“I Thought I Was Doing Everything Right…”
A story from a backyard in Kitsilano.
A few years back, I got a call from a client in Kits—let’s call her Sarah.
She was proud of her garden beds. Raised, beautifully built with cedar. She’d filled them with what she thought was the good stuff—bags of premium potting mix. Smooth, light, smelled great. Her veggies looked amazing that first year. Maybe even year two.
But then things changed.
Her tomatoes stopped thriving. Lettuce would sprout and stall. Her kale? Always wilting.
She asked me to come take a look.
I dug down and knew immediately what had happened.
She’d used potting mix in a raised bed.
Now, don’t feel bad if that’s you too. It’s one of the most common mistakes I see—especially from folks new to growing their own food.
Potting mix sounds fancy. It’s what all the YouTubers use. It drains well. Feels soft and fluffy. But here’s the honest truth:
👉 Potting mix is for pots. Not garden beds.
It’s designed for short-term use, in small containers.
In a raised bed, it breaks down way too fast. Gets dense. Heavy. Waterlogged.
Before you know it, your plants are suffocating in soggy soil and you’ve got a garden that just won’t bounce back.
It’s the silent killer of veggie dreams.
What’s worse? It doesn’t show up right away. Sometimes it takes 4–5 years before the problems really show. And by then, you’re wondering why your lush garden turned into a struggle.
But here’s the good news: you can fix it.
I told Sarah the same thing I tell customers every week at DH Garden Centre:
🌱 Here’s what works:
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Stop using potting mix in raised beds. Save it for your hanging baskets and potted herbs.
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Rebuild your soil slowly. Each season, mix in:
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50% compost (we’ve got some beautiful, local organic compost at the shop)
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50% topsoil (real soil with structure)
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Add a bit of sand if drainage is an issue.
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Keep feeding your soil. Good soil is alive—it needs organic matter, microbes, and time to thrive.
And if you’re just getting started? Come talk to me or the team. We’ll help you set up your raised bed with the right mix from the start—no guessing.
I’ve been landscaping in Vancouver for over 25 years. I’ve seen gardens bloom—and I’ve seen them crash from mistakes that seemed harmless at the time.
So if this little story saves your harvest, your time, and your hard-earned money? I’ve done my job.
🪴 Because gardening isn’t just about growing food.
It’s about growing smarter. Together.
Come by DH Garden Centre in Kitsilano, and let’s chat. I’m always happy to walk you through how to use worm castings in your unique space—whether it’s a high-rise balcony or a backyard jungle.
📍 DH Garden Centre LTD
3742 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6R 2G4
📞 604-929-7335
🌐 dhgardencentre.com
📸 Instagram: @dh.garden.centre
📘 Facebook: dh.garden.centre160
📺 YouTube: The Plant Doctor
