In this video, I show you how to make a self-watering planter wicking raised garden bed. These types of self-watering beds help to save on water and give your plants more consistent access to water so they thrive.
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Self-watering bed as shown in the video: https://birdiesgardenproducts.com.au/product/raised-self-watering-wicking-bed/
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Self Sufficient Me is based on our small 3-acre property/homestead in SE Queensland Australia about 45kms north of Brisbane – the climate is subtropical (similar to Florida). I started Self Sufficient Me in 2011 as a blog website project where I document and write about backyard food growing, self-sufficiency, and urban farming in general. I love sharing my foodie and DIY adventures online so come along with me and let’s get into it! Cheers, Mark 🙂
30 Comments
Thanks for your support guys! Shop on Amazon for self-watering planters: https://bit.ly/2INKAyq
Self-watering bed as shown in the video: https://birdiesgardenproducts.com.au/…
My Blog: http://www.selfsufficientme.com/ (use the search bar on my website to find info on certain subjects or gardening ideas)
Hella complicated
Can you add liquid fertilizer to the reservoir or is that a no-no?
Thanks….suitable for our hot climate….
Do you still use the self watering beds?
Sand wicks well so put it in the wicking plates THEN fill with good soil
Do you stll like this system now?
Building your own you can add a float box and have a truly self watering system. when the water level drops the float valve automatically tops it off.
Mark – I am in Phoenix AZ and I love this idea – we are planning our first garden for the coming fall and I want to use the birdies planters – but my question is around fertilizer. If the plant food is wicking into the base, how do you know when and how much to feed?
lol my mistake when I got my first raised bed was not removing the lining from BOTH sides. Had to disassemble 3 panels 😛
Yes! It works! I already do this!! You use less water..
Just use a French drain and snake it from top of the containers to the bottom..
Wicking bed vs normal raised gardening bed..which has less maintenance over the year in terms of soil ? do you have to wash out the soil in wicking bed and clear the root hairs in the water reservoir often ?
but y do you opt for soil?
3 1/2 years later. How is it doing? I just saw another channel where this is built and of course it's raved. Your thoughts now you've run it for a few years.
With the deer we have in my community I've been looking to put netting up on the new beds (just starting).
I'm going to use rectangular beds with corner posts and netting. This is also what I needed to see. Thank you
Can I fill the bottom layer with fresh wood chips from an arborist?
This is the same method I used to use with potted plants. Great to see the manufacturing companies have decided to add it to their list!
Is there a reason you didn't do the Sub Irrigation system (like using drainage pipe and pond liner etc.) in you large Birdie raised beds? I don't believe Birdie has a kit for the large beds; however, the idea could have been re-created.
I find water can stagnate in it because water needs Aeration
Hello from Tennessee, USA. I am thinking of ordering the current version of the Birdie’s self watering planter. It is 15” high with the wicking system taking up 4.5”. That leaves 10.5” for planting. I want to grow tomatoes mainly. My concern is that 10.5” is not deep enough for tomato plants. I could get a Vego 17” planter and put the Birdie’s wicking system in it, but if I do, would my companion plants, marigolds and basil reach the water in the deeper planter? Also, do these wicking systems require you to empty out your soil every year to keep the water chambers clear of debris?
Thanks, I love your videos.
I've retro fitted a larger bed with milk crates, lining & pockets of sand, effectively creating a larger water reservoir. Works a treat! Loved your video. Please ditch the music though, it's very distracting. I'd rather focus on your voice & what you are saying. 😊
I have a friendly critique and that is that I normally find garden videos relaxing but the music is really killing the vibe for me. Makes it harder to focus on the information too. That said I very much appreciate the information and found it useful.
If you want great success realize baged soils are fillers and have hardly anything in them ! You have to add things to these baged fillers no matter what it says on the bag ! No one is going to put dead soil on the bag .
I just bought me the gravity 560 and was looking if any mods were out for it and came across this vid. Just did my first cook yesterday. Pork shoulder. It turned out awesome. I like all the mods you showed but if I do any it will be the fire box and lid mod and the dampener first. Do you think the dampened will keep more smoke in the cook area? Thank you for this.
Gardening by Leon does these wicking beds in his garden
How did you make your trellis?
Not on site
😁🤪😝🤟🤘
where do you get the square bases you zip tied together. ???
Hi! Thanks for the info, wondering if you've had problems with mosquitoes? I'm in Victoria (Aus) and get a lot of mozzies in summer and don't want to add to the problem. Sounds like keeping the drain pipes blocked will help? Do have you any pros/cons of building these vs a standard raised bed? Thansk…