How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Learn how to use retaining wall bricks to build a raised bed as an island in the middle of your lawn.

How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks sentiment_very_dissatisfied 399

Howto & Style 14 years ago 1,483,798 views

Learn how to use retaining wall bricks to build a raised bed as an island in the middle of your lawn.

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Most popular comments
for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Vadym Aliyev
Vadym Aliyev - 6 years ago
My works too. Used woodprix handbooks and build it with no problems.
Владимир Путин
Владимир Путин - 6 years ago
im sure you'll build it yourself. I made it 2 weeks ago thanks to woodprix website.
Garrette Gould
Garrette Gould - 6 years ago
great job looks good!!
Vadym Antipov
Vadym Antipov - 6 years ago
I am pretty sure you can find good solution on woodprix page :)
Dt Dreamscapes
Dt Dreamscapes - 6 years ago
when digging the trench for your block you need to lay a base material Instead of laying block on dirt
avopia
avopia - 6 years ago
benny hill! lol love that
Gabriel Sanchez
Gabriel Sanchez - 6 years ago
Lol loved the benny hill music lol...vid was good to thanks for the demonstration
LS
LS - 6 years ago
Pasha Garanyan
Pasha Garanyan - 6 years ago
I know that you can get solutions for that on woodprix website. just google 'woodprix' :)))

10. comment for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Misha Tukach
Misha Tukach - 7 years ago
I made it, learned on woodprix website. great solutions I think.
Donald Bienko
Donald Bienko - 7 years ago
I think the music is pimp!. Thanks for the hardwork!
Artem Kalenchuk
Artem Kalenchuk - 7 years ago
I made it myself thanks to woodprix website
Artem Kalenchuk
Artem Kalenchuk - 7 years ago
I made it too. Want to know how ? just go to woodprix webpage.
River Front
River Front - 7 years ago
maybe you can build Trump wall for him
EAmusic
EAmusic - 7 years ago
its a great video - thanks mate! can you please tell me, where can one get the side cutting tool like the one you re using in a video? I d be very grateful for the tips thanks Sisa
Gee Kay
Gee Kay - 7 years ago
That music is just completely unnecessary and annoying as hell. Good video other than that nonsense.
Richard Incrocci
Richard Incrocci - 7 years ago
Love the Benny Hill background music
shilp9049
shilp9049 - 7 years ago
Awesome Job..Hella funny too with the music!
MetusBatmanV14
MetusBatmanV14 - 7 years ago
The music is fucking annoying.

20. comment for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Cole .Is Gay
Cole .Is Gay - 7 years ago
You fucken horses asshole
Willy Rosado
Willy Rosado - 7 years ago
i like the music!
Maryn Richter
Maryn Richter - 7 years ago
If I wanted to build a wall about 3 to 3.5 feet high, is that possible with the same method that you used? Thanks!
Dt Dreamscapes
Dt Dreamscapes - 6 years ago
Maryn Richter , no you need a base material not soil
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+Maryn Richter Yes, I've done one that high. The retaining wall bricks secure pretty good at height.
Robert Lugg
Robert Lugg - 7 years ago
Thanks for the video it would be helpful to me if you said and explained the stuff you used
Sam Sam
Sam Sam - 7 years ago
great video..go subscribe to our channel as well for landscape ideas
Gavin Pandya
Gavin Pandya - 7 years ago
You can skip the sod cutting labor by simply putting down a couple layers of cardboard under your raised bed. Then you can add compost and soil. Works like a charm.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
for the middle that works, but if you dont' dig up the sod under where the bricks go it will decay, as sod does, unevenly likely, and your bricks will end up dilapidated in a year or so, getting down to the subsoil is very important. Some people dig even further, then put down gravel, then level it, and then do bricks. This however is overkill. I've done them both ways and the subsoil ones do just as well as the gravel ones - but the ones I tried without digging did poorly.
DJ Summers
DJ Summers - 7 years ago
Benny Hill music.......lmaooooooooo
Jhana wind
Jhana wind - 7 years ago
I love trees and I want to care of them very well. I have many fruit trees are flowering so beautiful that make me so happy
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
Just an update for people.

1. 7 years later, the tree is doing great.

2. If you think I planted the tree on top of the fabric you're not viewing the video right. Try rewatching it. The fabric is used vertically along the sides to keep soil from washing out between the cracks of the bricks. There is nothing under the roots except dirt (or newspaper/cardboard long since composted into dirt).

3. People who think a tree, especially a small one like a paw paw, can't be placed in a nice raised bed built with bricks need to venture into nature more often, especially rocky areas. Trees regularly root among rocks naturally in the landscape. There is also this trend of putting them in little parking lot islands surrounded by curbs and concrete and asphalt, and they survive. Had I planted an oak, in 100 years it would have pushed those bricks out, that is true. It would also be lifting the driveway and the sidewalk. In the fight of the tree vs the blocks, the tree would have won. But I planted a small understory tree, appropriately sized for the space.
Joey Scoggins
Joey Scoggins - 7 years ago
See a lot of people complaining about the tree having to grow through the weed guard. I've see tree roots break through solid stone. Y'all just relax and understand nature is powerful. Eventually if the tree is not maintained at a small height the roots will break out through the retaining wall bricks and it'll look crappy. Keeping it cut short will prevent that. If you don't then it'll also kill the grass all around it by sucking up all the moisture and nutrients. Nice lawn work requires constant upkeep, it is almost never a one time purchase.
Joey Scoggins
Joey Scoggins - 7 years ago
I'd like to ad that this video is a complete lie. This is clearly in a front yard. Backyard gardening is a misnomer. Yes I am just being ridiculous. Also, thanks for the music lol

30. comment for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Jeenarine Bharrat
Jeenarine Bharrat - 7 years ago
Wonderful.
Zackky9
Zackky9 - 7 years ago
Save the tree!!
Joyce Kumar
Joyce Kumar - 7 years ago
wowww!!!
Jose Valledor
Jose Valledor - 8 years ago
What's the name of the tool that you used to cut the circles into the ground?
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+Jose Valledor a stepping edger, very handy for sod busting. http://amzn.to/22HE0Y8
Chris Beasley
Chris Beasley - 8 years ago
+Jose Valledor a sod cutter, or edger, manual of course. Not a super common tool but indispensible for cutting sod.

http://amzn.to/1WTqPSq
Karryn Russo
Karryn Russo - 8 years ago
BEAUTIFUL..LOVE THIS THANK YOU
TheGobsterMobster
TheGobsterMobster - 8 years ago
lol, I see so many people hating on this video, jeez people. It's well done, and I'm going to do exactly this! Thanks for the video it really helped :)
Mushy   IN The Middle
Mushy IN The Middle - 8 years ago
never plant a tree or shrub no higher then the root ball. The tree will get mold and will die
Mushy   IN The Middle
Mushy IN The Middle - 7 years ago
Putting mulch or soil up on the trees trunk can cause the tree to get disease.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+Mushy IN The Middle That is a myth. Surely if you kept the base of a tree constantly wet with like a foot of mulch that might be a problem. But an inch or two layer is not going to do a thing.
Mushy   IN The Middle
Mushy IN The Middle - 8 years ago
Let me be more clear, i was not talking about how deep to plant the root ball but NOT to place Any mulch on the truck of the tree It will die
Chris Beasley
Chris Beasley - 8 years ago
+Mushy IN The Middle It is actually the opposite. If you plant too deep the try will die. You always leave 25-15% of the roof ball above the surrounding plane of the soil.
Ana Chavez
Ana Chavez - 8 years ago
We deserve a tree update!
Noor Noorjj
Noor Noorjj - 8 years ago
good jab
alan saputra
alan saputra - 8 years ago
keren banget
mundo da geovanna tubi
mundo da geovanna tubi - 8 years ago
lindo
Edward Staniszewski
Edward Staniszewski - 8 years ago
nice try, but not the proper way to do this project. First off you dont plant a shrub or tree on top of landscape fabric. Also a minimum 7" trench needs to be dug, filled with stone, then lay the pavers.
Chris Beasley
Chris Beasley - 7 years ago
+E Stan retaining wall blocks
Edward Staniszewski
Edward Staniszewski - 7 years ago
+backyardgardening
well, what do you call them? around here they call them wall pavers.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+E Stan Where do you see pavers?

Pavers I wouldn't do, too formal and small, you definitely want a level base or you'll see irregularities. But these blocks are perfectly fine - and I don't recommend just dropping them on the ground, you need to get under the sod for more stability. People who don't dig a trench end up with a wavy wall, but the gravel is superfluous. 500 linear feet, the tallest section being 6 or 7 courses high, looks better than the day I laid it.

You can do it with flagstone though, just on sod, boom, there it is. It'll kill the grass and sink in. There will be irregularities but it is flagstone, it is not meant to look formal.

People often fall in love with these garden looks of these old cottage style gardens or otherwise gardens that have been established for decades or even centuries. Laser precision has no business in replicating that look.
Edward Staniszewski
Edward Staniszewski - 7 years ago
+backyardgardening
you never lay down pavers on top of dirt, lazy man's way of doing this project!
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+E Stan it isn't on top of landscape fabric, and you're wrong about the trench. That is overkill, you don't need to do that. Likewise when laying a flagstone walkway you don't need to cut up the sod, law down paver base, then lay down stones. You can do these things, but you do not need to do these things. I've laid probably 500 linear feet of retaining wall bricks without digging adding a trench.
vegasjill21
vegasjill21 - 8 years ago
Thanks for the tips!! Your yard looks gorgeous!!
JW Pookie
JW Pookie - 8 years ago
Nice tutorial, thanks.
Samanthao49
Samanthao49 - 8 years ago
love the tips and hated the Benny Hill music.
Paul Tackler
Paul Tackler - 8 years ago
Great job showing how to build a raised garden.  Thanks!
Pui Han Ang
Pui Han Ang - 8 years ago
I wish we had seen this before our project last month... oh well :)
skorpyonayts1169
skorpyonayts1169 - 8 years ago
Thanks for sharing. To all haters, why don't you try and sharing your f____ng ideas instead of criticizing the person. If you don't like the video, make your own and show us "how to do it right."
Douglas Faed
Douglas Faed - 8 years ago
I can see somewhat the importance of using a shovel, rather than a spade to make a square trench, but I think it was made harder by using a shovel to dig the trench through the sod, rather than a spade. Especially when I noticed that you were using a hoe to square it off anyway. Shovels are generally used for shovelling off a flat surface, spades for digging. (just an fyi for any new gardener watching this)
CanarySylvan
CanarySylvan - 8 years ago

50. comment for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

Vicki Jones
Vicki Jones - 8 years ago
Well done. Easy to watch. I feel like I learned a lot. You really make it look like fun. Thank you for sharing this.
almy75
almy75 - 8 years ago
awsome! 
do you want to come to my house?!
hhova29
hhova29 - 8 years ago
Never knew about the newspaper.
Sara Pulse
Sara Pulse - 8 years ago
i really wanted to watch this...but the music is just stupid!
Cokksman
Cokksman - 8 years ago
"I posted this in 2009, it is now 2015. Guess who has two thumbs and a living thriving three?  This guy!  What steps do you think I missed."  

Yeah, until it outgrows the tiny environment you put it in, and dies.   Trapping the roots in landscape fabric...genius.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
What makes you think the roots are trapped in landscape fabric? Perhaps your visual comprehension skills aren't up to my genius levels. I suggest watching it again.
Kaity
Kaity - 8 years ago
It looks really pretty but you missed a lot of important steps and your tree is going to die....
kaitzi
kaitzi - 6 years ago
thanks for this! I'm planning on putting up a retaining wallish/raised bed (though I'm thinking of using lumber) to turn a strange little hill (with some nice trees at the top) into a separated garden that I don't need to mow, and the gravel and sand and drainage was really getting me worried. Loved the video!
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+Kaity 7 years of michigan winters, no major frost heave. Rock filled trenches are overrated for non structural applications. If you were doing a retaining wall holding back soil either protecting or holding up a home or a road or something, yes, dig your trench, add your drainage, put footings below the frost level. These small scale gardening tasks do not require that.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+JW Pookie staking a tree is almost never a good idea. It is one of the most pervasive gardening myths and ruins many trees, along with incorrect staking. Trees need to move.
Shahid Ahmad
Shahid Ahmad - 8 years ago
can you learn me friend
احمد العراقي
احمد العراقي - 8 years ago
حلو
Kaity
Kaity - 8 years ago
+JW Pookie​ Staking a young tree is always a good thing and making a tree well around the base helps a young tree keep water right at the roots.
But I honestly wasn't going to reply to this video again after the reaction my last comment got. You layed the pavers right on the dirt meaning they will be able to shift and move. Normal when you do any type of raised structure with pavers such as this one. You go down to the sub soil and have a layer of grave and sand. This helps with frost heave, and ur pavers moving.
+backyardgardening​ I think this is a great video don't get me wrong I didn't mean any offense and sorry if it sounded that way.
I am curious about why u left the center piece of grass there and what the purpose of the black sheet way then?
JW Pookie
JW Pookie - 8 years ago
+Kaitlin Lawrence Are you talking about not staking the tree would be good and also not putting the mulch snug up to the tree? Or not watering it?
Ride Auto Sales Finance
Ride Auto Sales Finance - 8 years ago
+backyardgardening you missed the part where you crack a cold one, great job bud !
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+Kaitlin Lawrence I posted this in 2009, it is now 2015. Guess who has two thumbs and a living thriving three? This guy! What steps do you think I missed.
Virginia McDaniel
Virginia McDaniel - 8 years ago
Kathy Bark
Kathy Bark - 8 years ago
How to kill a tree....very slowly. So sad.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
+GeneralMartinus Do you know the difference between a big tree like an oak and a small tree like a pawpaw?

Theoretically, you're right, eventually like Ozymandias that wall will fail. I'll be a grandfather of course by then. Its been 7 years, it has a good 20 more years unless someone hits it with a car. Pawpaws do not get large.

If I had planted an oak I'd be asking for trouble, even if I skipped the whole retaining wall, simply because of the proximity to the sidewalk and driveway, which is why I didn't do that.
GeneralMartinus
GeneralMartinus - 8 years ago
+DiabloMaya05 lol none. It's a simple concept. Have you ever walked down a sidewalk and there was a tree next to said sidewalk? What did that part of the walk look like? I have no doubt his tree lives, but whether it's now or 5 years from now, that wall WILL fail.
DiabloMaya05
DiabloMaya05 - 8 years ago
+GeneralMartinus no reply yet?
GeneralMartinus
GeneralMartinus - 8 years ago
+backyardgardening Post an update and put your money where your mouth is. I would put money on if you do have a "living, thriving tree", your retaining wall isn't living and thriving.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+Kathy Bark +Kaitlin Lawrence I posted this in 2009, it is now 2015. Guess who has two thumbs and a living thriving three? This guy!
dorgodorato
dorgodorato - 8 years ago
The benny hill got really old really quick
Melody Hess
Melody Hess - 7 years ago
dorgodorato love that show... that's how learn my English..
Kyle Smeby
Kyle Smeby - 8 years ago
+dorgodorato Blasphemy! Benny Hill music never gets old... OK actually it does... pretty quickly, in fact. But if you stick with it just to the point where you think you're going to have to kill somebody, then realize you can't kill somebody, it gets awesome again.
Danny Matthews
Danny Matthews - 8 years ago
good vid, loose the quirky music.
dunlaoghaire
dunlaoghaire - 8 years ago
+Danny Matthews NO, NO!!! Nothing wrong with music. You, buy earplugs, they are cheap, or find 2 bumble bees. Those fit well into the external ear canal of adult males.
IrishNomad1949
IrishNomad1949 - 8 years ago
Thanks for the great video.. I am attempting to build a small rose bed that is 'free standing' away from and fences or walls from retaining wall pavers like the ones used in this video.. I wanted an oval but I guess I'll go round.. lol.. love the benny hill music.. wish my project would go that fast!  :)
KARUNAKAR SHETTY
KARUNAKAR SHETTY - 8 years ago
THANK YOU FOR GREAT IDEA
1Corinthians1:3
1Corinthians1:3 - 9 years ago
That poor tree. In several years the tree roots are going to girdle in those heaving blocks. Perhaps, in a couple of years, the oxygen barrier clothe will break down enough for it's roots to escape to the canopies drip line.
Michael Garcia
Michael Garcia - 8 years ago
+1q2w3e4r911 He actually didn't cut anything. The cloth was pulled up along the edge of the brick. The newspaper was put right over top of the grass. Feel free to review the video again.
1Corinthians1:3
1Corinthians1:3 - 8 years ago
+backyardgardening Upon a second viewing, I noticed you forgot to mention cutting out the oxygen barrier clothe. You just skipped to putting down newspaper, which is going to confuse people looking for advice. I bet there are people that are planting trees on top of oxygen barrier clothe right now.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+1q2w3e4r911 Did you really just pull a college degree on me? I had a professional horticulturist once tell me that japanese knotweed was a rare bamboo that could survive flowering repeatedly every year. I also see idiot professionals constantly staking trees unnecessarily and to their detriment. Actual gardening experience is far more valuable than any degree. Watch the video again, I didn't put weed fabric down the bottom. The weed fabric lines the sides so soil doesn't seep out the bricks, it does not line the bottom, putting weed fabric down 12 inches at the bottom of something would be stupid, you wouldn't be blocking anything with that. True, had I planted that tree outside of a raised bed would it be bigger? Possibly, with roots better able to spread out (competing with grass though in that case). Will the tree die as is? No. Is it sometimes preferable for a tree to remain smaller? Very much so, in fact, a whole lot of gardening involves the practice of keeping things smaller, the Japanese even made an art of it. I've planted numerous trees in brick raised beds like this, the number than have died is precisely 0. My oldest is 12 years old, and that is only because that is when I bought my current property. One doesn't have to look hard to find trees thriving in brick, stone, or concrete raised beds. Now sure, if I was planting for forestry yield or something you could say I did it wrong, but considering this is about landscape design saying it was wrong or unprofessional is rather shortsighted. I don't get picasso, but I don't say he is wrong. The tree is thriving, it will continue to thrive, and it looks nice.
1Corinthians1:3
1Corinthians1:3 - 8 years ago
+backyardgardening The weed barrier is the bottom. You put weed barrier clothe down, and then placed bricks on top of the edges of the weed barrier clothe. You then stacked the bricks a dozen or so inches high and back filled it with the growing media. Essentially, you have given the tree no more than a half yard of soil to grow in before reaching the weed barrier and blocks. True, a miniscule amount of the capillary roots will find their way through the cracks of the blocks and pin-holes of the weed barrier clothe. However, the majority of the roots will seek out the most readily available nutrients they can find and will start circling around the root ball looking for more media. Eventually, some of those circled roots will escape, but the damage is already done. As those circled roots grow larger they will expand and girdle. The way you planted that tree is VERY unprofessional. Trust me, I have an Associates degree in Landscape Horticulture and a Bachelors degree in Horticulture Science, in addition to several years of professional experience. You didn't need to put that weed barrier cloth down.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+1q2w3e4r911 No it won't. There is no bottom on this pot, there is no compacted hardpan under it either. The roots will reach down and go under the bricks. Eventually a problem will be that the tree will destroy those bricks by growing under them and lifting them up, the bricks will not destroy the tree. You've apparently never seen a tree planted too close to a sidewalk or driveway, but also, it isn't an oak, as the other guy said. Some people apparently think trees in nature only manage to grow on flat fields of well tilled soil. You never, ever, see trees clinging to life on rocky ledges or anything do you? Nature finds a way. 6 years on the tree (which is not a large shade tree, but a pawpaw, and they top out pretty small) is doing fine.
ExtravaGlam
ExtravaGlam - 9 years ago
Thank you so much for this vid.  Very informative.
shootgp
shootgp - 9 years ago
Great video on how NOT TO DO IT! First, if you knew what you were doing you wouldn't have to cut bricks to fill gaps. Given the diameter of the circle, if you knew how to measure things in the first place, about an eighth to a quarter of an inch of adjustment would of solved the gap issue.

Second, no gravel bed below the bricks? In a few years this will look like total crap. The stones will sink and become misaligned.

Third, news paper as weed cloth... Seriously, do you even understand what weed cloth is for, it's reason or purpose?

Forth, you planted a tree ABOVE ground level - real smart... That's just going to be great for the root system development.

Dude, you seriously have no business claiming to be a landscaping professional.



 
kaitzi
kaitzi - 6 years ago
Geez, I haven't even made one of these, just been watching different "how-tos" all day, and it seems like cutting pieces to fill in the gap is normal. And honestly it's simple geometry - note the first layer - no gaps. second layer, small gap. Third layer, larger gap. There's no way to adjust it to get no gaps that require shorter, fill-in pieces (unless you lay the pieces directly on top of each other with no step back, which IS a no-no). If he adjusted the second-layer to have no gaps (and use only full pieces) then the first and third layers would still have gaps.

Additionally, as long as you're aware of the tree type, planting them like this is fine. Trees grow on hills and in "confined" spaces naturally. And sometimes this might be the only way to get a tree into a location - I have two trees on m property planted in a raised manner (unfortunately not as neatly as this). When I had 811 out, it turns out their planted above some lines. I'm guessing the previous owned couldn't dig, but still wanted trees in that location (it's a good location for them!) and built up. Those trees have been doing just fine.

And finally, newspaper is better than weed cloth. Newspaper will block out light and prevent plants from growing for a while, then degrade, leaving you with normal, workable soil. A lot of "real" weedcloth is, admittedly a TINY bit better at preventing weed growth INITIALLY, but weeds get through anyway. Small rips and tears form, allowing weeds in. But unfortunately it doesn't degrade and you're left pulling out cloth strips for ages....
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
This bed is 7 years old. I have others that are 12 years old and also doing fine.

Gravel is put down to aid in drainage, otherwise, if the soil is waterlogged, and then freezes, you can get frost heave. I know this, and this is in Michigan, where we get frozen ground. But heaving has not happened.

A homeowner can pretty easily dig down to the subsoil, this is no problem, and that is about the depth of a course of block in the typical lot, digging down further to create a spot for some gravel is much more difficult. The cost in time and effort is more than the potential benefit. The other thing of course is the deeper I went the more cutoff the tree roots would be.

If it was some mission critical retaining wall, sure, use stone, and lots of it. A grocery store nearby had a massive 30 ft retaining wall (that they stupidly built with little residential grade blocks) fail because of hydrostatic pressure, not even freezing, just pressure. For this little project though it is unnecessary. If you do get frost heave, it is going to heave on the whole circle equally, and isn't going to do much to upset the appearance.
shootgp
shootgp - 7 years ago
I will concede that I was a little to hard on you, and I apologize for that. I will maintain my position that your technique was incorrect.

7 Years, not that long given the lifetime of the average house. If you own the house for 30 years, but you have to rebuild it 2-3 times, it's a waste of time... Do it right - ONCE.
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
Does 7 years = a few years in your book? Because 7 years later, it looks fine, tree is fine, bricks are fine, everything is fine.

Gravel is in fact overrated.
☼Tropical Detailing☼
☼Tropical Detailing☼ - 9 years ago
+Duke Mcduke Are you speaking? Clowns like you speak through a keyboard. It's called "constructive criticism". I'm sure this guy knows his small job is good, but in the long run it will need maintenance or to be redone. I don't need to put a video out for competition or views. I just do work, unlike yourself.
Duke Mcduke
Duke Mcduke - 9 years ago
Its funny how know it all's like you never put out a video .
☼Tropical Detailing☼
☼Tropical Detailing☼ - 9 years ago
Yea a tree goes into the ground. He should of just dug a hole for the tree And mixed the soil with dirt. Then do your pavers. Dig depth plus depth for gravel base. Tamp down. Measure stone length for circle cut out. Raise the bed. Then add flowers or plants around adding mulch over fabric. I've been doing this 20 years. This is a sloppy job for long term results.
Cody Corkern
Cody Corkern - 9 years ago
Home Depot, walmart, stines all have those bricks.:)
linalyc
linalyc - 9 years ago
awesome job. Thank you for sharing the video. You rock!. 
CONCERTMANchicago
CONCERTMANchicago - 9 years ago
E GAD Dude, roots will circle around wall and girdle that tree! When dies within 10 years you can just lite tree on fire in that nice pit you built. Sharp spray painted Burger King "Volcano mulching" too after you at least planted tree above wall instead of burying it even deeper by building it around existing one! Now everyone who watches this video (813,787 as of Sept. 2014) will kill their trees this way too. Not cool. Just search YouTube for my words in Italic to see why these methods are bad for trees
CONCERTMANchicago
CONCERTMANchicago - 8 years ago
Dwarf tree will have smaller root system and possibly shorter lifespan than a big hardwood requiring buttress roots. Small examples still need shallow feeder root systems just under surface, that now need to go deeper under bricks and come back up. Many urban trees have no choice, and do fantastic things just to survive. During first three years of planting, those smaller roots will be permanently set in position for life. Any deviation or glance back toward tree is possible during fragile time.

 Ever check out those urban restriction pots some municipalities tried shunting roots lower with before encountering sidewalks. They ended up jumping over barrier and also caused girdling within restriction zone. Even properly planted trees from nursery can produce up to three roots producing laterals that can girdle trunk while maturing. Especially with Norway Maples. ANSI planting standards suggest that pan shape excavation of hole methode allowing root balls surrounding soil to be less restrictive on radially outward root growth. 50% of tree's roots within 1 ft., and first 3 feet contain 90%...For me, Its just better not to invite problems, which in future become a mortal wound, when living organisms beauty just peaking. Or "kill your tree beautifully" fad, like other hardscapes. I personally don't know if your landscape method has been proven by past successes. And would like to keep up with your examples progress...Roots grow under sidewalks unrestricted below compacted rock grade, then come up as feeder roots again in front yards. As roots girth grows, hydraulically lifts pavement. No roots grow under curbs & streets. Enjoy Summer 2015, when we finally get to see what Pluto really looks like! Dwarf planet full of dwarf trees??
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+CONCERTMANchicago No it won't. There is no bottom on this pot, there is no compacted hardpan under it either. The roots will reach down and go under the bricks. Eventually a problem will be that the tree will destroy those bricks by growing under them, the bricks will not destroy the tree. You've apparently never seen a tree planted too close to a sidewalk or driveway, but also, it isn't an oak, as the other guy said. Some people apparently think trees in nature only manage to grow on flat fields of well tilled soil. You never, ever, see trees clinging to life on rocky ledges or anything do you? Nature finds a way.
IrishNomad1949
IrishNomad1949 - 8 years ago
+CONCERTMANchicago lol.. it was a 'dwarf' fruit tree, not an oak! . not much girdling going on there.
downbntout
downbntout - 9 years ago
My observation with that fabric is that seeds and roots don't often come up through it, but seeds landing on top can put their little roots down through it.
downbntout
downbntout - 9 years ago
Nice result. Two questions. Do you get runners from the lawn trying to break in? Also, I could do this, but does it have to be a ring shape? Me, I'd be so wanting to put some of those bricks in backwards or whatever for a nice loose shape, more wild and naturally unruly in shape. Yr thoughts?
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 8 years ago
+downbntout any shape you want, oval, kidney bean, whatever. Curves look far better than straight lines, never put in a straight/square garden bed unless you're growing rows of corn. Eventually grass can infiltrate yes, not yet in this bed 6 years later, but some of my others have interlopers.
RennieAufdemstein
RennieAufdemstein - 9 years ago
At 7:21 you look so tired!  Enjoyed this, looks great.
Vladimir Virtualkin
Vladimir Virtualkin - 9 years ago
i thought it's a painkillers.
Felipe AR
Felipe AR - 9 years ago
AHHH NOOO PUES SI ME QUEDÓ CLARISIMO
Samuel Aaron Butler
Samuel Aaron Butler - 9 years ago
Nice loamy soil there...  I hit WAY more rocks doing this in Massachusetts...
George Klonis
George Klonis - 9 years ago
Thanks for the video and the explanations.  Much appreciated.
Abdul Loai
Abdul Loai - 9 years ago
Awesome video, but where did you buy the bricks from? 
Constantine The Great
Constantine The Great - 9 years ago
pokemon ball @2:26 
Corrinne Queen
Corrinne Queen - 9 years ago
Fun video to view!  Great job, too.  The music is spot on.  
Deno Keller
Deno Keller - 9 years ago
Great video and love the Benny Hill music !!!
GREAT JOB !!!
Juana Sanchez
Juana Sanchez - 9 years ago
Thanks, this video was really helpful and now I can correct what my prior landscaper did.
XCELCIER
XCELCIER - 9 years ago
if you don't want to plant anything in there, you can use it as a fire pit
Fern Upshaw
Fern Upshaw - 9 years ago
Fantastic!  I am building a raised bed for veggies & will use this method.  Much more cost effective than buying the paver base and sand- and a whole lot less time!  And I love that I don't really need a saw!  THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
Yuri Barreto
Yuri Barreto - 9 years ago
very bad.
RalooRocker
RalooRocker - 9 years ago
Yakety Sax!!
ccriderps
ccriderps - 9 years ago
my left ear....
Dee Walden
Dee Walden - 9 years ago
That was a kick to watch
Frida Kim Brakeman
Frida Kim Brakeman - 9 years ago
This is amazing.  Thank you very much for the video.  It looks absolutely beautiful.  Would you tell me where you get all the bricks please?  I am having a hard time finding a place to buy them.
Alma Ata
Alma Ata - 9 years ago
LOL you're an American? This bullschit makes us for 8 year olds babys for funn and nobody does not record the video, this is ridiculous ... Ha ha ha
JOK
JOK - 10 years ago
Great video. Very informative. Looks great!  The music is hilarious!
JoJo F
JoJo F - 10 years ago
wish  it wasn't so friggin dry out here in west texas. would like to try something like this. well trying anything would be nice.
Lisa HeisComing
Lisa HeisComing - 10 years ago
I too would love for you to post a video on how to create the double planter just like this one, but in the second row I want to know how to create another planter, so I can plant flowers around the tree.. PLEASE post!!!!!  thanks!  btw, you are awesome!!!!!
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 7 years ago
I've done that. You build the larger one first, then within it just build the smaller one. You can go up several tiers if you like. Always make sure to bury one full course in the soil for stability.
Lisa HeisComing
Lisa HeisComing - 10 years ago
awesome, and very informative...where we live I have yet to find the landscape fabric pins. Do you have any suggestions as to other thing you can use?  nails?  I am planting this around trees, and although the soil needs to be acidic, I dont know what the nails will do?  But, suggestions would be awesome!  and the newspaper is absolutely true, it provides good moisture, and good mulch material.
icawn
icawn - 9 years ago
amazon.com has everything
Doug Marshall
Doug Marshall - 10 years ago
Volcano mulching?
Dork Master
Dork Master - 10 years ago
no sound other than the Benny Hill music?
jane smith
jane smith - 10 years ago
I notice at the end of your video you show the whole garden. How did the double level of the same one level of brick you just showed. The staggered layer?
andreia
andreia - 10 years ago
I wish my husband or my son liked those knd of things...
القصر للديكور
القصر للديكور - 10 years ago
تنفيذ احواض للاتصال 0508570612
thrillisgone
thrillisgone - 10 years ago
his voice sounds a bit like walter junior, from breaking bad
Emilia Bella
Emilia Bella - 10 years ago
Great job! Thank you for posting.
bakers41
bakers41 - 10 years ago
OMG!! Thank you!! You at least showed how you did this step by step. I just hope you have other videos step-by-step projects. :)
Nicole Waieleby
Nicole Waieleby - 10 years ago
There is a landscaping guide on YardBe.com with these types of designs you can use to custom make on your own yard with plans.

100. comment for How to Build a Raised Island Garden Bed with Retaining Wall Bricks

stephen mcgregor
stephen mcgregor - 10 years ago
bro just make the second circle a little smaller then no messed up looking cuts
Judy White
Judy White - 10 years ago
Loved this video, Now I know how to make a raised bed! I have vines taking over my flowers and this might just be a solution. I already have the same paver bricks that you used and I have lots of them!Enjoyed this very much!
Abel Elizondo
Abel Elizondo - 10 years ago
Looks like u didnt sweat lol
Angel Morales
Angel Morales - 10 years ago
Are you Kidding us, ALL that WORK just for that UGLY TREE???? OMG
OnVent4Life
OnVent4Life - 10 years ago
We poke holes in them. Now I bet you feel like an idiot.
Ipac Merc
Ipac Merc - 10 years ago
very cool - thanks..
traynowicz
traynowicz - 10 years ago
No. The fabric must be permeable for water flow. Plastic grocery bags are the LAST thing to use for a raised bed project.
jamarica
jamarica - 10 years ago
Chris this is terrific! Love the step by step instructions....How I'd love to see your entire landscape. I'm just starting to do landscape.
TheRubiconInvasion
TheRubiconInvasion - 10 years ago
professional:?? lmao
OnVent4Life
OnVent4Life - 10 years ago
Good technique. I am a professional too. Plastic grocery bags make excellent landscape fabric. I
TheRubiconInvasion
TheRubiconInvasion - 10 years ago
no paver base? might be level now......but later....we will see.......
DEmersonJMFM
DEmersonJMFM - 10 years ago
The area for the roots is too small for any tree. Plus it was planted too deep.
Joe Garden
Joe Garden - 10 years ago
Nice easy day project to spruce up your yard! Mowing strip would be a good simple convenience feature to add. Good job though.
robinbirdslife
robinbirdslife - 10 years ago
I love what you have done! The rest of your videos seem to be politically based. Is this the only channel you have? My my husband and I are DIY people and It was great to see how you did this. Thank you!
Vinayak Fountain
Vinayak Fountain - 10 years ago
good
youtube watcher
youtube watcher - 10 years ago
nice job ! I LIKE IT
sorstudios
sorstudios - 10 years ago
Man I wish you'd come do my yard!
Tomis Muska
Tomis Muska - 10 years ago
why, it will grow massive there... and be healthy..
Wontzki Player
Wontzki Player - 10 years ago
Try on rattanart.co.uk for more great garden stuff ^^
Tristan102100
Tristan102100 - 10 years ago
this is by far not a professional job. you need a wet saw and a diamond blade to cut that stone,it looks like a demented monkey high on crack cut thoes. and the tree wasn't a good idea. i personally would have shoveled out all of the grass in the center.
dick phils
dick phils - 10 years ago
just terrible
RicksWayOfLife
RicksWayOfLife - 10 years ago
This is a great instructional tool for beginners. I would not plant a tree here, but a decoration around a statue would look nice. I will use this video. Thank you!
Lorraine Drake
Lorraine Drake - 10 years ago
great job. there are always negative people called couch potatoes
dangloc89
dangloc89 - 10 years ago
Side cutting tool? HOW LAZY ARE YOU? There is some thing called a shovel
Shouldyoubebaptized
Shouldyoubebaptized - 10 years ago
Dude. This is great!
sillydog70
sillydog70 - 10 years ago
Cool video
rbranxx8
rbranxx8 - 10 years ago
It looks simple and very nice, but I don't think I would try it...I will leave that for the professionals. However, the video was educational.
Funzo Kidz
Funzo Kidz - 10 years ago
wow, a lot of trolling on this video!
How to basic
How to basic - 10 years ago
this is good for beginers but as a landscape supervisor i can tell you that full scale brick gardens are not easy they take a lot of time and skill to do right
ShirlAnn Solomon
ShirlAnn Solomon - 10 years ago
Heck it looks great to me, but then i'm not a P.R.O.!
ohwell201
ohwell201 - 10 years ago
and what a shit wall
ohwell201
ohwell201 - 10 years ago
you are so boring jeez
marilynn dye
marilynn dye - 10 years ago
Great Idea, I'm not too crazy about the music:)
Thanksman
Thanksman - 11 years ago
How long did that job take?
jinxie2300
jinxie2300 - 11 years ago
Newspaper does actually do a great job with grass and weeds. I'd use about twice what he did though. The newspaper eventually breaks down and decomposes, but not before the plants under it use up all their energy trying to get through. I absolutely agree with the rest though, really not sure what the heck the fabric was for. I'd probably take more than 30 minutes, but then, I'm lazy so... LOL
malygosc
malygosc - 11 years ago
Good job! ;)
MegaAROx
MegaAROx - 11 years ago
..Que natural es esto.!
DA Bessire
DA Bessire - 11 years ago
Great video i love the way you fast forward through the slow parts. Except at the end when you give us a garden tour i found myself rewinding and pause. Maybe this should even have been in slow motion. Thanks again
Aboelezz Abdel Rasoul
Aboelezz Abdel Rasoul - 11 years ago
young tree ?/ expensive material for poor tree
Sirilith
Sirilith - 11 years ago
Hlandscaping hes getting rid of it lol it decomposes
Sirilith
Sirilith - 11 years ago
U said lead instead of laid
Omar García
Omar García - 11 years ago
Nice video
fenrirgg
fenrirgg - 11 years ago
Peach trees are small enough.
John Hoy
John Hoy - 11 years ago
bad idea with the tree. not enough room for it and the roots cant grow out. also no need to shove news paper in the bottom, you stuck all that landscape fabric in there in the beginning. just my opinion
Mauripache
Mauripache - 11 years ago
0Don't you hate that videos where you only hear voice with left ear?
javier hernandez
javier hernandez - 11 years ago
You miss the gravel part as foundation . Everything will sink
metrosharpshooter
metrosharpshooter - 11 years ago
why dont u ask, uncle scrooge and donald, to walk in circle as when they were thinking about something.........it will create a hole. :D
M T
M T - 11 years ago
WAY too small if this is around a tree. You MUST consider how big the tree will be at maturity, not how big it is when you plant it. In 10 years there will be no room in that planter for anything but the tree itself. That bed should have been at least nearly THREE times as large. I would have also dug deeper, and then poured a level 3" course of paver sand before laying any bricks. That wall will fail within 5 years, no thanks to a cramped tree. That or the tree will die.
Jefferdaughter
Jefferdaughter - 11 years ago
For those who would rather not put additional toxic chemicals into their environment (via the spraypaint) , the area of the raised bed (or placement of any garden design features) could be marked with lime or flour or...
Jefferdaughter
Jefferdaughter - 11 years ago
It's just as easy for the 'author', or whoever posted the video, to visit Google Translate as it is for the person who left the comment.
Momo Nono
Momo Nono - 11 years ago
AWFUL music
trollinglikeabadcamellulz
trollinglikeabadcamellulz - 11 years ago
I LOVE garden gnomes and garden ponds...
C THE MOTORCYCLIST
C THE MOTORCYCLIST - 11 years ago
Good point
OnVent4Life
OnVent4Life - 11 years ago
a landscaping video has comments in spanish.
Rogerio Cwb
Rogerio Cwb - 11 years ago
. Muita complicação para um resultado prático horrível .
InvisibleOne
InvisibleOne - 11 years ago
I feel sorry for the tree :( Poor thing
marcofe78
marcofe78 - 11 years ago
e qui che si vede la differenza tra gli anglosassoni e i latini. Loro fanno il pezzo di raccordo che esteticamente fa cagare, però la loro testa inquadrata e limitatamente precisa gli dice così e fanno di conseguenza.Noi invece incliniamo un pò l'angolo, allarghiamo di 2/3 millimetri ogni fuga e ce la caviamo senza toppe. Dopotutto Leonardo e Giotto sono roba nostra....ne devono imparare di cose ancora!!! "Quando i nostri antenati discutevano di filosofia, i vostri ancora stavano sugli alberi"
Nelson Aguiar
Nelson Aguiar - 11 years ago
Muito legal!!!
msnannapearl
msnannapearl - 11 years ago
Great choice of music!
38Husky
38Husky - 11 years ago
the roots go through the fabric and the wall.
ruapraia
ruapraia - 11 years ago
Very professional job, the yard looks great.
Rene Gonzalez-Robles
Rene Gonzalez-Robles - 11 years ago
Great video!! Thanks for sharing:0)
Mr420rush
Mr420rush - 11 years ago
I agree
Kelwi
Kelwi - 11 years ago
These concrete blocks are horrible...
Fatsacks Allday
Fatsacks Allday - 11 years ago
so what happens when the tree gets bigger and the roots need more space but are constricted by the fabric? will the roots go thru the fabric or does the fabric decompose?
Clint Atkinson
Clint Atkinson - 11 years ago
I'm not sure a raised bed is a great idea for a tree. Tree crown needs to remain above soil and mulch level. The root ball may eventually break through your brick retainer. Raised beds are great for bringing low growing plants closer to eye level, while trees eventually grow to eye level and above.
flanksteak2
flanksteak2 - 11 years ago
It's only necessary to be that perfect with your edge in order to save the grass......which you killed with spray paint. Spray paininting that circle on the ground was so very unnecessary.
Mike Hunt
Mike Hunt - 11 years ago
looks really bad with the cut block pieces... should have checked you calculations and meaurements twice...
Carmador
Carmador - 11 years ago
youre a boss man
Vi McShannon
Vi McShannon - 11 years ago
Curious to know if the tree survived. Seems like you buried the crown under about 6-8 inches of dirt and mulch.
Kimberly Ryan
Kimberly Ryan - 11 years ago
Great video! I will give this a try.
Ashley Guan
Ashley Guan - 11 years ago
wat da song called????
Nogorn
Nogorn - 11 years ago
My left ear enjoyed this video...
sundogforlove
sundogforlove - 11 years ago
In over thirty years of construction, I have never seen that sod cutting tool. Was it handed down from Lief Erikson?
IamAPrettyLittleLiar
IamAPrettyLittleLiar - 11 years ago
do you always just put manure compost and mulch or do you add other things to your plants as well?
Clifton Powell
Clifton Powell - 12 years ago
how much does doing one of these cost?
melonbarmonster
melonbarmonster - 12 years ago
the red stuff you put on top of the soil looks like wood chips not mulch and it will suck nitrogen out of soil and kill the tree.
Backyard Discovery
Backyard Discovery - 12 years ago
Great Idea.
Andrew Walker
Andrew Walker - 12 years ago
no sound music but no talk
Raditz Adept
Raditz Adept - 12 years ago
love the music !!!
adrilace
adrilace - 12 years ago
Finally! An easy way to build a simple retaining wall. THANK YOU!! I'll let you know how it goes.
Olufemi Olusanya
Olufemi Olusanya - 12 years ago
What is the name of the sod cutter that you used to cut the sods. I have been looking for it and cant seem to find it anywhere........your help will be appreciated. Great video by the way.
Tom K
Tom K - 13 years ago
None of your courses are center on seam, and you should take your small bricks from the inside of the brick, not the outside. otherwise great video, good music and a fun watch - stop at 9:32 on your larger retaining wall. WTF? that thing isnt going to be stable at all. you have got to have the center of the bricks on top of the seam from the course below.
Tom K
Tom K - 13 years ago
None of your courses are center on seam, and you should take your small bricks from the inside of the brick, not the outside. otherwise great video, good music and a fun watch
Ken H
Ken H - 13 years ago
like it. will build it for my front yard!
Anshuman Sharma
Anshuman Sharma - 13 years ago
nice demonstration mite. i like the music too.
Ellavella
Ellavella - 13 years ago
Totally awesome to watch this being done all within 10 minutes. I really like the newspaper idea too. You make it look so easy. :o) Thank you.
darkbit1001
darkbit1001 - 13 years ago
What!? No Dancing girls (Benny Hill style ) ?
Nick Battistella
Nick Battistella - 13 years ago
Chris I laughed my ass off when I heard the theme to benny hill. I appreciated your input. Very good!!!
backyardgardening
backyardgardening - 13 years ago
the glue is called landscape block adhesive, it is sold at lowes, homedepot, etc.
emunewz
emunewz - 13 years ago
What sort of glue did you use between the bricks? Thanks
Shawn Rowe
Shawn Rowe - 14 years ago
this was so great for us. now we are inspired & know what to do. Thanks

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