How To Build A Raised Garden Bed

In recent years, gardening has become a popular pastime for many people. The growing interest in the ecological and sustainable living movement has also fueled a green thumbs craze among environmentally-conscious homeowners who want to grow their own vegetables and herbs. However, not everyone has plenty of room in their backyard or garden plot to produce as many plants as they would like. If this sounds like you, don’t worry! You can easily build a raised garden bed, and this article will tell you how!

Choose The Location For Your Garden Bed

The first step of making a raised garden bed is to find an ideal location for your garden. You should pick a place that gets at least six hours of sunlight per day, and you will want the ground underneath the bed to be flat, so it does not tip over or sink as you fill it with soil. You will also want to place the bed where it is easy to access, so you do not have to strain yourself when tending or harvesting your garden.

You should also consider the fact that your garden will need a certain amount of drainage. If the ground is boggy or wet, you may want to choose another location, as this can cause the bed to sink and tip over if there is not an adequate water run-off.

Preparing The Area Of Your Garden Bed

Once you have chosen an area for your new raised garden bed, you will need to clear the ground before digging to set your frame in. The ground should be free of sticks, stones, roots, and other debris that may negatively impact your garden bed’s support structure or look. You can do this by raking the area thoroughly or using a leaf shredder if there is not much debris. Once you do this, it’s time to mark out the area where you will build your raised garden bed.

Locate & Mark The Edges Of Your Garden Bed With String

To find the edges of your future garden bed, get a long piece of string and tie it to a wooden stake at one end. Pull the string tightly just above ground level until you reach the other end of the frame you are setting up. Lower to ground level and secure this end with another stake. If you are making a rectangular garden bed, use these two stakes to mark your future raised garden bed. For other shapes, you will have to measure out your suggested dimensions for your garden bed using string before marking them on the ground with stakes.

Make The Frame For Your Raised Bed

Once you have a location for your garden bed, it is time to create the frame. You will need four corner posts that are one foot longer than the width of your garden bed. If you plan to enclose the bed with a fence, position these posts to run perpendicular to the fence line and set them at least three feet apart from one another. Be sure to use treated lumber if you plan to enclose the bed with a fence because this type of wood will not be affected by rot or decay even when in contact with moist soil. If you plan to leave the frame open, this isn’t necessary.

Cut Boards For The Sides And Bottom Of Your Bed Frame

Once the posts are in place, you can start cutting boards to form the sides and bottom of your bed frame. The length of these boards should be equal to the height of one post plus six inches, and they should be as wide as the space between your posts. You will need two longboards and two shortboards for each side, so if your bed is four feet wide, you will need two six-foot boards and two four-foot boards. Cut the ends of each board at a 45-degree angle so they fit together snugly without gaps or spaces where the soil can escape from your bed. Then secure these boards together on each corner using nails or screws.

Add Boards For The Top Of Your Garden Bed Frame

The next step in making a raised garden bed is to cut boards for the top of your frame. You will need two longboards and two shortboards, as before, but you should cut the ends at a 22.5-degree angle, so they fit together as tightly as possible. When assembling these last pieces, you may want to use a drill to add screws or nails, so they fit together more securely.

Put Your Garden Bed Together

Now that the frame of your raised garden bed is complete, it is time to put it together! The first step is to level the bottom board by matching it up with the corner posts and placing three boards underneath it. You should cut these boards at a 22.5-degree angle, so they fit under the board evenly without slipping out. Once the first board is in place, you can start laying down boards for the next layer. To attach these boards to the frame, use four screws or nails on each side of the bed and one screw along each edge for extra stability.

Add A Layer Of Dirt Or Mulch

Now that your raised garden bed is complete, you can add a layer of dirt or mulch to the frame. This layer should be two feet deep, so the roots of your vegetables and herbs are not damaged when they grow larger. Leafy greens will need less space than root vegetables, so you should adjust the amount of soil accordingly if you have more space available and depending on the type of plants you plan to grow.

Conclusion

That is all there is to it! The steps in making a raised garden bed are easy, and the materials for this project cost very little. If you wanted to, you could even cut corners by using scrap wood or wood that no one wants anymore. Once your raised garden bed is built, you can start planting. If you live in an area where the soil is not accessible enough to dig, this is a good alternative because it makes growing vegetables and herbs significantly easier!