After 12 years of nearby tree root incursions, our old ground-based planting beds were hopeless. We ripped them out, put down ag cloth, gravel, and concrete blocks to prop the Vego 17” planters up off the ground; lined the 5 planters first with metal-mesh fabric, then draped the metal mesh with ag fabric before adding raised-bed soil, steer manure, perlite, and worm castings. Seeds went in a week ago. I used clothes pins to clip bird netting over the planters to keep squirrels and birds from feasting on sprouts. Spring rains and a drip system over the side of each planter will keep everything going. We are so hopeful that I may have become a bit annoying by showing off to any visitor who stands still long enough.