Making Raised Beds
Making raised beds is very easy, requires very little skills, and they last much longer than the raised bed kits you can purchase. There are many ways to make them, this is just the way I do it. Each raised bed is 4 foot by 8 foot, which is a great size because you can still reach the middle of the bed without stepping on the soil.
Supplies:
- 2x10x8 Untreated Lumber (3 per bed)
- Screws-3 1/2” and 2” (I use deck screws)
- Corner Brackets
- Paint or Sealant (I use black barn paint)
- Painting Supplies
Tools:
- Saw
- Drill
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Straight Edge
- Corner Clamps
First thing I do is remove any staples or tags on the lumber. If you can’t pull them out, hammer them flat. It makes it much easier to line the boards up correctly without them in the way.
It takes three boards to make each raised bed. Measure one of the three boards at the halfway mark. The ones I buy are not exactly 8 feet so that measurement on mine is 4 and 3/16 inches.
I use a straight edge to mark where I will cut. I cut directly on this line.
Then cut the board in half. I know there are better saw options than this one, however I never feel like dragging out saw horses and this lets me cut on the floor. If you don’t have a saw, check with your lumber or hardware store. Some places will cut boards for customers free, usually one cut per board.
The placement of the boards is important for me because I sit my rabbit hutches on them in the off season, adding manure to my beds. So I have to place the long boards inside the short boards as in the picture.
This is how my hutches fit on the beds when I’m not growing in them, so you can see why my measurements are so important for me. I will be doing a post and video on building the hutches at a later date.
The corner clamps aren’t necessary to complete the beds, but it makes it much easier when building them alone. You don’t need anyone to hold anything for you.
Put two 3 1/2 inch screws in each corner. One near the top and one near the bottom.
Use 2 inch screws to attach the corner brackets. These are the ones I use, but I’m sure you can find others. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Simpson-Strong-Tie-Rigid-Tie-Connector-Z-MAX/3047951
I only put screws in the top holes. I’ve found this is sufficient to keep the beds sturdy and held together nicely.
At this point the bed is complete and you could use it as is, but I want mine to last longer, so I want the wood sealed in some way.
I use black barn paint. I’ve found this holds up well and most hardware stores carry some brand of it. It doesn’t matter what color you use really, I just feel like the black helps the beds heat up sooner in the spring, which helps since I have a shorter growing season.
Make sure you paint or seal both the insides and outsides of each bed. You want the wood protected from moisture and rot. Also, if you use oil based paint, be aware it takes it longer to dry. Give them plenty of time for the paint to dry completely since they will be exposed to the weather.
And that’s it! Super easy! Now put them in your garden and plant something in them.