this is a design for above ground gardening
Keyhole gardens are increasing in popularity as an efficient and sustainable way to grow vegetables. There are several YouTube videos and online images of different styles/materials. The following is from the Texas Master Gardeners: https://huntcountymastergardeners.org/keyhole-gardens/
I’m new to gardening and acquired a raised garden bed that wasn’t cleaned up by the previous owner. How do I go about cleaning up the bed so I may do my own vegetable gardening? Is new soil needed? Any other advice for a beginner would be much appreciated. Please see the picture of the bed. Thanks.
You can start by removing all the existing plantings and dig out any heavy root masses or other obstructions. (The small scrawny conifer you may want to salvage and grow in another part of the garden or in a pot, but not in the vegetable garden.)
You don't necessarily have to replace the existing soil, but you should recharge the mineral and biological content with a good quality compost and a slow release complete organic fertilizer.
Use a shovel or a sturdy digging fork (not a pitch-fork). Spread the COF first, then a 2" - 3" layer of compost on top of it, and then dig it into the soil, mixing it down a foot or as far as you can. Rake out the surface, mounding in the center is okay. Water it heavily for a few days to settle the amended soil.
You can start plants from seeds, or buy "starts", young plants in flats or small pots from a garden center.
Gardening Know How is an amazing resource for articles on many subjects that you will want to know about.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/vegetable-gardening-for-beginners.htm
Is there a spray protectant? Should I use plastic?
There are many ways to go about this. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/design/lideas
I have a raised garden area where i have 4 fruit trees growing but it gets very weedy. I want to level it and then stone/gravel it and add some potted plants. Which would i need to level it off. Thank you Jo
Normally, you will fill in with native topsoil. You can add compost and other amendments to increase fertility around the trees, though.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/lawn-care/lgen/fill-uneven-lawn-low-spots-how-to-level-a-lawn.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/garden-soil-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/improving-garden-soil.htm
So we have a raised garden bed, and we have planted cantaloupe and tomatoes along with zucchini. Today when I went out to check on them I noticed small gray pools in the four corners of the bed particularly in the shade upon closer investigation I noticed they were literally millions of gray bugs jumping around. In the picture you can see that a little bit. Do you know what these are? And are they damaging? If so, how would I treat them?
I am unable to see from that photo. I will need a much closer photo that shows the detail of the insect in question.
In the meantime, these articles will help you with pest control:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-are-organic-pesticides.htm
Not interested in using railroad ties or pressure treated Would be your best suggestion?
I'm not, completely, certain of the question. I will do my best, though.
I'm thinking that you are asking what to use as a border. There are many things that you can use. These articles will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/accessible/building-table-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/building-earthbag-garden-beds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/making-unframed-raised-beds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-bed-soil-depth.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
We have built our first raised vegetable beds placed on existing rough lawn, where the chickens have been. They are approx 1 meter x 2.5 meters x .45 meter. We don’t have any spare soil. Can we fill them with rotted horse manure/ some rotted garden waste/ some new purchased no2 John Innes compost? At what sort of proportions And do we have to mix it up or later it ? Do we have to dig the soil below the raised bed ? We would like to put stuff in to grow ASAP Many thanks
Though there is quite a bit of information to cover, I think that these articles will give you the information that you need to get going!
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-vegetable-gardens.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/starting-vegetable-gardens-guide.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/starting
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/raised-bed-soil-depth.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/best-soil-raised-garden-beds.htm