Build a Raised Garden Bed
Category: Landscaping ·
Difficulty: Beginner ·
Time: 3.8h ·
Estimated cost: $140
Tools needed
- Drill with bits
- Level
- Tape measure
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
Materials needed
- 2x10 cedar boards (8 ft) (4 ea)
- 4x4 cedar post (8 ft) (1 ea)
- 3" exterior screws (1 lb)
- Landscape fabric (32 sq ft)
- Garden soil (cu ft) (16 cu ft)
Execution steps
Cut lumber
Cut two 2x10s to 8' (full length) and two to 7'9" for inside walls. Cut 4x4 into four 18" corner posts.
Duration: 20 min
Assemble corners
Stand a corner post on end. Screw one long board flush to the post (3 screws), then a short board perpendicular (3 screws). Repeat for all corners.
Duration: 40 min
Level the site
Move the assembled box to its garden location. Dig down or shim until the top is level both directions.
Duration: 30 min
Lay landscape fabric
Drape fabric on the bottom and up the sides 6". Staple to inside walls.
Duration: 15 min
Fill with soil
Wheelbarrow garden soil in. Fill 3/4 full, water to settle, top off.
Duration: 1h
Plant
Mark rows. Plant per seed packet/transplant instructions. Water deeply.
Duration: 1h
Safety first
- Use cedar or untreated lumber for food gardens — pressure-treated wood leaches chemicals.
- Wear gloves; cedar splinters are nasty.
- Don't lift fully filled bed alone — build in place.
When to hire a pro
Multiple beds with built-in irrigation, or beds against a foundation that need drainage planning, are jobs for a landscaper.
Back to all DIY Guides ·
AyX Estimator — Take the guess out of construction.