How to Build a Raised Garden Bed

The raised garden bed is so versatile, easy-to-make and practical that it has become a staple when creating your backyard garden. And while although easy to make, it can be intimidating to actually get started and construct your own garden bed. We've broken it down into a few simple steps so you can be ready for spring and summer gardening!

Supplies

For a 4' x 6' garden you will need:

4 count- 2' x 4's measuring 4 feet long
4 count-2' x 4's measuring 6 feet long **(make sure the wood you use is treated so it doesn't rot easily)
4 support blocks for each corner
Galvanized nails or screws
Hammer
Gloves
Measuring tool
Raised Garden Bed Soil
Garden Bed Liner
Scissors
Plants +herbs of your choice
Small Gardening Shovel

Step 1:

Layout your garden bed frame. Most home improvement stores, like Lowes or The Home Depot, will cut the boards for you if you're looking to save time or labor. We chose to do 2 layers of 2x4s stacked on top of each other measuring 4 feet wide and 6 feet long. Inside each corner we added a support piece of wood. Tip: when working with treated wood, galvanized steel nails or screws work best.

Also, make sure to clamp your corners and wedge them together as tightly as possible since treated wood shrinks over time. Make sure when choosing a location that the area gets plenty of sunlight since most vegetables need plenty of light to grow.

Step 2:

Once you have your frame in place, dig of the grass inside the frame. Lay down your garden bed liner to prevent weeds and moles from getting into your garden. Cut the garden bed liner to the exact size of the garden bed. (see gallery below for more photos)

Step 3:

For our 4ft x 6ft garden bed we used roughly 4 bags of garden bed soil. It will all depend on how large you want your garden. But make sure to choose the type of garden soil that is specifically for raised bed gardens.

Step 4:

Next, smooth the dirt in the garden bed with the small shovel and layout your herbs and plants. Make sure to give your plants plenty of space to grow since above ground gardens tend to heat up faster than in-ground gardens and can product more robust vegetables and plants. Laying out your plants before planting also ensures you have even spacing.

Step 5:

Now it's time to plant! After removing the plant from the container, break up the roots on the bottom so they can quickly root into the soil.

For our plants we chose: Basil, Rosemary, Lemon Thyme, Red Cabbage and tomato plants. Your local nursery is a great resource to use as they will be able to help you choose plants that are indigenous and will thrive in your particular climate. Since we are in the South, plants that need plenty of sunlight and water and can withstand warm temperatures will perform best.

Visit our Grow It section for more garden tips!

Project Gallery:

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed

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