How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds (2024)

Are you interested in starting your own garden, but don't have the space or suitable soil? Building raised DIY garden beds might just be the solution you're looking for. Whether you're an experienced gardener or a beginner, creating raised garden beds offers a whole range of benefits and can easily be done with a few simple steps.

Why Build a Raised Garden Bed?

How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds (1)

A raised garden bed is a large planter box that retains soil above ground level. It's a great choice for maximizing your garden space, because a raised bed can be placed on top of poor soil then filled with whatever soil type you need for the flower or vegetable garden of your dreams.

A raised bed garden can also be built above ground, at a taller height. An elevated garden bed like this can make it easier for anyone who struggles to bend down or sit on the ground to participate in gardening.

Planting in a raised bed filled with compost and topsoil can help to reduce the need for weeding, especially if the bed is lined with landscape fabric.

How to Build a Raised Bed

Before you begin, think about where your raised bed will be located. If you want a vegetable garden bed, you'll need to choose a suitably sunny spot. It's also a good idea to make sure you have easy access to water so you can keep your plants happy.

Experts recommend keeping your raised bed a maximum of four feet in width. Any bigger and it will become difficult to reach the plants in the middle. If you can't access all sides, for example because you want to place your raised bed against a house wall or fence, you'll need to choose a narrower bed design.

Materials

How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds (2)

Once you've chosen the perfect spot and thought about dimensions, it's time to choose your materials. A popular option is untreated lumber. Untreated wood will remove the possibility of chemicals leaching into your soil, and therefore into whatever you plan to grow.

Other possible materials include cinder blocks or concrete blocks, natural stone or even steel. Some gardeners make use of recycled materials such as cattle troughs, or use large garden planters for raised bed gardening.

If you don't want to go for the DIY option, you can order a garden bed kit, or even a ready-made garden bed planter, for delivery.

Construction

For a very simple raised bed, you'll need four pieces of lumber cut to length according to your chosen dimensions. You'll also need a drill and eight 2-1/2-inch deck screws.

The width of the lumber will be the depth of the raised bed. Six inches is the minimum depth for gardening. This depth is recommended by Gardeners Path as suitable for most vegetables; however, you may want to use wider boards if you'd prefer a deeper bed. Alternatively, you can add another layer of wood to make it deeper.

Once your four boards are cut to length, arrange them in a rectangle shape. If you have shorter walls, place those flush to the longer ones. Drill pilot holes, then use the deck screws to join your boards together.

Lining

It can be helpful to line the base of your raised garden bed with landscape fabric. This can help to prevent weeds growing up from beneath the surface. You could also use a layer of hessian or even a flattened cardboard box; these will eventually decompose and become part of the soil.

Avoid lining with plastic sheeting, as this will not allow for adequate drainage.

Soil

Once your garden bed is constructed, it's time to fill it up with soil! Experts recommend a combination of garden soil and potting compost. You can purchase bags of soil ready-mixed, or create your own combination. Nutrient-rich soil with added organic matter is important if you want to grow a crop of tasty vegetables!

What to Grow in a Raised Garden Bed

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Some gardeners like to grow flowers in their raised garden beds, but many people build them especially to grow their favorite vegetables. Even root vegetables such as carrots can grow in a raised bed. For inspiration, check out our article on the best vegetables to grow in Florida. And, as always, if you would like any help with your landscape design, get in touch with LawnMore's friendly gardening experts!

How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds (2024)

FAQs

What kind of wood should be used for raised beds? ›

It's best to use untreated wood to build your raised garden beds, preferably a type of wood that won't decay quickly, such as cedar, redwood, or hemlock. Both the type of wood that you might find for sale and its affordability will vary based on where you live.

Is it cheaper to make or buy raised garden beds? ›

On average, a DIY raised bed constructed from wood will cost $25 to $50 per square foot. To have a wooden raised bed constructed and installed for you, budget for at least $100 per square foot. (Find a kitchen garden company in your area.)

What is the cheapest way to make raised beds? ›

Raised beds made of cinder blocks or concrete blocks

Cinder blocks and concrete blocks are very inexpensive (typically $2 to $3 a piece at home improvement centers), and they make it really easy to build the outline of a raised garden bed.

What do you put in the bottom of a raised garden bed? ›

Best Soil for Raised Garden Beds

We recommend buying high-quality, nutrient-rich soil in bulk. Or, you can make a soil mix with equal parts topsoil, organic materials (leaves, composted manure, ground bark), and coarse sand.

What wood should not be used in a raised garden bed? ›

An older type of wood preservative called Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) contained arsenic, copper, and chromium. CCA-treated wood is no longer available for residential use as of 2004. Avoid using older types of wood treatments such as CCA, creosote, and Penta-treated lumber.

Is it OK to use treated lumber for raised garden beds? ›

He stated in a bulletin titled, Treated Wood in Raised Bed Gardening, “Scientific evidence and data have shown that using pressure treated wood for raised bed or box gardening is safe to adults and children in terms of the plants grown and used in these containers.” He further explains, “All chemicals in consumer ...

How deep should a raised garden bed be? ›

Vegetable Beds: On the other hand, when it comes to vegetable beds, the bed must be approximately 12 to 18 inches deep to ensure adequate depth for the roots of your plants. This is especially important if your raised bed is placed on cement or the patio, which will inhibit roots from growing deeper into the ground.

How tall should a raised garden bed be? ›

Some experts recommend specific heights based on their experience and expertise. Lucy Chamberlain suggests keeping beds lower for sandy soil and higher for heavy clay plots. Steve Bradley recommends knee height – about 18 inches tall – while John Negus advises a depth of at least 18 inches to 2 feet for long-term use.

What grows best in a raised garden bed? ›

Moisture-loving plants that do well in raised garden beds include cardinal flowers, sedges, and monkshood. In a dry spot, try Russian sage, prairie plants (coreopsis, false indigo, big bluestem), Mediterranean herbs (rosemary, lavender), or succulents (including sedums and echeverias).

Why not to use raised beds? ›

Raised beds also need to be filled with soil, which can become expensive and requires a good understanding of soils and soil amending. Raised beds are more permanent than in-ground gardens, so planning for future use is essential. Some crops are not well suited to raised bed production.

How much does it cost to build a 4x8 raised bed? ›

On average, a DIY raised bed constructed from wood will cost $25 to $50 per square foot. To have a wooden raised bed constructed and installed for you, budget for at least $100 per square foot. (Find a kitchen garden company in your area.)

What vegetables grow well together? ›

Which Vegetables Grow Well Together?
VegetableCompanion PlantDon't Plant Together
OnionsBeets, carrots, Swiss chard, lettuce, peppersAll beans and peas
PeasBeans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radish, turnipGarlic, onions
PotatoesBeans, corn, peasTomatoes
SquashCorn, melons, pumpkinsNone
11 more rows
Jun 26, 2021

Why put cardboard in raised beds? ›

It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.

How many bags of soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed? ›

For a 4x8-foot raised bed with a 6” height, using Mel's Mix: about 5 cubic feet each of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite is needed. 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.

Should I put landscape fabric under raised bed? ›

Landscape fabric is beneficial for raised garden beds, here are just a few of the many reasons why you should use landscape fabric for raised bed gardening: Prevents soil erosion in a raised bed: As a liner, landscape fabric lets water drain away from the soil while leaving the soil intact.

What is the best material for raised garden beds? ›

Composite wood is rot-resistant and more durable than natural wood. Concrete blocks or bricks: These building materials can be arranged to form the walls of your raised bed. They are safe, sturdy, and long-lasting. Stone: Natural stone can be a beautiful, durable, and safe choice for a raised bed.

What is the best material to build a raised garden bed? ›

While untreated wood has a limited lifetime, using cedar, redwood, cypress, or hemlock can prolong the garden's life expectancy by five or ten years, meaning you can enjoy decades with your wooden raised beds. Steel is next in durability, and stone and brick can quite literally last a lifetime.

Should I line my wood raised bed with plastic? ›

You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.

Do wooden raised beds need to be lined? ›

However, if your raised garden bed isn't properly lined, you can be losing this soil along with the beneficial nutrients for your plants due to rain and regular watering. A liner can help allow water to flow and drain, without losing the beneficial materials and nutrients of your specialized soil.

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