If you enjoyed this video, please “Like” and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching😊TIMESTAMPS here: 0:00 Container Garden VS Raised Bed Garden 2:34 The True Purpose Of Raised Garden Beds 4:29 Why Potting Soil Is Wrong For Raised Beds 5:27 Detailed Soil Cost Analysis 10:48 How To Dramatically Reduce Soil Cost 13:21 How To Fill A Deep Raised Bed 14:46 Adventures With Dale

@jedpusczykowski4955

2 ай бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener you are and engineer. Didn't you cover a fertilizer mix ratio to get the percentage you want?

@oliverhel9629

Ай бұрын

So there where your doing volume, run that number against a 4 x 8 sheet of plywood @ I thinK 1'3" heighdth

@marybethr6798

Ай бұрын

what do you use for containers?

Started my first raised beds this year. They're 32" tall and i was so glad i saved the wood from an old tree that had to come down 8 years ago. Well aged and it took up so much space and saved me a ton of money.

My dad is so proud of all of the hard work that I've put into my container gardening that he wants to make me 2 raised beds 🥲 I'm 26...he's 47 and has been having heart problems lately I love him so much and I hope we have lots of time to grow tomatoes and strawberries together ❤

@RealBradMiller

2 ай бұрын

🫂 wishing best health and luck to both you and your father! I just built to raised beds from an old fence. Dwarf peas just popped up in one of them! Cheers!

@weitang1196

2 ай бұрын

Great dad. My parents did not give me anything at all. My mom still has no idea how to plan to plant or take good care of plants(aka, she only knows watering daily, lol). I'm the one taking care of the garden I built for her. I need to move on with my life eventually after everything is done here. It's a long story.

@Mrsmetamorphosis2012

2 ай бұрын

@@weitang1196honor ur parents. U will never ever regret it!

@Mrsmetamorphosis2012

2 ай бұрын

Your dad is young to have ❤ problems. Did he get the covid vax n boosters?

@weitang1196

2 ай бұрын

@@Mrsmetamorphosis2012 My dad is almost 60; it's nothing about age; it's a personality thing. I have no idea. We haven't seen each other for nearly ten years

Your whole channel and persona makes so much more sense when you state that you are an engineer by trade. Great attention to detail! Peace.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Uh oh. That could be interpreted in many ways 😆

@dontcarejustwatchvid

2 ай бұрын

ALL positive my friend. @@TheMillennialGardener

@emilybarner3440

2 ай бұрын

I too had an 'ah, yes. That makes sense' moment when I first heard you mention being an​ engineer. 😂@@TheMillennialGardener one of our dear friends is an engineer and a gardener and I see many similarities -- very methodical!

@1boortzfan

2 ай бұрын

I must have missed that somehow... what kind of engineer are you if you don't mind me asking?​@@dontcarejustwatchvid

@Earthy-Artist

2 ай бұрын

@@TheMillennialGardener You also have warmth, joy, care, helpfulness, and lets not forget love of dogs. Initially those are what drew me to your channel. And how thorough, orderly, calm, focused, planned, organized, and educational your content is which kept me here. So finding out a while back that your an engineer certainly does seem to fit your M/O {modus operandi }!

We bought 6 yards of topsoil last year I made a mixture of topsoil, peat and sheep manure. We were pleased with our first year’s crop and I was really happy with how easy it was to work the soil this spring. Before we planted this year I added sheep manure to the beds and the warm spring had me sow some lettuce and radishes first part of April and it is growing nicely.

Thanks for mentioning the Hugelkultur method. I used that method on my deep raised beds and 3 years later the whole deep bed was full of incredible rich soil to grow my veggies.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

I figured it would come up, so I wanted to try and be thorough.

@sherriianiro747

2 ай бұрын

Same here!

@SandyStallard

2 ай бұрын

Mine sinks every year!

@barbaraflagg983

2 ай бұрын

nutrients in __food out, nutrients in-- food out__etc@@SandyStallard

@MrIamnoone

2 ай бұрын

@terrinegron Do you need to keep topping off your Hugelkultur bed or do you keep planting as it sinks? My 2 year old Hugelkultur raised bed has sank to half its original depth.

I think it's fair to note that sometimes raised beds are being used for plants with particular needs such as Blueberries with their acidity requirements so topsoil and compost alone aren't going to be enough at the end of the day it really comes down to what you're trying to grow and where you're trying to grow it.

"Because if your watching this video years later, obviously things are going to be cheaper than it is now" I see what you did there!! 😅😂 we are at the height of 🤡🌎 right now

I lucked out and got peat moss for 4.99 at Tractor Supply. They were leftover from last year. Regularly $14.99

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

That's pure luck. I wouldn't bank on that. Talk about being at the right place at the right time.

@isabellalucia7820

Ай бұрын

But the wrong place for the mine where it was harvested. There is no way to harvest peat moss sustainably (it takes decades and requires specific circumstances to grow) , no matter what it says on the package. Please don’t buy peat moss unless you are growing plants that require an extremely low Ph.

@mslascorpia

Ай бұрын

The coco coir is great and kinda fun to watch expand.

@meemaw100

Ай бұрын

I got peat moss for $6.99

@FarmToMarketRoad

5 күн бұрын

I wish. Currently spend $20.49. It's still the cheapest component in my potting mix.

If I might add: I got this info from Scott and Helen Nearings’ book, go to the gravel yard with a bucket and get some gravel dust ( I think it’s called M10) and put a couple cups in each new bed and mix well. Adds necessary source of minerals that plants can get and last a long long time. Enjoy your videos. Cheers.

I called my local landscaping company for garden mix. They delivered me dirt with children's toys, plastic bottles, aluminum cans, candy wrappers, bottle caps, pieces of foam. I ended up going with Miracle-Gro bagged because it was the cleanest.

I fill my beds halfway with shredded cardboard it rots down over time and worms love. I give them cardboard they give me castings. It’s a win win. 👍🏻

@pmd428

Ай бұрын

Cardboard has glue and chemicals in it, I would never put that in my garden bed.

We started out with the SFG method so we made 'Mel's Mix' - equal parts peat, compost and vermiculite. We have learned to fill some of the deeper beds with some limbs and shredded leaves, then add 'Mel's Mix' for most of the bed.

Can you tell me your opinion of placing hardware cloth under raised beds to keep out pests but still allowing worms?

In E TN we have mushroom farms that sell compost. Pick-up and delivery options are available. Some of the local landscape companies and community members offer the product and / or delivery of the product. Win / win supporting local farms and community businesses and private members. Definitely worth investigating .

FYI...I live in upstate SC. Tractor Supply always has the best prices for peat. Right now it is $14.99. Love your channel. I have been gardening all my life. I learned from my dad. I am now 67. Never too old to learn. Thank you!!

@Earthy-Artist

2 ай бұрын

I wonder how much my Tractor Supply in NJ sells if for? Here at Home Depot it's about $23.97 a 3 cu. ft. bale, eeek!!

@klmaloney13

12 күн бұрын

I'm in the Upstate too and get my Peat Moss from Tractor Supply. Great prices! :)

All so well said. Just one thing to add: not all compost and soil mixes from local landscapers are created equal in terms of their ability to supply nutrients. A few years back some friends of mine compared the same plants grown in different local mixes and were astonished to see that the compost supplied by our city’s most beloved “green” supplier actually performed the worst, and by a large margin.

I live 30 miles North of Atlanta, GA. I have Georgia red clay with about 5 inches of good top soil. This is my 3rd season growing mostly tomatoes. I have built 9 raised beds 7 are 4 x8’ and 2 are slightly smaller for blueberries and melons. This year I am using all the things I have learned so far. Soil is expensive but I need less as time goes by. I collect oak leaves and grass cutting which I mix in. Also my property has a burn pile And I used a bunch of charred wood and ashes in one bed. This year I used a roto tiller and am very concerned with Ph and rain water for irrigation. I set up my rain barrel last week. My plants really respond to rain water so much better than tap or even drinking water. I made a grow box inside last year and my seedling are ready to go. They have been growing well since 2/14. Planting Friday after last morning in the high 30s ( I hope). I dug up and threw out several big oak logs from season one. They were too big and had not really broken down except the bark. Enjoy your great videos-Thank you!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Sounds like you're making great progress! Gardening is iterative. Write down the results each year in a journal and improve it overtime. Pretty soon, you'll have a full system down that'll run like clockwork.

@Scott-jf1nh

2 ай бұрын

Thank you, I do have a journal and phone pics to look at dates and progress. Using my own seeds for some of these tomatoes as well. I started following you as you are not too far away zone-wise. Lots of good tips.

Thank you so much for the time and effort to calculate the cost. I just built 2 raised beds and took a Square Foot Gardening class. First I racked my brain trying to find the ingredients and when I calculated the cost I thought, I’m trying to save money on my grocery bill by growing my own food. This is NOT going to help! I think I will go with your recommendation. I sincerely appreciate your channel!

@klmaloney13

12 күн бұрын

You have to remember too that it's an investment upfront. You don't replace the soil yearly. You keep it mulched and then may need tobadd some additional manure and organic fertilizer over time but you won't be paying to fill the beds completely more than once.

I wish I had known this before, but I did buy just top soil and compost for my 2 beds today.

Great video. It’s about time that someone made a video like this. I had a delivery done and added some more compost and was very pleased and the price was 20% of the bagged.

Great content!

Great video 👍

You made a lot of sense! Thx😊

😊 Thank you! Excellent info!

Don't forget to contact your state organic recycling company.That is where I get my compost from every year and it's really good and a cheap price

Thank you for making this video!

I really needed to hear this! Thank you so much! I will definitely be doing this! 😀

Outstanding information! Thank you

Always learn something from your videos. Many thanks!

Thanks for the metric conversion 😊

Such helpful information for us beginners. Thank you! (Love the dog interaction at the end!)

Thank you! This information helps me a lot! And I love your dog!!!!

I went with raised beds to save my back. I filled them with dried leaves at the bottom and this wonderful 4way mix I bought and had delivered from my local landscaping yard. One yard really went a long way. I was able to fill my beds and add the rest to existing plants around my yard. My food garden was excellent last year, minimal pests and maximum yield. Getting ready to do it again this year. 😊

"Things are going to be cheaper later..[in years..]...I had to go back & relisten to your presenting ! Very good! Very true!

I know it likely has been said already, but check your local landfill for compost delivery. My township picks up yard waste and will deliver 3 yards to your home for 60-$80 total depending on distance. If you go there yourself, you can pick it up for free. Basically, if you have a truck and have a small-ish area and want to put in sweat equity, you can pick up the compost for free, minus gas, and fill your beds. Topdressing would be even easier since you wouldnt need nearly as much.

I'd also encourage everyone get a legit soil audit/soil testing done before you spend anything. You will know everything your native soil contains but more importantly everything it needs if anything. Then you can add exactly that and focus on improving biology while you do your thing with your raised beds (if that's your preference) ✌

@cltinturkey

2 ай бұрын

Super smart and well worth the cost. Every state has two land-grant universities. Most states also have extension agents from those universities and a group of master gardeners. In Virginia, you can send soil samples to Virginia Tech University. For less than $20 you'll get a high-quality test of your soil with emailed results and recommendations. You can send in multiple samples for different crops you want to grow. That way you'll save money and only add amendments when needed. You can always add compost to your beds and add mulch once beds are planted. Both materials will continue to break down over time and improve the soil.

Thank you very well explained.

I'm 61 and am using 2 1/2' tall beds because of not being able to squat down and get back up easily or bending over for long periods of time. So that's one more reason you could list for tall raised beds. :) BTW I live in Georgia so I watch your channel because your climate is so similar to mine.

Jealous of how lush and green it is in your video! I'm still looking at a foot of snow on the ground here in Maine! 😁

Great video! Good practicle information. I appreciate the cost comparisons. Thank you 😁

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it ❤

I didn’t evidently wait this one where you explained the top soil and compost. Glad you linked to it. Makes sense 😊

Very helpful video!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

This video came at just the right time for me, omw to buy some topsoil and compost!

Your videos is always helpful! Thank you

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the price breakdown. It will save me $$$ big money.

Great tips, thanks!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome!

I got 8 of them thanks for the video

I've watched all your video's learned so much. I can't wait till I get out there and use some of your knowledge. I live in Maine so I will have to wait a bit. Oh You have such a great dog love to see Dale at the end.

That was a great video, thanks!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

Thanks for all the great information and break down of costs!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

Just wanted to say that I really appreciate your posts alerting us about great Amazon deals for gardening supplies! I'm sure that takes a lot of time. 👍

Great video. Thanks.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

Great information as always happy gardening

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Great info!

@TheMillennialGardener

Ай бұрын

Thanks!

Ur dog is beautiful!

Very nice explanation of what raised bed gardening can accomplish and the problems they solve.

We live on a hill. Were older and wanted taller raised beds. We had to dig them in so theyd be level. All of the North Georgia clay went into the center of the beds , raising the soil level to a manageable financial height. So we then filled it with toosoil, compist, vermiculit peat mix. Added veggies from our kitchen and worm eggs. In 2 months itll be ready for its first planting. Were excited cause 2 other we added logs, but soil sinks faster and it can house critters. But they turned out fabtastic too. Love your videos!

Shared your video with a grow group and on my FB page. Always good information. I'll be watching.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it!

Thank you for making this video! Great info! 😊👍👍

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome! I'm glad the info was useful.

As someone in his mid-70s, I'd like to point out that WE have raised beds so we don't have to bend over so far to weed and care for them! They also help us to limit the spread of crops (e.g., sunchokes and asparagus) that otherwise might tend to spread in an uncontrolled manner. VERY MUCH appreciate your excellent suggestions regarding the proper blend with which to fill the raised beds. Used to get great free filler - mixed horse manure with pine shavings, which we composted for a year first - but the horses died. Have been mixing soil from elsewhere in the garden with either commercial compost or composted steer manure, which has done great for us. Had a great harvest last year particularly of red potatoes - one of which was 8" long and weighed 24 ounces! It's also been great for both the asparagus and the garlic (which we plant in the fall). We've been doing in part what you're describing, but will be "tweaking" our methodology to what you've suggested! Thanks so much again for some excellent ideas!

Very informative, made me change my mind about what i was going to do in my garden 8a

I love Dale and he loves his dad. ❤

Very good informations. Thanks. Your dog is so cute. I love the way you interact with him.

In the fall, ask the manager or your locel garden store to make you a skid of ripped bags of soil, peat moss, etc. If you are ok with mix and match and you arent too picky you could save 90% like i did at canadian tire last fall!

I can't tell you how many videos I have watched lately about how to save money on soil, and this is the best one I've seen so far! I love the simple 50/50 compost and top soil recipe. That is simple enough for me to remember and easy enough to implement. Thanks so much for sharing!

You are an excellent gardener and a great presenter. Logical and to the point. Great job! Thanks so much. I pass your content on !❤

Thank you.

Thank you so much! My Raised Garden Beds will be delivered tomorrow....Your video has helped me a lot, and saved me a lot.....SUBSCRIBED!

Great video. Easy to listen to. Good info explained well.🎉

@TheMillennialGardener

Ай бұрын

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

Any time we dig up an area and remove sod or soil, we add it to a pile that “composts” in place and then draw from that pile when making new beds. The mineral content is important in raised beds. When buying bags of things, look for broken bags at big box stores and ask for a discount. I used to always get them at 50%, no matter the condition, but now they’re getting stingy. It’s still a little savings though.

@RealBradMiller

2 ай бұрын

Right? Discount plants... They took a mere dollar off, the damn thing was near dead!!! I still managed to save it. Bought a flat of sedum for fifty cents, and I've never wanted for another one since! I'm hoping when they get new product in there will be damages, and I can swoop in and haggle. 😂

Great video! You’re an excellent teacher 👨‍🏫

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

what a life that Dale has when I die I want to come back as Dale lol 🙂🌻

Excellent video. Wish I had known about the 50/50 mix 2 years ago when I started my garden. I will keep it in mind for next time. Thanks for sharing.

I can buy 50/50 or 3-way mix for $35 a yard and usually order 10 yards delivered for even cheaper by the yard

You’re awesome! Thank you!

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

Another informative video ! Say gidday to Dale... ps how many beds does Dale have ?? He is great fun to see at the end of your video's ! Cheers 🍻 man

About 20 years or so ago, I lived in Brunswick County, NC. Lived on Oak Island. Been back in my home county in Alabama since then. Doing a lot of research to try a successful garden soon. I’ve been learning a lot from you, Huw Richards, Steven Cornett & Mark Valencia. Thanks for the great content. I worked a farm with my cousins a couple summers when I was 12-13, but the gardens I’ve tried as an adult have all failed haha. Hoping I can make a better go of it this year and next & have success. The ground in my yard is pretty much red dirt with rocks all in it, so going to go raised beds I think. Going to be so expensive though to bring in soil. Thanks for the ideas and comparisons. If you are near Southport, check out Generations Church. I helped plant that church when I lived there. Praise God, it has grown much better than my gardens haha. Blessings.

Would you consider choosing peat free compost as a more environmentally friendly alternative? We should really be preserving our peatlands

Great advice! Who's that handsome photo bomber? Dale! 🐕🐾💕

I love Dale! 😂 What a personality 😅❤😊

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

I'll tell you, Dale has more personality than any human I've ever met 😅 He's really something.

I love Dale and all of your gardening advice is perfect in helping my garden grow at its best. Thank you so much

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You’re welcome! I’m happy to help!

Thank you soooo much this was very helpful, only because I just got 2 raised beds and was going to fill with them with the usual potting soil, so now I’m just going to mix top soil with my home made compost thank you so much, I saw this video just in time, thanks

Millennial Gardener, I just love the way you explain things. ❤

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! I'm happy to know the videos are helping.

Our local landfill offers compost for $10 to fill up your own truck bed. It’s definitely not organic, but it’s a good cheap option for those of us on a tight budget.

Spot on. This might be your number one money saving video yet. It makes us feel lucky that in our part of the country the topsoil is pretty good so we just amend with organic matter and don't have to do raised beds.

We just had 5~6 cubic yards of compost delivered to start our container garden. Most of all of our stuff was purchased via your store. In our area this compost was 650 delivered. It sure does look good. Man are the knats in abundance this year!!!

@KF_Jaymon

2 ай бұрын

damns thats still pricey

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Wow, it's crazy how the cost of things have gone up. When I filled my beds in 2019, I paid $500 for a 10 cubic yard triaxle load delivered. Usually, the 50/50 topsoil/compost mixes are a lot more affordable.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

@@KF_Jaymonit is, but if you compare it to bagged mixes, it's an enormous savings. Unfortunately, getting a garden started is going to be a little expensive. But, it is an investment. After the up-front costs, you don't have to do a whole lot. The first 2 years is a lot of investing in beds, soil, tools, etc., but then it starts paying you back in food, exercise and overall better health.

@RustyBobbins

2 ай бұрын

Wow that’s pricey. 5-6 yards of compost here is $210-$240 delivered.

@Agrillot6

2 ай бұрын

3 yards is $29, with $80 delivery.

Hello from Union County! Great video, Anthony! I love the price comparison on soil mixes. We have a wonderful truck load of growers mix delivered; we call it growers gold. When I filled the beds, I used the hugelkultur method then layered dried leaves, growers mix, lastly, mulch. Four year later the beds are full of life underground and above. The right soil is the key to weed free, nutrient rich, healthy organic food. Thanks for all the growing advice and love and hugs to Dale!

Goodness I’m one of the ones that has been filling my raised beds with the homemade expensive stuff for containers. Thanks for the information, I was definitely confused about what I was doing! I can get 1 yard of topsoil from my local recycle plant for $6! Oh the money I could have saved 😣

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

It's not too late. This gives you a reason to expand your garden for pennies on the dollar. Just be careful with the recycling plant stuff. It's very affordable, but talk to them and make sure the soil is clean and not contaminated with anything. It's also probably not screened, so purchasing a nice compost sifter could be a good idea. I just bought a big metal one with handles on Amazon that'll last centuries for $32 and it's pretty awesome.

Another great bunch of advice, as usual! Thank you for all the info you give us. Not sure I saw it in the comments, but another nice side effect of using bulk materials is minimizing plastic waste.

I am so excited to have found your channel! I live in Rocky Point, just north of Wilmington in Pender County. I am still very new to gardening and have had many challenges. I think this is my third year and so far, I've sucked at it. But, I still enjoy trying. One of my first discouraging fails was when I discovered that I had root knot nematode in one of my raised beds. Since there is no real way to get rid of that crap, we finally made the decision, this season, to empty the bed and start over. I'm glad I saw this video because I was trying to figure out what to get to refill it. I will probably get some top soil and compost from Seaside Mulch. It's still a LOT since my beds are 2 feet tall. But at least I will feel more confident that what I plant won't be a waste. Anyway, I love your videos and the fact that they are so relevant to me since we are very close in proximity. I have subscribed and will support your channel as much as possible. Happy week after Azalea Festival!

Another great video, MG! I can imagine a lot of folk getting their happy dance on now that they know they can afford to build that garden bed!😄👍 Awwww, Dale!😴💕

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Unfortunately, filling garden beds is never going to be cheap, but it doesn't have to be expensive, either. Dale says hello 🐶

Very inspiring and makes us all want to garden

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Outstanding!

I am just getting ready to start putting together my raised beds. This will help me out a lot!! Thanks.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

You're welcome!

Such a great guy! One of my favorite things to do is to repeatedly rewind the beginning of your video, so it sounds like wh-wh-wh-what's going on gardeners? 😁😁😁😁

Here outside of Atlanta Ga, always appreciate your input. We do have a very similar climate. Thanks always

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Glad the videos are helpful!

@Scott-jf1nh

Ай бұрын

Hi Todd, also just outside Atlanta. Helpful to get an expert near to our zone.

Most of the potting mixes I’ve bought this year are mostly wood chips. Even the Miracle Grow brand.

@Earthy-Artist

2 ай бұрын

I learned how to make/mix my own It's so much $$$ cheaper and much better quality making it myself. I buy ingredients separately in bulk usually 4 cu. ft. bags then mix them myself, they last and go a really long way.

@pamelaspooner7183

Ай бұрын

Yes, what I call floor sweepings! Disgusting. No mineral soil, just a way to charge us more for what amounts to mulch!

Impressive

Good video.

@TheMillennialGardener

2 ай бұрын

Thank you!