RANKED: The BEST (and Worst) Raised Garden Materials
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- In this epic gardening video we walk through the top 5 best materials to use when you're making or buying a raised garden bed. I also discuss several materials to avoid.
All of these raised garden bed materials, Wood, cedar, cinder block, stock tanks, corrugated steel and Corten steel, have their pluses and minuses. If you're growing vegetables in your raised bed, definitely avoid the materials I mentioned (old tires, pressure treated wood, wood pallets and railroad ties).
Here's a breakdown of the video segments below! Be sure to see the article links beyond that. Happy gardening!
00:00 - Intro
01:26 - Number 5 (Cinder Block)
03:30 - Number 4 (Wood)
05:11 - Number 3 (Stock Tanks)
06:34 - Number 2 (Corrugated Steel)
08:00 - Materials to avoid
08:53 - Number 1 (Steel)
Here are the links to the articles below! Please take a moment to subscribe and turn on notifications so I can continue to making these videos and turning those thumbs green! Love you all! - Acres
Article about building Cinder (concrete) Block raised garden beds: sunshineandrainydays.com/buil...
Article about why you should avoid the materials I mentioned avoiding. You'll have to scroll down to section that talks about raised garden bed materials to avoid: www.ruralsprout.com/raised-ga...
Article that goes into depth on Corten Steel and why I picked it as my number 1. www.epicgardening.com/corten-...
#gardening #gardeningtips #gardeningideas #raisedbedgarden #epicgardening #smallgarden #containergardens
Hello! If you're new here, I'm Acres Greenbed, your affable garden guru dispensing all my garden knowledge (with a little help from the internet. Let’s be honest) for your consumption. My goal is for you to be extremely successful with all your gardening ambitions. I want that thumb of yours to turn so green that even your hippie neighbor who spends all their time cultivating gigantic artichokes will be jealous. I try to upload 2 information packed videos a week. So whether you're into small gardens, succulents, general gardening, vegetable growing or anything else garden, landscape and yard related, I'm here for you! If you're looking for information on a specific topic about gardening, be sure and leave a comment and I'll see if I can make a video or short about it!
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Have you guys seen this video about the top 5 trends for gardens in 2023? ua-cam.com/video/x3BxhbgJ9B0/v-deo.html
My journey with raised beds led me to making them out of concrete.
We used basalt fibers (they don't chemically react with the alkalinity of the concrete & are 3x lighter & 2.5 stronger (tensile) than steel fibers) mixed in with the concrete (+ dye for color) & used some hardware cloth to reinforce the corners, otherwise no rebar.
We built them right on top of French drains we dug to deal with drainage (we covered the trench from bottom to top with landscape fabric to greatly slow infiltration of dirt over time, as well as keeping the concrete mix out) as well as a cushion to buffer against the seasonal, clay shifting in the ground.
We made them 4" wide at the top & 6" wide at the base & 2' tall. It took us all summer to build them with just the 2 of us. (We wanted them to lie fallow that year as they needed to rest after 7 years of rotational use.)
We set up forms with plywood & aluminum roofing sheets, filled & gently vibrated them to ensure even distribution & let them set for a week, covered with tarps to keep the moisture in. & then filled them after 2 weeks with mostly half decomposed wood chips which would finish by the time spring planting came back around.
They've stood up with no cracks, no mole/vole invasions & good, healthy soil for 3 years now.
All of my beds are made out of concrete block because the cedar wood that I had made 20 years ago rotted away. I had considered making the beds out of composite lumber because that doesn't rot, but it's difficult to make them tall enough so I don't have to get down on the ground to work the earth. The concrete block, I've found, is the best alternative. It doesn't rot, is cost effective, can be raised as far as I need it and I only have to buy it once and not be constantly replacing it. It's now about 18 years old. I also put solid block on top so weeds don't grow in the spaces. Best idea I've had in a long time.
Well done! And thanks for sharing your experiences.
I was thinking of making mine out of concrete blocks so I can sit on the side. Do you have any advice or anything you wish you’d done differently?
@5109 The only things I wish I'd done differently was that I originally made the 6 beds too long. There are three 16" x 8" by 8" concrete blocks for the width which yields approximately 3 feet of soil on the inside and the length of the beds was 32 feet long. I made these beds only 3 feet inside because while sitting on the edge of the bed, I can then reach into the middle of the bed, which is approximately 18" without either falling into the bed or stretching my arms so much that it because difficult to reach the middle of the bed. I "broke" up the lengths into four-foot sections by simply putting a "divider", mostly made of brick I had laying around, on top of the soil. This gives me 5 "sections" of 12 square feet, which is a perfect size for square foot gardening. The other think was that I used those 8" x 16" by 2" blocks that had holes in them to top off the 8" x 8" x 16" standard blocks so weeds wouldn't grow in the holes and to provide a place for me to sit when weeding or planting or putting down mulch. I would not use those "holey" blocks again, but am slowly replacing them with the solid ones and recycling the "holey" ones to top the perimeter blocks which are now holding my fence, which is there mostly to keep stray dogs out, but also chickens and other critters. That has worked very well.
Since my raised garden is near my creek, this was a good way for me to access the creek for irrigation purposes. When I was younger, I utilized all of the 32 feet, but as I'm now approaching 76, I find I don't need to use all of that space so a lot of it is being recycled to other parts of the garden and the areas that are clear will go back to grass, which I will then mow and use in my compost barrels.
Please remember that this project was something I started over 20 years ago and has been modified over and over again. Your project may be a lot smaller than mine, but as the saying goes, every little bit helps.
Oh! You can get an idea of what my beds look like from my UA-cam channel: ua-cam.com/video/T2JY5ZZYcfA/v-deo.html
Good luck!
@@kalinystazvoruna8702 this is SO helpful!!! Thank you!! These are exactly the things I was wondering. Thank you so so so much!!! I really appreciate it! 💚💚💚
@@tnijoo5109 You're very welcome. I hope the link to my UA-cam channel helped
Steel isn't an option here in Australia. I want to cook my veg in the kitchen, not while it's still in the planter box haha
Made my own when living in France out of concrete, found it the cheapest option and last. Bit of work making a form work up (had to knock down and rebuild, but worked out well.
Well done!
Thank you for sharing. I wish you success and good health always
Nicely done, thanks! Regards from Baltimore.
Concrete blocks are super porous and will wick moisture out of the soil causing it to dry out much faster than other options. Modern (as in AC2 that's been mandated for the past 20+ years) pressure treated lumber is food safe. It contains no arsenic which was the problem with the older CCA lumber.
I've found that concrete (block & solid) hold moisture in just as well as the other options.
Covering the beds with wood chips helps solve the moisture issue, but you might want to put out a saucer with beer on it every few days to kill slugs & snails. =p
I'm using UC4 pressure treated fence posts, but I've stapled damp proof course material to the sides and bottoms that I am sure will prevent the leaking of any chemicals into the soil.
Well done. Great video and to the point. You've just gained a subscriber + like
Thank you so much! ❤️
You really should do some research on pressure treated wood, today’s PT is not the same as 20 years ago. It uses Copper, an organic fungicide. Most people drink water carried by copper pipes and some of us even take a daily vitamin and mineral pill with copper as one of the minerals.
As more “general” advice I’m sticking to avoiding pressure treated if you’re growing food. Thank you for pointing out that things have changed though.
I like cinder block, price is good, flexible meaning you can change your setup and height!
Exactly. It’s a great option for many.
I’m here to support the dream.
Treated lumber is perfectly fine. Old type treated... yes had bad chemicals, but the current treated is non-toxic. It uses a copper solution.
I tend to agree with you but some people want to avoid chemicals at all costs, you know?
@@thegardenguru You mean like Nitrogen, potassium, iron, oxygen, etc.? ha
Ha ha. I think you know what I meant but I see your point. Like I said, this isn’t necessarily my point of view. I think for the most part people should garden how they personally see fit. I just want people gardening!
Thanks for watching my videos! If you like my content, be sure and subscribe. I love sharing valuable garden information! - AG
My old 1/4 inch galvanized troughs (3x5 ft. and 30 inches high) are a heat magnet. The soil gets HOT. I now have a a12x20 40% white shade cloth over my garden area. Liking the idea of new cinder blocks plus the stone would hold moisture a little better. And good insulation qualities??
Good insight! Thanks for commenting! I bet cinder blocks could offer good insulation. You're right.
Pallets are an good choice so long as they are heat treated. Look for the HT stamped somewhere on the pallet. It there is no stamp or it says BT, use for other projects. A drawback is that pallets are not uniform so there are various thicknesses and types of wood. They are also better for small planters than huge raised gardens. Slather them with linseed or tung oil and they will last ~5 years.
Good advice.
I honor your research and love your indianness in your channel.
What about natural stone or concrete retaining wall pavers?
I'm cheap and expect my beds to be temporary. So I use rings of 30" tall net wire lined with a decent quality landscape fabric. Fill the bottom 3/4 with woody material, then soil to the top and you're getting a slow compost pile that doubles as a waist high raised bed for at least a few years.
Very creative.
Do you have any experience with charred wood? There is a fair amount of information on how long the can last but nothing about if stuff can leach into the soil. I built some at my old place out of pine and they held up great for the years I was there.
I like the look of the steel myself, but I also live in the desert, where we get 120F in the summers. Have you seen any successful ways of using this with an insulation of some kind?
How about retaining wall block? They latch together and are very durable. Additionally, they can be very attractive.
The rusty steel beds at the end of the video look beautiful. Can you point me to a safe and economical source for the materials or kits? Is lead, mercury or other toxic contaminant in the steel a concern at all?
We use old dryer drums also🎃🎃🎃
I have a garden bed that's made out of cinder blocks that's been there at least since the mid 1990s. I wonder if those are safe or toxic like the ones you mentioned at the beginning of the video
They’re probably safe. Authentic cinder blocks were not being made in the 90s.
hi
what about Insulated panels ?
I planned to buy Chinese Fir Wood for a raised Vegetable bed on Amazon…is it safe? Ty
Old television stands are being thrown out all over town. I turn them on their side and fill them with compost. I have an instant raised bed. 😅
I noticed that where you put a rubber water hose (I was lazy) on the ground for a while, nothing will grow under it, or around it.
Yeah. That's not good!
Well, leaving a hose on the lawn will likely kill rhe grass from being smothered and also from heating up very hot in the sun.
I am wondering about rust in the steel , and the possibility of it affecting the plants ?
www.gardenary.com/blog/is-it-safe-to-garden-in-steel-raised-beds
Any thoughts on clay bricks or just bricks in general? I would put them in the same category as cinder blocks.
Yeah clay bricks are great! You can certainly use them.
I'm considering brick as I want my beds to last up to 20 years with minimal maintenance.
@@rosemarielee7775 The clay bricks will also be much lighter than cinder blocks, which for me will be much easier on my back while I build the raised garden. A little bit of exterior white paint will also help reflect more light within the garden and help preserve it a little better too. ✌️
Any comments on plastic containers.. they are safe for hauling water etc. Last a lifetime, durable and light . BTW steel is freaking heavy and hard on the knees if you run into it !
Traditionally UV rays break down plastic. I know they are making some plastic products for outdoor adventuring that stand up to the elements but I’m not sure even those are meant to be left in the sun 24/7. I’ll do some digging. Good point about steel!
@@thegardenguru Plastic Ponds work good and cheap flat bottom ones are available! Also they make Cattle and Horse watering troughs out of Plastic instead of Metal!
I just rebuilt my old decayed raised beds. I did use treated lumber but lined with ALINO Dampro floor underlayment (from HD), designed for damp proofing and drainage in underground walls. It is made of HDPE, a food-grade plastic. It also creates an air gap between the wood and soil, isolating the wood from the soil and eliminating concerns about CA wood preservatives. I used 4-inch thick wood placed on a bed of 1/4" gravel for drainage (there is heavy clay and rock beneath). Honestly, I think those beds will last just about forever, as long as I put a sealer on the outsize every 5 years or so. The top of the walls are capped with a 2x6 which can be easily replaced when needed.
I'd *still* test the soil to make sure chemicals haven't leached into the soil. Better be safe than sorry.
@@kalinystazvoruna8702 The nice thing about heavy duty HDPE is that it is impermeable. That means nothing leaks through it, ever.
@@slydog7131 Really? Didn't know that. Thanks! I think I need something like that for my "fake" Zen garden.
💖
Cinder blocks don’t work in the south because they retain heat.
Do they? That's interesting.
@@thegardenguru Big time!
what about downsides of steel that it shares with corrugated metal? Gets very hot in the summer, no edge space to act as a shelf... why is steel better than corrugated steel.
I believe I mentioned those but the reason it stands out to me is the aesthetic value and the longevity.
What about Rubbermaid stock tanks?
Hmm. That’s a good one. I’ll have to do some research but my first instinct is to avoid because rubber and plastic breaks down in the sunlight.
These are troughs used for hores and cattle on farms. They are sturdy and I've been using them because I can't find 40 gallon rubber pots. Do you have a source for 40 gallon rubber pots?
Horses
I used untreated pine and it lasted 4 years.
Sounds about right. Some of that will depend on where you're located.
@@thegardenguru Southwest Canada.
What about PVC!
Feed store like Kroger or Walmart right lol
You didn't talk about PLASTIC!
Galvanize products and steel contain zinc, to much zinc can hurt you.
Do some research on current pressure treating chemicals and concrete blocks.. some incorrect info here.
Well obviously I disagree. If anything maybe just not enough detail on concrete to satisfy some people but I assure you, the concrete blocks I suggested are safe.
@@thegardenguru
Any roots that are near the concrete will be impacted by the limestone and calcium. If the bed is big enough it won't matter but a smaller one will be noticable. I've had this problem. The CCA they use on pressure treated wood is not a known carcinogen but sure if you wanted to be extra cautious, go w cedar
Probably a good idea. Copper compounds are used in organic-approved fungicides that can be applied directly to plants right up to the day of harvest. Azole compounds are another fungicide which is used in both topical and oral human medications. Still, it's best to go with what you are comfortable with.
@@Chris-bx4vk My concrete block beds are at least 18 years old and I've never had a problem with limestone or calcium leaching into the soil.
@@kalinystazvoruna8702
All depends on the mix being used and where it's being manufactured. Accelerants and retardants are used depending on environmental factors. Or you could be fine and have straight cement.. Straight is more costly so it's more rare to see in box stores. Honestly it may be more personal experience than actual impact but I'm obviously jaded from the time I put into my area with concrete years ago lol
too much generic footage
The cutesy:information ratio is beyond my tolerance. I'm sure you put a lot of effort into this but this was far longer than it had to be. Viewers' time is valuable. Wish you the best, just not my cup of tea.
Still finding my way. Trying to establish myself. My most recent video is a bit more condensed. Thanks for your comment. Hope you find your cup of tea!
@@thegardenguru just found your channel, if you focus on permaculture principles it will not only help you improve your yield, you’ll grow your channel WAY faster than if you focus on general agriculture with tilling. ua-cam.com/play/PLdIvK1MzAQWKn8UjEuGBJ4Lhu9svNs1Jc.html it’s a rapidly growing topic
And if you're actually worried about cinder blocks, plant mustard, lavender & other heavy metal accumulators that year & then dispose of them before they seed.