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Choosing the Right Soil for a Raised Bed Garden

One of the most commonly asked garden questions is what type of soil should be used in a raised bed. A successful raised bed begins with understanding the role of true soil versus amendments, and how the two work together to support plant growth over time.  A reliable starting point is to include a significant portion of mineral soil, or soil from the ground—often around 50 percent. This soil will be a mix of clay, sand, and silt, the three components of soil.      Continue reading the full article here.

Related Videos:
​What is Soil pH and why is it so Important?
Building a Raised Bed
Replacing a Wooden Raised Bed with Concrete Block
Starting a Square Foot Garden
Square Foot Gardening Basics
Amendment
Composting
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Dirt Simple Can Begonia Propagation

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  • HELP! My Bromeliad Looks Awful
  • Potting Rooted Cuttings

Propagating Begonias with Leaf Cuttings

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  • 13 Popular Tropical Houseplants
  • Tomato Varieties, Planting Tips, and Common Pests
Find Create in your area: www.CreateTV.com/locate
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This Week in the Garden

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How to Weed Around a Cactus Without Getting Poked

Learn the easiest way to weed around your cactus without getting pricked! Jill Maybry from Memphis Botanic Garden demonstrates simple tools and techniques—like gloves and kitchen tongs—that make cactus care safe and stress-free.  From gently holding back spiny plants to removing stubborn weeds, this step-by-step guide keeps your cactus healthy and your hands spine-free. Perfect for beginners and indoor gardeners looking for hassle-free cactus maintenance.  >>Watch

Garden Notes
Best Raised Bed Soil: Starting the Experiment
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We are testing eight raised bed soils over the next few years. Some of the soils are good raised bed soils, and others are soils people commonly use for raised beds, but aren’t good. Check back for updates through the year.   >>Watch
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Pre-Emergent Herbicides

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Pre-emergent (or pre-emerge) herbicides are a very useful tool to reduce weeds. Retired UT Extension Agent Mike Dennison talks about how to use pre-emergents. Most pre-emergents work by preventing a germinating seed from growing roots. It does not kill weeds that are already growing.  >>Watch
  • Applying Pre-Emergent In a Flower Bed
  • Can you use a pre-emerge in a vegetable garden?
  • What pre-emergents should I use on my lawn?

Cactus Care 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Light, Water, and Soil

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Cacti are well known for their ability to thrive in dry environments, making them a practical choice for a low-maintenance indoor plant. Understanding a few basic principles can make growing cacti straightforward, even for beginners.  >>Watch
  • ​Houseplant 101
  • How to Weed Around a Cactus
  • The Secret to Houseplants: Light and Moisture


Perennials for Blooms all Summer

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Perennials typically bloom for a short time each year, but with the right selection, your garden can have blooming perennials all season. University of Memphis Director of Landscape Joellen Dimond gives a list of perennials that together bloom from spring through fall. 
  • Perennial-Annual-Biennial
  • Annuals and Perennials for the Garden
  • Summer Flowering Woody Perennials

Planting a Container Flower Garden

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Even if you don’t have any place to grow plants in the ground you can still have a beautiful container garden. Tonya Ashworth shows how to plant a container flower garden in a barrel. She shows how to arrange the plants for visual appeal using a tall central thriller plant, filler plants and spiller plants that hang over the side to break up the edge of the barrel. >>Watch
  •  Planting a Butterfly Garden
  • Planting an Herb and Flower Container Garden


The Q&A Show

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Viewers asked, we answered. Garden experts answer real viewer questions covering common plant and landscape issues. Practical advice grounded in horticulture experience for home gardeners dealing with everyday problems.  Find all the questions here.
  • Can I cut dead branches from my raspberries in the summer?
  • Can I grow blueberries in a pot?
  • Why do my transplanted gooseberry plants wilt at mid-day?
  • What is the easiest fruit to grow in East Tennessee?

Pruning Ornamentals the Right Way 

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Houseplant 101

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Planting Bare Root Roses

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Choosing the Right Plant

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Build a Small High Tunnel Greenhouse

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Propagating Ferns

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Looking for more garden info?
Ask Us Your Gardening Question

Viewer Questions


How Can I encourage my Staghorn Sumac to Bloom?

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Staghorn sumacs like dry conditions Kyle McLane from Dixon Gallery and Gardens gives some advice on how to treat your sumacs to get them to bloom.  >>Watch

How do I organically get rid of grubworms in my raised beds?

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There are several organic ways to reduce the number of grubworms in a raised bed, or even in a ground garden. Kyle McLane from Dixon Gallery and Gardens talks about beneficial nematodes and BT as organic ways to reduce grubs.  >>Watch

How do you use coffee grounds and eggshells in the garden?

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For both coffee grounds and eggshells, they should be composted for awhile before being used as part of the compost amendment in the garden.  >>Watch

How should I trim the freeze damage from my dwarf Japanese cedar (cryptomeria)?

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Before pruning, wait to see where new growth appears. Once you know what is alive and what is dead, you can prune out the dead wood. It will take awhile for the plant to regrow and fill in the damaged areas.  >>Watch



What is this plant? A: Limelight Hydrangea

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This is a limelight hydrangea paniculata. This kind of hydrangea is known for having pale green flowers that slowly turn white. This kind of hydrangea likes full sun and can be pruned in the spring.  >>Watch


More Questions & Answers


  • How do I use herbicide to get rid of Virginia creeper growing in my hedge?
  • How do I control weeds in my rose garden?
  • What is this weed? A: Creeping Charlie
  • What can I do to help my arborvitae?
  • What is the best fern for a sunny window?
  • Do dormant spring-blooming perennials still need watered?
  • My hydrangeas never bloom. What can I do?
Other Questions and Answers
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Content Copyright 2015-2026 Family Plot Garden & Mid-South Public Communications Foundation

  • Home
  • Watch
    • TV Schedule
    • Full Episodes Online
    • How-to and Informational
    • Questions and Answers
    • This Week in the Garden
    • Garden Notes
  • Garden Topic Collections
    • Pruning Ornamentals: How-to and Information
    • Apple Trees: How-to and Information
    • Peach Trees: How-to and Information
    • Tomatoes: How-to and Information
    • Square Foot Garden Blog
  • Resources
    • Soil Testing
    • Extension Publications
    • Gardening Resources
    • Blogs
    • Organic Gardening
    • Articles
    • Privacy
  • Guests
  • Contact Us
    • Ask a Gardening Gardening Question
  • Search