Ep. 220 From the ground up: How to create and care for raised bed gardens | #GoodGrowing
Thinking about building raised beds, but not sure where to start? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast as we discuss the benefits and challenges of raised bed gardening. From building materials to filling beds, get tips for construction, irrigation, and maintenance. Learn how raised beds can improve accessibility, reduce compaction, and what plants to grow in them.
Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5ooWAxzir6g
Skip to what you want to know:
00:48 – Welcome, Ken. How are our tomatoes looking?
03:13 - Why would we want to go through the effort to build a raised bed?
08:43 - What are some drawbacks of raised beds?
11:09 - What materials can be used to build raised beds?
09:57 – Wood: untreated, treated, logs
16:30 – Composite lumber
18:11 – Metal
20:52 – Stone/rock, bricks, and concrete
22:35 - Raised bed construction tips
28:04 - What should raised beds be filled with?
36:38 - Can you put stuff in the bottom of a raised bed so you don't have to fill it as much?
38:53 - Do you need to kill grass before filling raised beds?
40:40 - Raised bed maintenance - settling soil and irrigation
48:10 - What can be (or what do we) grown in raised beds?
55:21 - Wrap-up, thank yous, what's up next week, and goodbye!
Oregon State University - Pressure-treated wood for raised bed construction: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/soil-compost/pressure-treated-wood-raised-bed-construction-willamette-valley
Evaluation of substrates in constructed, raised-beds for vegetable culture: https://openscholar.uga.edu/record/12578
Contact us!
Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.edu
Ken Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu
Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowing
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Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.
Barnyard Bash: freesfx.co.uk
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Creators and Guests

Host
Chris Enroth
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Henderson, Knox, McDonough, and Warren Counties

Host
Ken Johnson
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator serving Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, and Scott Counties
