Tools and Materials
Tools
- Compound Miter Saw or Circular Saw & Blades
- Drill/Driver & Bits
- Tape Measure
- Rafter/Speed Square
- Saw Horses
- Staple Gun & Staples
- Tin Snips
- Digging Shovle & Transfer Shovel
- Spading Fork
- Garden Rake
- Garden Trowel
- Garden Hose & Nozzle or Wand
- Soaker Hose
- Hose-End Irrigation Timer
- Work Gloves
- Safety Glasses
- Hearing Protection
- Respirator
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
How to Create a Raised Bed
Building and planting a raised garden bed is an intermediate-level do-it-yourself project that generally takes a day or so to complete. It’s helpful to have some experience with DIY work and to be familiar with basic carpentry. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
- Plan the site for your raised bed.
- Cut the lumber for the raised bed to size.
- Assemble the planter box for the raised bed.
- Fill your raised garden bed with soil and plants.
We'll show you each of the phases of the project below and give you some tips for planting your raised garden.
Shop our weekend projects and see other options, such as a raised garden bed made with block and lumber and a raised garden bed kit complete with a raised bed, plants, soil and more.
Raised Garden Bed Essentials
The work will go more quickly if you have the right tools and materials ready to go. Here are the key items you'll need.
Key Raised Garden Bed Tools
Key Raised Garden Bed Materials
DIY Raised Garden Bed Location
Before you learn how to construct a raised bed, think about the location. Pick a spot for your DIY raised garden bed. Keep in mind many types of plants — including vegetables — need plenty of sun so make sure your raised bed garden layout maximizes sun exposure for these plants. Take a look at our article and videos on designing and planting a vegetable garden for tips on choosing a good location for your raised garden bed.
Building the Garden Bed
The bed frame can be as simple as 2-by-4s on top of the ground, or even patio retaining wall blocks. The size is up to you. A bed that's at least 6 inches high provides ease of access and gives roots plenty of room to grow. These instructions describe building a 4-foot by 6-foot by 10-1/2-inch bed with untreated 2-by-4s. Untreated lumber isn't rot-resistant, but it's a good option for edibles.
Construct the Raised Garden Bed
Preparing the DIY Raised Garden Bed Location
Mark the raised garden bed outline and remove the grass from the area. You can then add the finishing touches to the raised bed frame.
Set up the Raised Garden Bed
How to Fill a Raised Bed With Soil and Plants
Start with high-quality soil and choose plants that'll work in the location you select. Plant tags show details on the care and conditions the plants need to thrive. See our guide to reading a plant tag to learn how plant tags can help you plant and grow a garden.
Plant Your Raised Garden Bed
Watering Your DIY Raised Garden Bed
The best time to water is morning when less moisture evaporates in the sun. Read our watering tips for more ideas and check the plant tags for additional recommendations.
A water timer on a soaker hose can make a simple task like watering even easier. Drip irrigation can also be an efficient way to get the right amount of water exactly where you need it.
Raised Garden Bed Ideas
Whether you need an easy way to create a raised garden bed, want tips for your raised bed garden layout or you’re looking for ideas for upgrading and accessorizing your DIY garden bed, we’ve got ideas to get you started
Raised Garden Bed Kits: An Easy Way to Grow
If you like the idea of a raised garden bed, but don’t have the time to measure and cut lumber or you simply want a different design, consider purchasing a raised garden bed kit. In addition to wood raised garden bed kits, there are other options:
- Metal raised bed garden kits create a rustic or farmhouse look.
- Composite raised garden bed kits offer the look of wood, are weather resistant and require little maintenance.
- Plastic raised garden bed kits resist the elements and are available in a variety of colors.
Raised Bed Garden Layout
Plan your raised bed layout to maximize the space, give plants the sunlight and space they need and make it easy to care for them. Here are a few raised bed garden layout ideas:
- Keep your taller plants and climbing plants at the back so they don’t block sunlight from low-growing varieties.
- Arrange low-growing plants near the front so they get plenty of sunlight and are easy to reach.
- Keep spreading plants at the edges so they spill over instead of taking up precious space in the raised bed.
- Consider dividing your planter into squares and creating individual planting blocks, each one for a different type of plant. You can make the most of your space and keep plants with similar care requirements together.
- Plan a layout that swaps out plantings throughout the year with seasonally appropriate crops. Use compost to replenish the nutrients in the soil.
Raised Flower Bed Ideas
Many of the raised garden bed layouts above are good ideas for raised flower beds too, and there are other raised flower bed ideas you can try:
- Create a flower garden that attracts butterflies.
- Build your raised garden bed with retaining wall block.
- Design an English-style garden with raised flower beds.
- Integrate your raised garden bed with a pea gravel patio.
- Adapt a retaining wall to function as a raised flower bed.
Raised Garden Bed Options
Now that you know how to make your own raised garden, there are a few things you can do to customize this DIY project to suit your gardening plans.
- Add a garden trellis next to the bed for vines and tall plants.
- Install a mesh cover to keep birds and rabbits away. You can build the frame with wood and PVC pipes.
- If you want to get an early start on gardening or keep things growing later in the season, cover the mesh frame with plastic to protect the plants from cooler temperatures.
What Type of Wood Do I Use?
The wood you choose to use for a raised bed is your decision. Here are some options:
- Cedar and redwood are naturally water-resistant but can be expensive and hard to find.
- Hemlock, fir and pine are suitable materials for raised beds but aren’t very long lasting.
- Pressure-treated lumber is also an option, but it’s been a controversial topic for many years. The purpose for chemical pressure treatment is to protect wood from rot, decay and wood-ingesting insects. Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was the most controversial treatment, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned it for consumer use in 2003. Current treatments such as alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) are deemed low risk by the EPA and designated safe for use around humans, pets, plants and vegetables. Creosote-treated wood isn’t a good option for raised beds where you intend to grow vegetables.
Compared to untreated wood, pressure-treated lumber lasts longer and is available at a comparable cost. Some types are specifically treated for ground contact. But keep in mind that even water-based treatments, such as ACQ, contain the fungicide and pesticide necessary to make it effective. Here are some practices that may address concerns about using it in raised beds.
- Let the wood dry before using it. It can take six months or longer for treated lumber to dry. You can then either paint it, seal it or choose to use it as is.
- Line the interior sides of the bed with sheet plastic or pond liner.
- Plant vegetable, fruit and herb plants near the center of the bed, a few inches away from the wood.
Follow these guidelines and safety precautions anytime you use pressure-treated lumber:
Guidelines
- Use fasteners and hardware labeled for treated lumber — stainless-steel or hot-dipped, galvanized screws.
- Butt lumber tightly. Pressure-treated wood shrinks as it dries.
- Drill pilot holes to prevent splitting when nailing or screwing boards.
- Use wood rated for ground contact when necessary for the project.
Safety
- Wear work gloves, a dust mask and eye protection when handling or cutting wood.
- Wash your hands after working with treated wood.
- Dispose of sawdust and waste according to local regulations.
- Don’t burn pressure-treated wood.
- Don’t use pressure-treated wood as mulch.
Read more about pressure-treated lumber and wood preservatives on the EPA website: Overview of Wood Preservative Chemicals.
What Do I Plant?
Growing raised-bed vegetables, fruits and herbs offers several advantages over growing them in regular soil. The soil in a raised bed is looser and will drain better than it would in an in-ground garden. You can also better control soil additions, like compost and fertilizers, to suit your plants’ needs. And, because you’re putting bagged soil into the bed, you can plant immediately, rather than waiting on ground soil to thaw before you can plant in it. Here are some planting suggestions for your garden bed:
- Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes and beets all grow well in the loose soil of a raised bed.
- Leaf Vegetables: Kale, lettuce and spinach do very well in the warm, fast-draining soil of a raised garden bed.
- Melons: Raised beds and melons work well together thanks to the loose, warm soil.
- Onions: Onions need quick-draining soil, plenty of organic matter and a long growing season.
- Tomatoes: Tomatoes love warm soil, and the loose soil aids in root-system development. You’ll need to stake or cage your plants.
- Herbs: Basil, cilantro, mint, oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary all are great accents and fillers in raised beds that’ll complement just about any dish.