Take your garden to the next level with this easy raised bed project. Your plants (and wallet) will thank you. Photo By: Photo by Mick Telkamp Raised beds are a convenient way to make the most out of your garden. With good drainage, protection from weeds and many pests, plus well-aerated soil perfectly blended to encourage growth, raised beds are a great choice for those with limited space, soil or sunlight restrictions or just an appreciation for higher yields from less effort. Raised beds come in a variety of sizes and styles, but can be pricey. For those interested in raised bed gardening without the expense, this DIY project is easy to build in an afternoon (even for beginners) for a fraction of the cost of store-bought kits. Materials: Three 8-foot 2" x 12" planks / 4-inch deck screws / cardboard / garden soil (8 cubic feet, or around nine 20-quart bags, for a 32-square-foot, 12-inch deep bed) Tools: Measuring tape / carpenter’s square / circular or hand saw / drill with Phillips head bit / shovel / rake
Locate the center point on one 8-foot plank and mark with a straight line. This project can be adapted to make raised beds of varying sizes. If adapting to suit location or materials, raised bed should be at least 12 inches deep and—as a rule of thumb—width shouldn't exceed 4 feet so plants may be easily reached without disturbing the soil. Use a circular or hand saw to cut along measured line to produce four 4-foot planks. Measure in 3/4 inches from each end of a 4-foot plank. Use a drill with a Phillips head bit to partially sink three screws into the broad side of each end of the plank, spaced evenly from the long edges (at approximately 3, 6 and 9 inches). Repeat the process with the other 4-foot plank. If using reclaimed lumber or wood that is especially dry, it may be necessary to drill pilot holes for the screws to avoid splitting. With a helper, hold an 8-foot plank on its side and line up the end of a four foot plank at a 90-degree angle with the screws facing the end of the long plank.
Sink screws using drill with Phillips head bit to secure. Rest the other 8-foot plank perpendicular to the attached 4-foot plank at the free end. Use a carpenter’s square to line up at 90 degrees and sink screws to attach. Repeat the assembly process at the other end, using a carpenter’s square as you go to make sure angles are square. More elaborate raised beds may use braces at the corners to maintain shape, but the long screws used here will keep the bed intact until is it filled with soil to fortify the structure. Find a flat location with good drainage and plenty of sun exposure. Rake out any rocks, sticks or yard debris and place bed. Press on sides to make sure bed rests evenly and there are no gaps between the ground and the bed (if gaps are detected, use a shovel to level the site). Place a layer of cardboard, newspaper or old carpeting to completely cover the ground inside the bed. This barrier reduces the possibility of weed growth in your raised bed. One of the biggest advantages of raised bed gardening is the certainty that your soil is ideal for growing.
Buying an appropriate mix of soil, compost and organic amendments from a nursery can be expensive. Amending available soil on your property is a possibility, but loose, pre-mixed medium can be purchased from landscaping wholesalers for a fraction of the price of bagged garden soil. If you have access to a pickup truck or trailer, the savings can be astonishing. We filled this 32-square-foot raised bed with premium garden soil for $25. Use shovels or a wheelbarrow to fill the raised bed with planting medium. Here, we used a short length of 2" x 4" to act as a ramp so we could dump soil directly from the wheelbarrow without damaging the wall of the bed. Use a rake to level the surface of the bed about a 1/2-inch from the top. If your plans include adding a drip hose or mulch, you may wish to leave a little extra space. Drainage issues, poor soil conditions and crop-choking weeds are a thing of the past with this inexpensive and easy-to-build raised bed.Show All ItemsStep 1: Step 1 Gather IdeasShow All Items
First, I looked up what others had done for building a quick bed to get ideas. There's this guy who put a mattress on top of his file boxes. But I didn't have storage boxes like that and I wanted something a little more interesting. Then I looked up some other platform beds, but most involved sawing and screwing (imagine that.) Finally, before heading to a retail hardware store like the famous McGuckin's of Boulder, I decided to go check out ReSource, an architectural & building salvage shop in town. I'd check out McGuckin's later if I needed to. I'd been going to these places for years for other building projects but I wasn't sure yet what I'd find there, or how I'd do it. (The places I've been to are Bring in Eugene, OR, Build It Green in New York City, and ReStore in Philadelphia, PA. IF you're lucky, there might be one in your city too.) Materials I considered included :: 1. Pallets (too splintery and not enough storage) 2. New 2 x 4s or 2 x 6s with plywood or OSB combo (ruled out because of budget, sawing, & screwing)
3. Salvage dresser drawers (could have structural issues), 4. Salvage doors (a good choice for size & sturdiness, but not in the budget, and what would they rest them on?) and 5. Old milk crates (not so easy to find these days, also they're plastic, I like natural materials better.) 6. Scraps of hardwood flooring Check out Step 2 to see what I picked.(Note, photo credit for the cabinet picture:: ReSource website.)« PreviousNext »View All Steps Download Make a Splash with Signature Bath Items Upgrade to a higher level of comfort. With considered, premium guest room amenities and furnishings, Sheraton guests feel transformed by their stay. Shop our most innovative products, including Sheraton's Signature Bed and the exclusive bath collection. The Sheraton Store celebrates a thoughtful design approach and instinct for effortless everyday solutions. Edith Bunk Bed in Gray Coaster Wrangle Hill Youth Bunk Bed in Gun Smoke Becka Bunk Bed in Gray
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