How To Build Raised Garden Beds

I'm show you how to build raised garden beds for easy gardening with lower maintenance!

Raised garden beds make gardening so much easier because: they're higher making them easier to reach, they eliminate a large amount of weeding, (a real back saver) and they hold nutrients longer!

How To Build Garden Beds Step by Step:

Draw out your garden plan on paper.

I like to use graph paper to keep measurements accurate and lines straight. Plan which beds you plant each type of garden plant in. You'll want to keep this for future reference from year to year.

Shop lumber and decide what your budget will be.

Traditionally garden beds are build with treated lumber to prevent termites etc. However, you can get landscaping timbers much cheaper now. (You'll want your raised bed walls at least 8 inches high (I like them closer to 12 inches high). You can stack landscaping timbers 3 high to get the right height or stack 2x4's to get the depth you want.)

Build Raised Beds -

Plan the Size:

Start by deciding on the dimensions of your raised garden bed. The example suggests a size of 12 feet in length and 3 feet in width. This size provides a good amount of growing space for a variety of plants. The 3-foot width is particularly practical because it allows you to easily reach the center of the bed from either side, making tasks like weeding much more convenient.

Gather Materials:

You'll need lumber for the sides of your garden bed. Cedar or pressure-treated wood is often a good choice because it's resistant to decay. The length of the lumber should match the sides you want for your garden bed. For a 3x12 bed, you'll need four 12-foot-long pieces of lumber.

Cut the Lumber:

Using a saw, cut the lumber to your desired length and width. In this example, you'd cut the four 12-foot-long pieces to create a 12-foot-long by 3-foot-wide bed. Make sure your cuts are precise, as this will ensure the bed is square and level.

Assemble the Bed:

Position the cut lumber pieces to form the rectangle that will be your raised garden bed. Place the longer pieces (12 feet) parallel to each other and the shorter pieces (3 feet) perpendicular to them to form the corners. Adjust the pieces to create a square, rectangular, or custom shape as needed.

Secure the Corners:

To hold the bed together, you can use coated screws or brackets. The example suggests using four coated screws on each corner. An electric screwdriver can make the job faster and easier. Alternatively, you can find brackets designed for building raised garden beds at home improvement stores like Home Depot. These brackets simplify the assembly process, especially if you are not comfortable with nails or screws.

Level the Bed:

Use a level to ensure that the bed is even and the corners are square. It's important that the bed is level to ensure proper drainage and plant growth.

Lay your high quality weed barrier.

(I LOVE THIS ONE) all over your garden space. (Make sure to buy the kind that has felt on the bottom. If you buy a cheaper kind, it will only last 1 or 2 seasons before you'll need to replace it.)

I recommend laying weed barrier everywhere before putting garden boxes down because we have morning glory here and it will come up in garden beds if you don't. It will cost a bit more in weed barrier, but you'll make it back in time saved from not having to dig as many weeds out of garden boxes. This also helps hold nutrients in garden boxes!

Arrange Beds

Arrange your garden beds on the ground according to your design on paper. Make sure to leave the area between beds big enough for walkways and your wheelbarrow!

Fill Beds

Fill your garden beds with dirt and mulch. You can get as fancy s you want here. You can buy manure or garden dirt, you can just fill with dirt from your yard, or you can get mulch from your local dump.

Install Drip Lines For Easy Watering

This is also the time you'll want to install a drip line if you're using one. highly recommend using a drip system. With a drip system you will be able to go on vacation without asking someone to come water your garden while you are gone, and you won't kill your plants... In fact, you'll come home to bigger plants and food to harvest!