
Love Love your show, I’m a new gardener in Tennessee always did in California relocated now I’m ready to start my garden do want raised beds but I like idea of sitting you made remark on your Moms beds. How May 4×4 high and this current home needed a lot of Love, was not taken care of yards are full of weeds we have sprayed so much can we put weed barrier below the bed?
I’ve always had a garden, traditional, but considering the raised beds…. I know fall is better to initiate this for the breakdown of the topsoil and compost but could I do early spring !? I could potentially do it now., I guess … This far weather has been mild here, actually 70 degrees yesterday 😳.
Gardening is my therapy!!!!! Happy New Year
Kaleb you are such a wonderful, fun person. I absolutely love watching you work in your garden. I used to have a nice vegetable garden and flower gardens everywhere. I unfortunately can’t physically do garden work anymore. I’m a nurse and I injured my back really bad back in 2007. I was divorced and had to continue working. Finally in 2015 my body said enough. Long story short, I sold my big two story house with my big yard. I moved into a small single story house. And I have no flower beds and no vegetable garden. So I thoroughly enjoy watching you garden and then can and preserve. I too grew up doing these things. I just turned 55 and I can still cook and bake. I feel like we’re neighbors. So thank you for inviting me to your place for visits.
Love your videos! Cedar planks are not available near me in Florida. Is there something different I could use?
Hi Kaleb,
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I am new to gardening and want to prep a used bed for this coming year. I worry about potential blight that affected my tomato plants last year. How would you proceed in preparing the bed so that I don’t reinfect my plants.
Thanks so much!
You should rotate garden beds yearly for sure, even in the absence of blight. It will help reduce the likelihood of fungus and pests finding the same food source each season. 🙂 For any blighted material, you should bag it and stick it in your garbage, or burn it. Avoid composting it, which will spread the blight.
Love your videos. So helpful!
Love it! We found that the compost from our landfill has ground up everything in it, including poison ivy, so after one time, no longer get it from that source. This has me yearning to get back into the garden come Spring. Thanks!
I also enjoyed your raised bed garden video. Not only great instructions but entertaining as well. After a long not so great day, I found myself smiling through the entire video. Thanks
Love the idea of raised beds, Thank You.
I have a question about your grass. Do you leave it long (as pictured) over the winter, or trim it shorter?
Thank You for the raised bed video!!!!
All you videos are so helpful!
❤️ Love