A raised garden bed is one of the best first outdoor projects. It gives you better control over your soil, improves drainage, and makes planting and weeding easier on your back. You can build a simple one in an afternoon with basic tools.
What You Will Need
- Four boards of untreated, rot-resistant wood such as cedar or larch. For a 120 x 240 cm (4 x 8 ft) bed, you need two long boards and two short ones, about 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) tall.
- Four corner posts cut from a 10 x 10 cm (4 x 4 in) post, the same height as your boards.
- Exterior-grade screws, about 8 cm (3 in) long.
- A drill/driver, tape measure, saw, and level.
- Cardboard for the base, plus soil and compost to fill the bed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Choose the spot. Most vegetables need at least six hours of direct sun a day. Pick level ground close to a water source.
- Cut the boards and posts. Keep the bed no wider than 120 cm (4 ft) so you can reach the middle from either side.
- Assemble the frame. Screw each board to the corner posts, drilling pilot holes first so the wood does not split. Use two or three screws per board end.
- Position and level. Set the frame in place and check it with a level. Dig out high spots as needed.
- Line the base. Lay plain cardboard over the grass inside the frame. It blocks weeds and breaks down over time.
- Fill the bed. A common mix is roughly two parts topsoil to one part compost. Fill to a few centimetres below the top edge and water it well.
What to Plant First
Start with forgiving crops such as lettuce, radishes, bush beans, and herbs like basil and parsley. They grow quickly and tell you a lot about your soil and sunlight.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Making the bed too wide to reach across.
- Using wood treated with chemicals you do not want near food crops. If you are unsure, ask the supplier.
- Filling the bed with garden soil alone, which can compact and drain poorly.
- Placing the bed in a shady or hard-to-water spot.
Once your first bed is producing, adding a second one is quick, because you already know the steps.