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    Ask the nursery how they recommend using it, when applied to an *on ground* raised bed.  Be very specific about that.  If they tell you there's no difference, come back and we'll figure it out.  Otherwise, follow their instructions.  If they use it, I promise you that it works. . I'm just...

  That's on OK price.  Usually they overshoot a bit, anyway.  But without knowing who "they" are, that's obviously just a generalization.

Let me just say that after seeing your pics, I have a fairly high level of confidence that the wood content is problematic.  You can test this theory, by pulling up one of those plants, and sticking it in a container with a proven mix, and see if it bounces back. And along with wood, I'd suggest...

Not only no, but hell no. Wood will utilize nitrogen to break down cellulose, but after that, it goes right back into the soil, where it will be sequestered (if your soil is conditioned properly). Now, nitrogen is super mobile, so you could flush it. But you'll never be able to get the dosage...

You mentioned "mulch" in the mix...  . Looks like a lot of wood in there.  Your plants also look like they've been subjected to a vampiric substrate.  I am wondering right now if your mix has too high of a wood content, and is locking up nitrogen. 

I'm gonna be in Winter Spring later this week.  If all else fails, and you want to me to have a look, I'd be happy to see if I can help you out. . I'm not familiar with that test kit at all, but for soil testing, I'd definitely recommend taking a sample to the University of Florida agricultural...

Just pics of everything would be great.

Do you have any pictures of what your plants look like? . And the testing kit...  The testing kit.

Alright, that's a good start. . But the question about your "testing kit" remains. And are your raised beds open bottom, or closed?

Also, I'd be going to Starbucks, and asking for coffee grounds.  Siv said one of the magic words, which is "fungus".  Great way to establish mycelium, is with spent coffee grounds.  And it's free.

  Here in Florida, we have pretty much non-stop microbial activity, so it's alright.  Although, I have to be honest...  I'm a big believer in conditioning soil, and letting it lie fallow for a whole season before using it.  Is that necessary?  Maybe not.  Does it produce better results? ...

What you ordered, was rightly called "dirt". The difference between "dirt" and "soil", is that dirt is dead and lifeless. If you used it fresh, there was no ecosystem, nothing to support healthy plant life.  . So the question becomes - what did you do to condition it?  Compost?  Manures? ...

  I don't mortar mine.  They are just stacked.  I live on sand, and in a sub-tropical climate.  There's no point in fighting against moving ground or corrosion/decay.  Just stack 'em and go.  Besides, mine are sitting atop a septic field, and they need to be easy to move, should the worst occur...

  Absolutely.  All day, every day, year in, year out. . Here's how I built mine: .

  What did you do prior to the infestation?  What is your growing environment?  Containers, raised beds, in ground?  Is your growing zone clean, and free of weeds? , I have to ask, because that's a whole lot spraying and treating.  And if you live in a less hostile environment than I do, an...

Coco is great for seed starting, so nothing wasted.  You can literally plant seeds in pure coco for seed starts.  And, as if the coco wasn't forgiving enough, the depth of the solo cups make it almost impossible to overwater.  You really don't need to bottom water coco, though, and I'd...

OP - I would also suggest that for weed control, if you have it really bad, consider a layered planting approach.  Plant herbs, radishes, etc, and create a competitive ecosystem.  Having a garden that employs multiple tiers of root systems, is highly beneficial, overall, for more than one...

  I think this is regional, and only partially true.  Like all organisms, bugs will compete for available food.  Down here where I'm at, we have such problems with aphid, whitefly, and broad mite, that you'll see them even on the weeds - which are growing as optimally as anything in nature ever...

  There's even more to the topic than this.  If your raised bed is bottomless - i.e., sitting on top of earth - you can put anything you want in it, including dirt. . Some of the debates about this are ridiculous. 

  Exactly this.  Don't screw around with coco and perlite and all that other nonsense for a raised bad.  Use locally sourced materials, and start putting up compost for future seasons. . As far as what size to start your seeds in - unless you just absolutely don't have the room to do anything...