Building Soil for Raised Bed Gardens – The Perfect Soil Recipe

Building Soil for Raised Bed Gardens – The Perfect Soil Recipe

Over the years, garden-industry expert and Emmy Award winning public television show host, Joe Lamp’l, has developed what he considers the perfect recipe of soil ingredients to build a thriving and productive raised bed garden. Here, he walks through his top recommendations. Then, watch Joe’s Soil Building playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMTiIDHkeL0GrK9lU9YITHqpN1MeYaViO

There’s MUCH more great garden info from Joe Lamp’l of joegardenerTV – including Joe’s Online Gardening Academy (joegardener.com/learn) and links to The joe gardener Show weekly podcast series (https://joegardener.com/podcasts), garden blogs (https://joegardener.com/blog) and e-book resource guides to teach you everything you need to know about composting (https://joegardener.com/resources) and more.

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Joe Lamp’l, the “joe” behind joe gardener is the creator, host and executive producer of public television’s Growing a Greener World. Watch episodes of his Emmy Award-winning show on our sister channel, GGWTV (https://www.youtube.com/ggwtv).

50 Comments

  1. David California on July 29, 2022 at 10:41 pm

    In 78 bad ub bad health and have one bag“Joe Gardener”? That you sell?



  2. Ana Darlene on July 29, 2022 at 10:43 pm

    Just wonderful, I have been researching "how to prepare your yard for a garden" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about – Paylezobath Celebrated Process – (search on google )?

    It is a smashing exclusive product for learning organic gardening secrets to boost your produce without the hard work. Ive heard some pretty good things about it and my mate got cool success with it.



  3. smhollanshead on July 29, 2022 at 10:46 pm

    Dig a trench, put the soil in a wheel barrel. Add old dead rotten wood to your trench. Then add twigs, leaves and compost to the trench. Return the soil to the garden bed. Top the soil with leaves and wood chips. This process won’t cost you anything, and your soil will be as good as his. This video was a commercial for soil additives not gardening advise. Follow this guy’s advise with caution.



  4. Rocket Surgeon on July 29, 2022 at 10:46 pm

    Joe: I’m a new gardener, and am working to build a large supply of compost. I have a local source for free horse manure, so I am concerned about your comments to avoid it. This is worm filled, seemingly good stuff. I had planned to pick up 15 yards next week. Will you please clarify your comments regarding why it should be avoided? What is the persistent herbicide that doesn’t break down, and where does it come from?



  5. D F on July 29, 2022 at 10:47 pm

    Do you buy amendments local and do you have any online links? Hard to find in our area .



  6. Faricellia Michael on July 29, 2022 at 10:48 pm

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  7. Thach Le on July 29, 2022 at 10:48 pm

    Beautiful Garden – Love it



  8. yeison rojas on July 29, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    This was great, thanks, been searching for "can you use garden soil as potting soil?" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of – Paylezobath Celebrated Process – (do a search on google )?

    It is a good one off guide for learning organic gardening secrets to boost your produce minus the hard work. Ive heard some extraordinary things about it and my mate got cool results with it.



  9. Anthony on July 29, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    Just finished my 4’x5′ raised garden beds using 4×6’s and felt like I over constructed, nice to see the 8×8’s being used. I’m in SoCal at the beach and unfortunately do not have access to leaves, ground bark and compost naturally. It’s gonna take a lot of trips to any store to load up the Jeep with bags. I have a 16" depth, should I be putting pea gravel at the bottom? My raised beds are on top of brick. Then a layer of mesh, then dirt on top? Watching so many videos, everyone has ‘their’ way 🙂 Thanks so much, great video!



  10. Pete Koehn on July 29, 2022 at 10:49 pm

    Thanks for the video! Any opinions on building up a bed in the fall or spring? I won’t plant until the spring, but I’m not sure if it would be better to build up the beds and soil now, and let it age over the winter?



  11. Mohammad A. AlDossary on July 29, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    seeing that it is from Corona.. Now I don’t have a desire to watch whatever this video about



  12. Manoj Chowdary on July 29, 2022 at 10:50 pm

    Hi Joe, thanks for the Video. Is it ok to use the treated wood from Home Depot for a raised bed. If not can you please suggest what type of wood to use and from where to get it. Thanks.



  13. Mk.Ultra on July 29, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    I use hore manure with fantastic results… never had a problem other then the occasional grass sprouts



  14. Amy Osborn on July 29, 2022 at 10:52 pm

    Thank you for keeping it clear and concise! After watching several videos on 1.5 speed, and fast forwarding many times before throwing in the towel (way too much blah-blah-blah), your video popped up as a suggestion. Much appreciated!!!



  15. Kory on July 29, 2022 at 10:53 pm

    landscaping stones or natural wood or concrete blocks for raised beds



  16. Dragon Shadow on July 29, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Hey thanks new to planting my own veg and herbs so thanks for your video



  17. Omar S on July 29, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    And the part I still don’t get after watching tons of videos: What exactly is topsoil?



  18. lindajackson618 on July 29, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Well that wasn’t a clear mix just a lot of expensive additives?



  19. Shriya's Kutty Farm on July 29, 2022 at 10:56 pm

    Good videoResult of hard work. Give your valuable comments to improve our channel thank you. Stay connected and stay blessed



  20. Mercy wats on July 29, 2022 at 10:57 pm

    This is glorious, I have been researching "is compost the same as potting soil?" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried – Fonillian Uncomplex Future – (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now )?
    It is a great exclusive product for growing up to 10 times more produce using aquaponics minus the normal expense. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my mate got excellent results with it.



  21. Tones N Creww on July 29, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    Another brilliant video champ. I’m about ready to go gardening 😁. I really like how you’ve organization garden is. Inspired I am



  22. Huggy Bear on July 29, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    Are use horse manure and found no difference except to have more seeds in it. Where did you read that it is an issue



  23. Ramo on July 29, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    CORONA season after season 😯



  24. Kelley McBride on July 29, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    Beautiful garden! Great video thanks for the up 👨‍🌾👍



  25. Kory on July 29, 2022 at 11:03 pm

    are those treated timbers for your raised beds??



  26. GARDENING PLUS on July 29, 2022 at 11:05 pm

    Yeh compost why dont you talk about maggots and flies you will get from compost?
    Where i am they even compost kitchen waste and baby diaper someone Dispose Hand Towels Kleenex after use and they compost it and they want us to use it in our garden specially with covid arround these days .I dont think so thats where you could get E. coli.
    Everyone trying to copy the nature well good luck.You need it.



  27. Faye E on July 29, 2022 at 11:09 pm

    How to keep out the ants from your compose



  28. Dennis Munroe on July 29, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    Hi Joe! I too live in the Atlanta area and I noticed you using the "Big Yellow Bag" product. Is this something I can use by itself to establish some new raised beds?



  29. Christy Chu on July 29, 2022 at 11:12 pm

    Such great video! Thank you! This channel just becomes my new favorite gardening channel.



  30. Raviteja Kancherla on July 29, 2022 at 11:14 pm

    Corona – Season after Season hahaha 0:19



  31. Lumlin Shadap on July 29, 2022 at 11:15 pm

    But u need to spend lots fo raising beds no?



  32. daniel chapman on July 29, 2022 at 11:18 pm

    Thank



  33. PlaneGeek Travels on July 29, 2022 at 11:19 pm

    Will the raise bed soil be too dense without adding peat moss or coco coir?



  34. d65 on July 29, 2022 at 11:20 pm

    what is the herbicide that you say may be in horse manure and why is it not in cow manure?



  35. Captain Ron on July 29, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    Hmm … the most credible gardening sites I could find (and there are VERY few), recommend top soil as the main component of one’s garden soil. This surprises me and challenges my practice of using only compost to liberally add to my raised beds at the end of my gardening season. I am not yet fully convinced but I’m convinced enough to (reluctantly) start my own trials next season. I’m going to try using top soil as the main component of my top dressing in the fall. Thanks for posting.



  36. Sri Sri on July 29, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    So pretty much anything can be planted in this soil? Right?



  37. Jomana on July 29, 2022 at 11:23 pm

    Just wonderful, I’ve been looking for "vegetable garden preparation" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about – Paylezobath Celebrated Process – (should be on google have a look )?

    It is a smashing one off product for learning organic gardening secrets to boost your produce minus the normal expense. Ive heard some interesting things about it and my co-worker got great results with it.



  38. Bob Harris on July 29, 2022 at 11:24 pm

    I understood shite



  39. Zephyr Cochran on July 29, 2022 at 11:25 pm

    Wow this seems pricey, I can’t help but wonder how forests pay for this?



  40. David D on July 29, 2022 at 11:26 pm

    Brought to you by corona, boy that company didn’t age well



  41. Sahera uk vlogger on July 29, 2022 at 11:27 pm

    👌👌



  42. JacklegMinerCanada on July 29, 2022 at 11:29 pm

    With the right innoculants I can have soil cooking and ready for plants in a week or two. The biggest time consumer is the Fungal development.



  43. Valandi Coundouris on July 29, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Joe, can I add the same amendments for my container vegetable garden? Thanks!



  44. Kory on July 29, 2022 at 11:30 pm

    don’t use treated timbers for your vegetable raised beds they leak bad stuff into the soil.



  45. John Rola on July 29, 2022 at 11:31 pm

    I am a Transplant Patient and I am stuck between a rock and a hard spot, I can not have any kind of Worm Casting, Manure or anything like that because it could kill me. All people with any kind of Transplants or anybody that is Immune Suppressed has this same problem. I had my First Salad and BLT last year because I grew my own Lettuce and I can’t tell you how good it tasted until the Moles got it. What can we do toy make a good mix for raised beds or just tired dirt in your Garden? Thanks!!!



  46. Tatjana on July 29, 2022 at 11:32 pm

    I will be planting in a raised bed that will be on my terrace. I plan on adding breathable fleece to the bottom of the bed, to allow for proper air-flow. I’ve heard that you want to add branches etc to the bottom, then compost, then soil. Does this three-layer system make more sense for what I’m doing, or should I mix all layers (like you said) and mix (in my case) high quality soil, compost and maneur/easily degradable things?



  47. Daniela Castañeda Elias on July 29, 2022 at 11:33 pm

    This was great, I’ve been looking for "how do you enrich soil for a vegetable garden?" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you heard people talk about – Paylezobath Celebrated Process – (do a google search )?

    It is a good exclusive product for learning organic gardening secrets to boost your produce without the normal expense. Ive heard some great things about it and my work buddy got cool success with it.



  48. Alec's Aussie Fruit and Veg Garden on July 29, 2022 at 11:34 pm

    Did I really see amendment spelt wrong on that package of work castings?? 😂😂😂



  49. Marcelino Fernandez on July 29, 2022 at 11:36 pm

    Raising Bed garden,is 8 inches is good enough?



  50. Michael Bryant on July 29, 2022 at 11:40 pm

    Thank you!