There isn’t anything much more therapeutic than gardening and growing your own vegetables. No matter what your age, connecting with the outdoors and growing your own food is a simple pleasure. Many people live in a home without land for a full “farm sized” garden, which is why raised garden beds have become so popular. When you build your own, you can customize the shape to fit the location and optimize sun exposure.
This pattern recommends 2 x 6 boards, but we also stock some 2 x 10 and 2 x 12 boards. If you have a special size in mind, we can help! Bring in your sketches and we’ll help you get everything that you need.
Materials for Raised Garden Bed:
(1) 8-foot-long 4-by-4 (6) 8-foot-long 2-by-6s
1/2 Lb. 3 1/2” Star Drive Exterior Screws 1) 4’ x 10’ x 1/4” Hardware Cloth
32 cubic feet (1 1/5 cu. yd.) planting mix
Cutting Instructions
With a table or power saw, cut the 4 x 4 into four 16” tall corner posts. Cut two of the 2 x 6’s in half.
Optional Cold Cover Cutting Instructions
Cut the 1” PVC pipe into four 12” pieces and the 1/2” PVC pipe into 6’ pieces. Assemble pieces on a hard, flat surface.
Assemble
- (1)10’x 1” PVC Pipe
- (2) 10’x 1/2” PVC Pipe
- (8)1” Galv. Pipe Straps
- (16) 1⁄2” Wood Screws
Build bed upside down.
Set a 4-foot 2-by-6 on its thin edge on pavement, and place a 16-inch post at one end.
Secure post with two 31⁄2-inch screws.
Repeat at other end of board.
Repeat with other short board.
Join short sides with an 8-foot board; and secure with two screws.
Add other long side.
Add second layer of 2-by-6s.
Position
With help from a buddy, flip the bed right side up. Move it into position in the yard, marking with a trowel each corner post’s location. Move the bed aside; dig a 5- to 6-inch-deep hole for each post. Put the bed back into place, with posts in holes; fill around posts with soil.
Install Lining
Rake the existing soil at the bottom of the bed to level it, then tamp it smooth. Line the bed with hardware cloth to keep out gophers and moles; trim the cloth with shears to fit around corner posts.
Attach pipe
To hold hoops for bird netting or row covers, attach four 12-inch pieces of 1-inch PVC pipe inside the bed: On the long sides, space pipes 4 feet apart, 2 feet from each end; screw on two tube straps to secure each pipe. Fill the bed with planting mix; rake it smooth, and moisten it with a gentle spray from the hose.
Insert the hoops
To cover newly planted seedlings with bird netting or season- extending row covers, simply bend two 6-foot pieces of 1⁄2-inch PVC pipe to form semi-circles, and slip their ends into the 1- inch pipes inside the bed. Then drape the bird netting or row covers over them.
As always, the Long family would like to Thank You for your continued business and support. If you enjoyed this blog post, we would appreciate your comments and shares in social media. We look forward to seeing you for all of your gardening needs.
Insider Tip: Based on YOUR size, evaluate the width and length for how far you can reach. Make it narrow enough that you can reach all the plants without having to crawl into it.