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Want to build a garden bed that is not only functional, but also beautiful? Then a DIY capped raised bed garden will elevate your garden. This capped raised garden bed can be built using readily available 2x6 boards, and wood exterior/deck screws. The download includes a cut list for easy assembly, and diagrams to show you the sequence of easiest assembly. These plans will get you an Instagramable garden in less than a weekend. There’s no question that raised beds are popular for a reason. Not only do they look stunning in a backyard garden, they also ease the workload that comes with maintaining traditional, in-ground beds. Unfortunately some raised bed systems are costly to buy and time consuming to install. But not all raised bed systems are the same. Whether you’re handy with tools or don’t know a drill press from a driver, there are kits on the market that are easy to build with little time or expense. There are also do-it-yourself options if you have the time or the inclination. So why should you bother assembling or building a raised bed garden? Benefits of raised bed gardeningThere are a lot of great reasons to build raised beds that contain and protect your garden soil. Less tillingRaised garden beds require less tilling than traditional, in-ground beds. Instead of digging up a compacted bed year after year, many gardeners add compost and other soil amendments to the top of their elevated beds in fall, then let nature do the rest over the dormant season. This is a good practice for both soil and plants. Easier on your backBending, stooping, and kneeling can all take its toll on your back and joints. Raised bed designs come in a variety of heights to make reaching your crops less stressful on your body over time. Nice to look atIn the backyard or the front, a series of raised planters surrounded by paths looks neat and well tended all year round. Controls weeds and keep out crittersRaised garden boxes are known to deter rabbits, which will handily nibble in-ground crops growing at eye level. They also make it easy to install copper slug ‘fencing’ and other deterrents around the perimeter. Raising your beds also means moving crops away from dogs that may otherwise (ahem) urinate on your garden. If you have weed problems, you can install a weed barrier beneath your bed’s soil at installation time to ensure invasive weeds or tree roots don’t invade the bed. Improves drainageIf your garden soil is normally wet into springtime, elevated beds solve this problem by lifting the soil above ground level and giving your plant roots room to breathe. Offers a head start on the growing seasonRaised beds filled with nutrient rich, organic soil warm faster in spring due to their elevation away from the cold ground—and their improved drainage. In this way, beds built 12 inches deep or more have the added benefit of giving plants a longer growing season. For more benefits, see 10 Reasons to Add Raised Garden Beds to Your Garden. If you don’t have the time or resources to muster the raw materials for building a raised garden bed from scratch, you can purchase one of the easy-to-assemble kits on the market. In this case, your first consideration should be the type of materials available and how quickly and easily they go together. Natural woodSome of the least expensive kits are made from raw, natural wood or wood treated with natural wood stabilizers. (Avoid pressure treated lumber.) Cedar is the most common wood used for raised beds because of its durability and resistance to rot. It’s also lighter to handle than many other woods. Two cedar boxed garden systems that assemble in minutes are detailed below. Farm Style Raised Garden BedsThese easy-to-assemble beds are made from Vermont white cedar. Stack them together in minutes without tools, fill with soil, and your garden is ready to go. They will last for many years and weather to a soft, silver grey. Natural Cedar BedsLike the kit above, these beds are made from natural cedar and assemble in minutes without tools (unless you opt for the version that includes trim). The main difference is that the boards in this system are Oregon incense cedar treated with a natural silica-based stabilizer. Both kits come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Composite lumberNext in terms of price are kits made from a blend of hardwood fibers and post-consumer recycled plastic. Approved for organic growing, these kits are durable, light, long lasting, and easy to assemble. They also resemble natural grain wood in color and texture. The reason they cost a little more? Wood composite is warp resistant and maintenance free. They will look the same for years without interventions. Composite Raised Garden BedThis composite bed takes about thirty minutes to put together. Assembly involves sliding each timber into a joint and fastening with zinc-plated screws (provided with the kit). The joints each have stake that needs pressing into the ground. Recycled plasticAnother type of raised garden kit is made from recycled plastic. These kits are extremely long lasting and share the same low maintenance features as the composite lumber beds above. Recycled Plastic Raised Garden BedsThese beds are made from 100% HDPE (high density polyethylene) plastic, the same material that you find in high quality garden furniture and public picnic tables. They are easy to assemble in about 20 minutes and don’t require any tools to put together. They’re also available in five colors, which means you can match them to your backyard décor for a seamless blend. Each non-toxic color includes UV protection to minimize fading over time. And speaking of time, these kits come with a 50 year warranty, which is pretty hard to match. AluminumThe final type of raised garden kit on the market is made from aluminum. These are easy to assemble, maintenance free and look great in modern garden spaces. Aluminum raised garden bed kits from EverlastPerfect for any climate, these aluminum bed kits go together in less than half an hour. They’re made from 12-gauge, reinforced aluminum, so they’ll never suffer from rot or pest damage.
They’re also UV protected and available in a range of finishes. While there is no clear winner in terms of materials, wood beds biodegrade at the end of their lifespan, meaning no waste gets left behind. That biodegradable capacity means they won’t last as long as synthetic materials, however, so if durability is your goal, a composite, aluminum or recycled plastic bed is a good alternative option. For more discussion about the merits of different raised bed materials, read our article Cedar vs. Recycled Plastic vs. Composite Raised Garden Beds DIY home-built raised bedsBuilding your own elevated garden boxes is a straightforward project for anyone with access to materials, along with the space and skill to fashion the parts. Here are some things to consider before you build your own raised beds. Best wood choicesAs noted above, cedar is one of the most rot resistant woods available. It’s also lightweight enough to handle for one person if dried thoroughly. Other options include black locust and redwood. If these are too expensive in your area, consider using fir or spruce, with the understanding that they will not last as long. You can also ask your local lumberyard what they recommend. Recycled boards repurposed from other projects are another lower cost option, as long as they aren’t treated. Avoid pressure treated wood and pressure treated lumber. Use standard sizes, starting with 2 x 6 for the most basic bed with good soil underneath, all the way up to 2 x 12 if you need a taller bed for plants with deeper roots. You can also stack your lumber in tiers. In general, most garden vegetables need 12 – 24” of soil depth to grow, with a few others needing as much as 36” of depth. (For the needs of specific garden crops, see our table of soil depth requirements.) If you have 12” of usable soil beneath your bed, build up another 12-24” to accommodate the crops on your list. To stain or not to stainThe woods listed above will last a long time (10-20 years depending on your climate), but they will biodegrade eventually. To slow this process, you can treat your boards before building your beds, but be sure to use a non-toxic wood treatment that won’t leach harmful chemicals into your soil—and potentially your plants. Avoid buying pressure-treated or stained wood, unless it’s specifically designed for using in and around garden beds. Hardware and other materialsMany screws are made from metal that will leach a dark stain onto wood when exposed to moisture. To avoid this, use coated deck screws or stainless steel. Pre-drill all holes to prevent your wood from splitting. Simplest raised bed cornersTo simplify the job even further, you can purchase pre-made anchor joints for your garden box corners. Some models of these brackets feature stakes that can be hammered into the ground, making fastening your corners a breeze. Bracing your beds with crossbeamsFor beds longer than 8’, we recommend installing cross supports to prevent bowing outwards from the weight of your soil. Use ½” aluminum flat stock cut to match the inside width of your bed. Building raised beds from alternative materialsConcrete blocks, bathtubs, metal feed troughs and even old canoes can all work for instant raised garden beds. Just be sure your creative choices don’t expose your soil and plants to toxic chemicals from paints, stains, or other finishes.
Simplest DIY raised garden bed design and instructionsThe following instructions demonstrate how to make a simple raised bed with basic materials. This is the design our founder and his family have used in their garden for over 40 years. The plans make one 4 x 8’ raised garden bed. You can extend the length to fit your space, but if your bed is going to be longer than 8’, you’ll need to add extra posts mid-span to prevent bowing and to provide a place to secure cross supports. See note above about bracing your beds with crossbeams. To further strengthen your bed, consider using full dimension lumber, also known as “nominal” lumber. This is lumber cut to the full two inches thick and (in this case) six inches wide, instead of the standard cut you will get if you purchase from a commercial supplier (which will be slightly smaller due to shrinkage and planing). You can buy dimensional or nominal lumber from a local mill. If you’re building on a slope, see our article about How to Build a Raised Garden Bed on Sloping, Uneven Ground. Materials needed:Four 8’ 2 x 6″ cedar boards Tools needed:Hand saw How to build Your bedAfter leveling and clearing the area where your bed will be located, lay out the bottom tier of your beds using two 4’ 2 x 6s, two 8’ 2 x 6s, and your four corner posts. It’s not necessary to cover the ground with landscaping fabric. Starting with first corner, attach frame to corner post using two screws per side, leveling as you go. Continue with remaining three sides until you have one complete row. Add the next row of 2 x 6’ boards, screwing to the corner posts as above. Level the entire bed. You may have to dig in places to get your bed to level. Cut off corner posts flush with top of frame. Smooth ground around bed and fill bed with soil. Now you’re ready to plant! DIY or kit: which type of raised garden bed is best?When should I use DIY?When you have the time and skill to make your own, DIY raised garden beds are often the most economical choice. And while pre-fab kits come in a variety of sizes, you can make DIY beds to fit tricky spaces and unusual depths. When should I use a pre-fab kit?If you need your bed to go together quickly, if you don’t have the tools or space to make your own, or if you need a long-lasting plastic or composite system that’s easy to clean and move, a pre-fab kit is the better choice for your situation. Getting the most from your raised bed gardenWhatever you choose, raised gardens are a satisfying way to grow your own food without the strain and stress on your body. Here are some other tips to remember when using your beds.
Editor’s note: this article was originally published in 2019 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness. Related Reading
About the Author Shannon Cowan What is the best depth for a raised garden bed?They should have at least 8 inches of soil depth to accommodate the root systems of plants, because the majority of plant roots require 6 – 8 inches of soil for healthy root growth. A depth of 8 – 12 inches will suffice for most gardening situations.
Is 16 inches deep enough for a raised bed?The minimum raised beds depth I ever recommend is six inches (which is deep enough to grow greens and herbs). One foot is enough to grow root crops and medium-size plants, and 18 inches is deep enough to grow pretty much any kitchen garden plant.
Is 2 feet wide enough for raised bed?If a raised bed is placed against a building, fence, etc., making it accessible from only one side, the maximum width should be 1 1/2 to 2 feet (i.e., approximately arm's reach). Beds accessible on both sides can be 3 to 4 feet wide.
How many bags of soil do I need for a 2x4 raised bed?It usually takes about two to three bags of purchased fertile mix (1.5 cubic feet each) to cover the bed surface to a depth of 2 inches.
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