Why Raised Beds Are NOT Best

thank you, Scott, I feel like nobody ever talks about the cons, only the pros! This is valuable!

At my age avoiding getting down on my knees over rules everything else.

I just built my first raised bed today after a few months of planning. I anticipated most of this, but nobody is really telling you this information. Great video!

Thanks Scott! You've cured my indecision between raised and open beds: I was torn between the benefits of raised beds against their cost and labor, I just couldn't make a decision. But now you've prompted me to think about it, the space and impermance benefits of open beds suit my current situation much better than raised beds. I'll look at raised beds again when I move to my forever home 5-10 years in the future when I'll have more space and permanence. Thanks again!

This guy has a ton of game

More work in the beginning usualy means less work in the end, and a back saver i have never had any of the problems that you have suggested with raised beds.The pluses far out way the minuses with raised beds.

I have raised beds and I love them they are so easy to work with less weeds they are great

One of the best videos related to raised bed gardening. I have raised beds and find I do way more work than if I had my old rows. When done right they are a joy to have.

Thanks for the ideas. Here in Alaska, raised beds are great because the regular ground stays cold longer and the raised beds warm sooner. But, raised beds do required a lot more thought— for all the reasons you stated. Thanks!

To amend raised beds at end of season we use a long bulb planter for a drill to mix it in the soil. Works awesome.

Thanks for the video on the cons of raised beds. I mainly do container gardening, but with the expansion of the garden this year I put in 2 raised beds. I saved money by using old kiddie pools, one 6 foot and one 3 foot across. I filled them mostly with old potting soil, compost, and and added some pelleted chicken manure and garden lime. I am thinking of putting in a couple more raised beds. Though I want to use the space for at least a year, to find out the placement of the wicking tubs, and where the beds would be best. The 3 foot pool bed is movable. I may just build a frame around 3 or 4 wicking tubs after connecting them with pipe, and make a wicking bed. The main advantage I see for beds is being able to put hoops over them and extend the growing season a little.

Thanks for the info! Love your channel. As a single mom I had to go cheap...found some amazing pallets with TONS of good lumber and for the cost of galvanized screws I've got 8 raised beds. Saving up to replace them one by one with cinder block beds that will last virtually forever. I do the "no dig" amendment method and a local guy with a composting manure pile contributes lovely amendments for free...the amazing compost from the bottom of his pile is gorgeous mature compost. There are ways to do it on the "cheaper". Yes, the labor is quite a bit up front, but gardening is never a 5 min thing.

Those things needed to be said. There's two sides to every pancake. It's all about increasing the knowledge so we can each make informed decisions. Thank you for this insightful video.

The cooler bed temperature is something that I had not considered. Thanks for the overview of this topic.

Just finished my latest set of raised beds and Scott is right on a lot of the points he makes. They are not cheap to make or fill but I believe the cost will be worth it in the long run here in Florida.

Hey, Gardener Scott! 🙂👍🏼 Random, but I was having a difficult day. But this video came up and helped reenergize my desire to get some gardening projects done. Appreciate your content! Thanks for sharing your wisdom, sir!

One of the great things I like about you Gardener Scott is that even though you use a particular method, you don't only list the pros but also the cons. P.s. this has been a bunny free episode.

Good information. Those are things people might not think of. I made a 12 inch high bed for tomatoes because I can reach the top of them.

great summary of the realities of raised beds. I love them and do virtually all my garden in 3000 sq ft of raised beds. But, people should be aware of the challenges you outlined. In the end, it is still the best method for me by far.

You're right, I did enjoy this one Scott, thanks