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We have a few tractor tires for raised beds planted with perennials that spread (horseradish and mints, rhubarb). Yes, they dry out. In the spring I add compost and in the fall they are amended as well. Everything else is in the ground. We do have a portion of our inground garden in a raised format. For several years a couple of our chickens liked to nest in the horseradish and rhubarb.
Ok. I had this problem. I fixed this problem. I drilled 3 holes on each long side my beds are 2x4x8. I ran½in. Pvc with¹/16 holes in it. Three pipes per bed. They are all daisy chained together from box to box. I then put a tank in the barn that collects rain water. There is a10 ft elevation difference from tank to garden beds. I ran 4 inch pipe plumbed from tank to a valve box 100 ft away at the garden. from there i necked it all down to the½inch in the boxes. I adjust valve properly. And it’s a constant slow release of water. I never have to water. Also mulch your top with shredded straw. It will hold moisture down very well. Sounds like alot of work, but didn’t cost very much, took 2 days to install and i can drain the small pipes in winter and i haven’t had to water in years. It’s all automatic and my plants are monsters. Hope this helps!
im fortunate to live not far from the arkansas river. our soil is perfect but a little sandy. I mulch every fall and that helps with organic matter and water retention. painting those metal beds white would help a ton
All my gardens are raised bed with the black covering Zach turned me on to 2 yrs ago. My property is in a lower area so the ground layer of soil is always moist even in long periods of no rain. That ground layer moisture with the black covering keeps the raised bed soils moist all summer so i have to water maybe once every 2 weeks. When i do, i have irrigation systems installed so i just plug in the pump thats in the pond and it pumps water to each garden. I work 60 hrs a week so i have to make gardening as easy and less time consuming as possible. Thankfully the chickens are fairly self sufficient.
I believe MIGardener uses some kind of hugelculture raised beds to retain water. Or he did at his old house. They were wood beds. But seemed like a good idea.
I’ve never tried it. Sticking with the ground fabric for now.
I have had opposite issue with grow boxes in FL – we get so much rain and humidity is always high grow boxes get funky. Amended in ground soil percolates properly. I do like some grow bags because they are more porous. But, I know we FL weirdos are the minority on here.
I agree with this video. THOUGH, i have had much better luck in raised beds. I do have pretty good dark soil as well. I have 17 metal raised beds and this weekend was all 95° in the ozarks. 3 days my moist soil was about 2″ deep.
The heat has been the problem so far.
Drip line, mulch and a water timer. Compost takes care of the sinking soil level. Its the only way we can grow on out rock and caliche soil.
8:27 there’s also a body loaf of forever chemicals in the ground. ‘Tis why lotsa folks use raised beds. Why is this not acknowledged?
I have 3 raised beds in my garden they need to be watered daily. They are wooden not metal i like them for my garlic and onions, they are 4ft x10ft .
We have a few tractor tires for raised beds planted with perennials that spread (horseradish and mints, rhubarb). Yes, they dry out. In the spring I add compost and in the fall they are amended as well. Everything else is in the ground. We do have a portion of our inground garden in a raised format. For several years a couple of our chickens liked to nest in the horseradish and rhubarb.
Ok. I had this problem. I fixed this problem. I drilled 3 holes on each long side my beds are 2x4x8. I ran½in. Pvc with¹/16 holes in it. Three pipes per bed. They are all daisy chained together from box to box. I then put a tank in the barn that collects rain water. There is a10 ft elevation difference from tank to garden beds. I ran 4 inch pipe plumbed from tank to a valve box 100 ft away at the garden. from there i necked it all down to the½inch in the boxes. I adjust valve properly. And it’s a constant slow release of water. I never have to water. Also mulch your top with shredded straw. It will hold moisture down very well. Sounds like alot of work, but didn’t cost very much, took 2 days to install and i can drain the small pipes in winter and i haven’t had to water in years. It’s all automatic and my plants are monsters. Hope this helps!
What are your thoughts?: We’ve recently built 3 raised beds with untreated wood and scorched them. We’re hoping they last a good while.
im fortunate to live not far from the arkansas river. our soil is perfect but a little sandy. I mulch every fall and that helps with organic matter and water retention. painting those metal beds white would help a ton
All my gardens are raised bed with the black covering Zach turned me on to 2 yrs ago. My property is in a lower area so the ground layer of soil is always moist even in long periods of no rain. That ground layer moisture with the black covering keeps the raised bed soils moist all summer so i have to water maybe once every 2 weeks. When i do, i have irrigation systems installed so i just plug in the pump thats in the pond and it pumps water to each garden. I work 60 hrs a week so i have to make gardening as easy and less time consuming as possible. Thankfully the chickens are fairly self sufficient.
I believe MIGardener uses some kind of hugelculture raised beds to retain water. Or he did at his old house. They were wood beds. But seemed like a good idea.
I’ve never tried it. Sticking with the ground fabric for now.
Doesn’t raised beds help with pests?
Living on a sand ridge in the desert area near ft Bragg. Raised beds are the only way.
I have had opposite issue with grow boxes in FL – we get so much rain and humidity is always high grow boxes get funky. Amended in ground soil percolates properly. I do like some grow bags because they are more porous. But, I know we FL weirdos are the minority on here.
Oh this was my comment I made over on X! LOL. Thank you so much Zac for making a video and pushing me to become a better gardener! You’re the best!
I agree with this video. THOUGH, i have had much better luck in raised beds. I do have pretty good dark soil as well. I have 17 metal raised beds and this weekend was all 95° in the ozarks. 3 days my moist soil was about 2″ deep.
The heat has been the problem so far.