Last Updated on September 13, 2026
Spring Garden Prep: Reset Your Raised Beds Fast
My beds took a beating over winter. I did not mulch well last fall, so weeds moved in. Here is the quick reset I do every spring, and the two hacks that save the most money.
1. Repairs first
Tighten screws, swap any rotted posts. Some of my untreated beds are eight years old. They do not need to be pretty, they need to hold soil for another season or two.
2. Skim the weeds
Hand-pull and skim the weedy top layer off. The chickens get it.
3. Top-dress with bulk compost
Instead of 50 bags from the box store, I have two yards of organic compost delivered. It cost me $123 delivered. Search “organic compost near me”, call the suppliers, and ask who delivers; it is half the price of bags or less. To figure out how much you need, use my raised bed soil calculator.
4. Refresh the paths with free wood chips
Last fall I put down weed barrier and chips on the paths, and grass still found a way in. I top them off with fresh chips from ChipDrop. It is free, but you take the whole truckload, sometimes 20 yards, so you need the space.
Three more things to do now
- Start a compost pile; it is free fertilizer by fall.
- Save leaves and grass clippings. They are gold for the soil.
- Mulch as soon as you plant. Grass clippings are my mulch, and it saves hours of weeding later.
Key takeaways
- Repair first: screws and rotted posts.
- Skim weeds, then top-dress with bulk compost delivered, about half the price of bags.
- ChipDrop gives free wood chips for paths if you can take a full load.
- Start the compost pile now and save leaves and grass clippings.
- Mulch the day you plant.
Questions people ask
How much compost do I need?
Use the raised bed soil calculator; two yards did all my beds this spring.
Should I turn the soil?
No. I skim the weeds off the top and add compost on top; the worms do the mixing.
When do I do this?
As soon as the soil is workable, a few weeks before the first cool-season crops go in.
Plan the garden before you build it
Plan My Garden is free to start: draw your beds, pick your crops, and it gives you the planting schedule and layout for your zip code before the season starts.
Related: Raised Bed Soil Calculator · Composting for Beginners · Prepare Your Garden for Winter
