Glad this was able to help! This garden build was truly as easy to set up at the video shows and it has work out great for our family. We are looking forward to the weather warming so we can start our next planting season.
G R E A T video ...! I made a list of things to buy for my three raised garden bed containers (that are exactly like yours, by the way). NOW, I know how to do things ... 1. drill multiple holes everywhere on bottom (including a conduit fitting .. but I am going to make it go out the bottom of container instead of side) 2. put meshwork on bottom 3. get drain rock to put on top 4. place landscape fabric on top 5 on top of this, place backyard prunings/clippings or hay to lessen amount of soil to use 5. dirt mixed with perlite THEN do the drip line irrigation like you showed in your follow up video .. THANKS, ... DUDE !!!
I recently added two stock tanks to gain level raised bed areas to a steep slope. Next, I begin filling them using the Hugelkultur method to build up biomass and fill space before topping them off with compost and planting soil.
Thank you for this video, very informative. Also, you are an excellent presenter, easy to understand, and enjoyable/entertaining to watch!! I wanted to try this method and plan to in the future. I opted instead to use recycled (plastic) laundry sinks (instead of the stock tank), filled with a soil mixture similar to what you used. First time trying it, we'll see how it goes.
Thank you for your comments. I believe the laundry sinks would work quite well. The soil mixture and good sun should be the most important considerations. Let us know how your season goes!
Tim: perhaps you can make a short video on how to make a top / protection cover (greenhouse effect) .. very much like the expensive Vegepod .. so it protects against deer or birds ....
that is a good idea and I haven't thought of that and it might solve my problem. I have a horse trough and don't have it raised and probably going to raise it like he did. I bought a large one that I think is a very thick resin material because I didn't want a metal one that gets really hot in the summer from tractor supply(I wanted as much space to plant as I could and my plants not getting burned from hot metal). it also has a drain on the side and I didn't bother taking the drain out,just unscrewed it some and water trickles out when we get to much rain or if I am watering it. my problem so far is I think is slugs...I planted strawberries and slugs are getting in and leaving small chunks in my strawberries as soon as the strawberry is ready to be picked. so could always use the protection cover or green house affect to keep them out instead of having to throw out most of the strawberries they mutilated and coming away with only 2-4 strawberries that they didn't get yet.I have used beer filled plastic containers much to my husbands dismay ( he did finally give in and told me to buy the cheapest most foul beer he would never drink though hahahaha)and its not getting enough to make a differance( only got 1 slug from 8 containers ).
You could use the step drill for drilling the bottom holes. I had the standard bit, and typically think of the step drill more for enlarging holes, vs. starting holes, however it would work. The step drill possible wouldn't drill as fast, but I don't think it would be much of an issue with as thin as the tank material is.
Thanks for you comment. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects!
That didn't come off as well or as quick as I had thought it would. I started trying some solvents like lacquer thinner and a scouring pad. This worked for the bulk. I then used a wire brush to get it to where it was in the video. It's mostly gone, but there is a shinier spot where it was on the side.
I thought about using stock tanks for planters, but was afraid that once I drilled holes for drainage I was just asking for rusting to start. Won't that be an issue?
Hi Michael. Great question. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects
Tim, thanks for the video! Great job!!! One question, where did you buy the raised bricks you used for the base. I've been to a number of places and no one has them. Do they have a specific name? Thank you!
The bricks I used for the base were retaining wall blocks that I had left over from a landscape wall project. They are Rockwood's Colonial Classic blocks, however any retaining wall block would work great. You could use concrete wall blocks (CMU) or stacked pavers, however I like the "finished" look that a retaining wall block gives as a base. Good luck with your garden build!
@Stuart Brodie Our cattle fence is 5' high from the soil surface. This height has worked out great for the plants and I can comfortably reach the entire surface. Remember to add in the depth of your tank to the overall height before cutting the fence. 😀
The drain plug on the tank I used had a large hex shaped profile. I used a Channellock pliers to remove the plug. There are other styles of plugs on other brand tanks. One I have seen has a square "hole" in the center that fits a 3/8" socket driver.
Hi Kevin, The main reason for the hardware cloth is like a filter fabric to keep the rocks and any other items from falling into and plugging the holes. I think it serves a purpose as an insurance, however it would work just fine if you didn't use the mesh.
Hi Chris, In our area they are easily available at agricultural supply stores. The ones I have found start around $130 USD and go up from there. Amazon and other sellers have raised bed kits that look like the stock tanks, without bottoms, that bolt together so the shipping costs are reduced. These start in the $50 USD range. Hope this helps! Cheers!
The tank I used is nominally 6x2x2. Depending on where you look, it is rated from 144 gal. to 159 gal. I really like the look of this size tank, however you could easily go with the 1ft deep ones to save filling soil. The 6 ft length has worked out real well for laying out the plants.
Hi Randy. The conduit 'snorkel' is to run an irrigation supply tube from the ground, into the tank and to the soil surface. You can see a quick video on installing the complete drip irrigation here: ua-cam.com/video/wV3VOtcS62w/v-deo.html
That would definitely be an option. Could be a topic of a future video. The goal of this video was to get into Raised Bed Gardening in a very quick and simple manner.
Curious... why do you feel the need for the hardware cloth with your tank off the ground? It's not likely that voles or moles would burrow in even with the small holes in the bottom
Hi Rustie, That's a great question. I actually used the hard cloth to keep everything in, versus keeping anything out. When using the larger sized filter rock you really don't need to use the mesh, however I like that it will keep the rocks from washing into and plugging the drain holes. So whether to use the hardware cloth or not is totally up to you. In building another garden, I personally will choose to use it again. Thanks for watching and your question.
The taller tank would have more soil mass to hold water. I picked it because I liked the proportional look versus the smaller tanks. Being taller, it also brings the garden up closer to work in. As far as the drain pipe, I'm guessing this is referring to the conduit for running the irrigation supply tubing into the garden. It's put in to give a more finished look to the project. One could just run the tubing up the side of the tank if they wanted to.
Thanks for you comment. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects!
Crazy drilling in the base, better to put holes 2 inches up from the bottom on the side. This way it will not dry out. Put metal at the bottom 2 inches thick then build with your soil.
That could be an option. There are also number of great videos out there on making a tank garden self-watering. My concern is if the lower level "never" drained out, what would the condition of that wet mixture in the bottom turn into and would it speed up deterioration (rust out) of the tank bottom? Maybe they would not be issues either? Thanks for your comment, it's great to hear other ideas!
Though the hardware cloth could be considered optional, the main purpose of it is to keep the drain holes clear. Without the mesh it is possible that the rocks or any other debris may shift or try to escape the holes, thus causing them to plug from drainage.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. This points out a great benefit of this type of garden design. Using this video as a guide to constructing your own garden, any parts of the build, such as the soil components, could be simply changed to suit your individual needs. The soil components that we used were those that were available in our area. Though we were not specifically going for certified organic vegetables, by simply mixing in a $3 bag of composted cow manure this spring, we are well into our second year of vigorous plant growth, without using any additional chemicals or fertilizers.
Bye bye Trina. Take your rude comment and don’t the door hit ya on the way out. You could have recommended that he use organic soil without all the negative comments.
Trina De --> ... it is called a .... wait for it .... A "HOBBY" ... have fun spending gas to/from the supermarket for that ONE or TWO things you forgot to purchase (like chives, or cherry tomatoes etc ...) THIS is a one time deal project ... make it .. then ENJOY it ... (Man, some people are just soooooo stoooooopid, .. they just wanna be pessimistic for the sake of being antagonistic ... yeeeesh.. )
@@bmwrulesforeternity5218 is Trina what they call a “troll?” Or are they really serious? Man, I can just see them tossing their hair back, as they walk dramatically towards the door, er, supermarket ?!?!?
my husband did not trust me, so showing him this video helped answered his questions
Glad this was able to help! This garden build was truly as easy to set up at the video shows and it has work out great for our family. We are looking forward to the weather warming so we can start our next planting season.
Thanks, perfect timing I’m writing a grant to replace some failing wood raised beds.
Glad we could help! These will definitely speed the process of getting the new beds up and growing.
G R E A T video ...! I made a list of things to buy for my three raised garden bed containers (that are exactly like yours, by the way). NOW, I know how to do things ... 1. drill multiple holes everywhere on bottom (including a conduit fitting .. but I am going to make it go out the bottom of container instead of side) 2. put meshwork on bottom 3. get drain rock to put on top 4. place landscape fabric on top 5 on top of this, place backyard prunings/clippings or hay to lessen amount of soil to use 5. dirt mixed with perlite THEN do the drip line irrigation like you showed in your follow up video .. THANKS, ... DUDE !!!
That sounds great. Good luck with your gardens. Three should give you a lot of planting options!
Great video! I'm considering doing the same in my backyard.
I recently added two stock tanks to gain level raised bed areas to a steep slope. Next, I begin filling them using the Hugelkultur method to build up biomass and fill space before topping them off with compost and planting soil.
I really enjoyed this video. Poor hubby has to build me a few now! lol Ty. Very informative.
Thank you for this video, very informative. Also, you are an excellent presenter, easy to understand, and enjoyable/entertaining to watch!! I wanted to try this method and plan to in the future. I opted instead to use recycled (plastic) laundry sinks (instead of the stock tank), filled with a soil mixture similar to what you used. First time trying it, we'll see how it goes.
Thank you for your comments. I believe the laundry sinks would work quite well. The soil mixture and good sun should be the most important considerations. Let us know how your season goes!
Tim, this is great!
Thanks Matt!
Excellent video very informative. Thank You for sharing
Thank you for your comment!
Excellent build and well-detailed video. Great job Tim! Looking forward to seeing more from your channel!
Thanks for the comment. Working on a planting video right now.
Thank you for the information.
Great video! Thank you Tim! We are new to gardening and this is exactly what I was looking for.
Thanks Jeff! Good luck with this gardening season!
Tim: perhaps you can make a short video on how to make a top / protection cover (greenhouse effect) .. very much like the expensive Vegepod .. so it protects against deer or birds ....
That's a cool idea!
that is a good idea and I haven't thought of that and it might solve my problem. I have a horse trough and don't have it raised and probably going to raise it like he did. I bought a large one that I think is a very thick resin material because I didn't want a metal one that gets really hot in the summer from tractor supply(I wanted as much space to plant as I could and my plants not getting burned from hot metal). it also has a drain on the side and I didn't bother taking the drain out,just unscrewed it some and water trickles out when we get to much rain or if I am watering it. my problem so far is I think is slugs...I planted strawberries and slugs are getting in and leaving small chunks in my strawberries as soon as the strawberry is ready to be picked. so could always use the protection cover or green house affect to keep them out instead of having to throw out most of the strawberries they mutilated and coming away with only 2-4 strawberries that they didn't get yet.I have used beer filled plastic containers much to my husbands dismay ( he did finally give in and told me to buy the cheapest most foul beer he would never drink though hahahaha)and its not getting enough to make a differance( only got 1 slug from 8 containers ).
Awesome
Thank you!
Very informative, thank you! Any reason why you didn't use the step drill for drilling the bottom holes?
You could use the step drill for drilling the bottom holes. I had the standard bit, and typically think of the step drill more for enlarging holes, vs. starting holes, however it would work. The step drill possible wouldn't drill as fast, but I don't think it would be much of an issue with as thin as the tank material is.
Thanks for the tutorial. Can you tell me how hot the metal can get on a very hot summer day. If it does heat up, does it affect the plants? Thanks.
I have not noticed that the metal is any hotter than normal. It has not had any negative affect on the plants. Good luck with your garden!
when you drill thru a galv steel you really do need to spray or brush the holes with a water proofer to keep the holes from rusting the bottom out
Thanks for you comment. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects!
i found a poly stock tank laying nest to the road. I have Voles on my property.
The poly tank should work really good. These tank raised beds (with floors) are great for areas that have burrowing friends on the property!
I would have liked to know how many bags of soil you used and how much it costs.
Why the hard cloth? Thank you.
What did you use to remove the logo from the tank?
That didn't come off as well or as quick as I had thought it would. I started trying some solvents like lacquer thinner and a scouring pad. This worked for the bulk. I then used a wire brush to get it to where it was in the video. It's mostly gone, but there is a shinier spot where it was on the side.
I thought about using stock tanks for planters, but was afraid that once I drilled holes for drainage I was just asking for rusting to start. Won't that be an issue?
Hi Michael. Great question. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects
Thanks for bolt cutter vs grinding ….cattle fence comment.
👍 I reached for the grinder first, but the bolt cutter went through like through hot butter
Tim, thanks for the video! Great job!!! One question, where did you buy the raised bricks you used for the base. I've been to a number of places and no one has them. Do they have a specific name? Thank you!
The bricks I used for the base were retaining wall blocks that I had left over from a landscape wall project. They are Rockwood's Colonial Classic blocks, however any retaining wall block would work great. You could use concrete wall blocks (CMU) or stacked pavers, however I like the "finished" look that a retaining wall block gives as a base. Good luck with your garden build!
@@timshomework Thanks for your quick reply Tim!!!
Tim, one more questions! Dimensions of the cattle fence you used? Curious how high you went - we're planting tomatoes and strawberries. Thank you.
@Stuart Brodie Our cattle fence is 5' high from the soil surface. This height has worked out great for the plants and I can comfortably reach the entire surface. Remember to add in the depth of your tank to the overall height before cutting the fence. 😀
Hi how did you keep the fence in? Just the weight of the soil good enough to keep it steady or did you secure it somehow and i missed it? lol
How do I get the plug out!? You didn’t show it😢
The drain plug on the tank I used had a large hex shaped profile. I used a Channellock pliers to remove the plug. There are other styles of plugs on other brand tanks. One I have seen has a square "hole" in the center that fits a 3/8" socket driver.
@@timshomework ok thanks!
Since it has a bottom and it's elevated why do you need hard cloth?
Hi Kevin, The main reason for the hardware cloth is like a filter fabric to keep the rocks and any other items from falling into and plugging the holes. I think it serves a purpose as an insurance, however it would work just fine if you didn't use the mesh.
These tanks cost a bomb. How much are they in the us
Hi Chris, In our area they are easily available at agricultural supply stores. The ones I have found start around $130 USD and go up from there. Amazon and other sellers have raised bed kits that look like the stock tanks, without bottoms, that bolt together so the shipping costs are reduced. These start in the $50 USD range. Hope this helps! Cheers!
What size tub
The tank I used is nominally 6x2x2. Depending on where you look, it is rated from 144 gal. to 159 gal. I really like the look of this size tank, however you could easily go with the 1ft deep ones to save filling soil. The 6 ft length has worked out real well for laying out the plants.
@@timshomework thank you
sorry to be ignorant, but what was the snorkel for?
Hi Randy. The conduit 'snorkel' is to run an irrigation supply tube from the ground, into the tank and to the soil surface. You can see a quick video on installing the complete drip irrigation here: ua-cam.com/video/wV3VOtcS62w/v-deo.html
Problem I see by drilling holes in the bottom you can introduce tree roots. Good video though!
Should have made a wicking bed.
That would definitely be an option. Could be a topic of a future video. The goal of this video was to get into Raised Bed Gardening in a very quick and simple manner.
Curious... why do you feel the need for the hardware cloth with your tank off the ground? It's not likely that voles or moles would burrow in even with the small holes in the bottom
Hi Rustie,
That's a great question. I actually used the hard cloth to keep everything in, versus keeping anything out. When using the larger sized filter rock you really don't need to use the mesh, however I like that it will keep the rocks from washing into and plugging the drain holes. So whether to use the hardware cloth or not is totally up to you. In building another garden, I personally will choose to use it again. Thanks for watching and your question.
The taller tank is better for holding water in hot weather. And that drain pipe is pretty useless.
The taller tank would have more soil mass to hold water. I picked it because I liked the proportional look versus the smaller tanks. Being taller, it also brings the garden up closer to work in. As far as the drain pipe, I'm guessing this is referring to the conduit for running the irrigation supply tubing into the garden. It's put in to give a more finished look to the project. One could just run the tubing up the side of the tank if they wanted to.
But the holes will cause rust now
Thanks for you comment. Zinc galvanizing is an interesting process. Though there will show a ring of rust in the center of the drilled hole where there is totally bare metal between the inside and outside layers of galvanizing, these two layers of zinc will actively work to prevent the spread of oxidation (rust). While there should not be an issue, if concerned about any rust, one could shoot the holes with a quick burst of cold galvanizing compound that applies out of a can like spray paint. Good Luck with your Gardening projects!
Crazy drilling in the base, better to put holes 2 inches up from the bottom on the side. This way it will not dry out. Put metal at the bottom 2 inches thick then build with your soil.
That could be an option. There are also number of great videos out there on making a tank garden self-watering. My concern is if the lower level "never" drained out, what would the condition of that wet mixture in the bottom turn into and would it speed up deterioration (rust out) of the tank bottom? Maybe they would not be issues either? Thanks for your comment, it's great to hear other ideas!
The hardware cloth in the bottom is totally unnecessary
Though the hardware cloth could be considered optional, the main purpose of it is to keep the drain holes clear. Without the mesh it is possible that the rocks or any other debris may shift or try to escape the holes, thus causing them to plug from drainage.
@@timshomework True. Thanks.
Too bad you went the non-organic soil. Might as well go to the super market for your food. Cheaper and less time. New here, wont be back.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. This points out a great benefit of this type of garden design. Using this video as a guide to constructing your own garden, any parts of the build, such as the soil components, could be simply changed to suit your individual needs. The soil components that we used were those that were available in our area. Though we were not specifically going for certified organic vegetables, by simply mixing in a $3 bag of composted cow manure this spring, we are well into our second year of vigorous plant growth, without using any additional chemicals or fertilizers.
Bye bye Trina. Take your rude comment and don’t the door hit ya on the way out. You could have recommended that he use organic soil without all the negative comments.
Trina De --> ... it is called a .... wait for it .... A "HOBBY" ... have fun spending gas to/from the supermarket for that ONE or TWO things you forgot to purchase (like chives, or cherry tomatoes etc ...) THIS is a one time deal project ... make it .. then ENJOY it ... (Man, some people are just soooooo stoooooopid, .. they just wanna be pessimistic for the sake of being antagonistic ... yeeeesh.. )
@@bmwrulesforeternity5218 grow up. I thing a 2 year old could have made more sense!
@@bmwrulesforeternity5218 is Trina what they call a “troll?” Or are they really serious? Man, I can just see them tossing their hair back, as they walk dramatically towards the door, er, supermarket ?!?!?