Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden beds are becoming an increasingly popular product and for good reason.  Raised gardens can benefit you in numerous ways including:

  • Greater control over your vegetables soil health

  • Reduces erosion and/or compaction of soil

  • Reduces weeds

  • Improves soil drainage

  • Easier on your body to tend to

While raised garden beds can be made from various materials, including rock, blocks, and brick, our favorite raised beds are made of rough cedar.  It is the most common material used for raised beds and provides a clean and classy visual appeal.  Call us today for a quote on installing raised beds on your property or see below for a full material list and how-to on building your own cedar raised garden beds.

Materials:

  • (2) 4” x 4” x 8’ cedar post

  • (9) 2” x 6” x 8’ cedar board

  • (2 yard) top soil

  • (8 bags) compost/manure

  • (3’ x 50’) roll of weed fabric

  • 3” deck screws

How To:

  1. Determine where you want your garden bed placed.  Ensure there is enough sunlight and room for you to be able to walk completely around it.

  2. Cut the (2) cedar posts in thirds to create (6) 32” tall posts.  Dig a hole and bury half of the post in the ground.

  3. Cut (3) of the cedar boards in half to create (6) 4’ long boards.  Leave remaining (6) boards at the 8’ length.

  4. Attach the cedar boards with 3” deck screws to the posts.  There should be (3) boards on all 4 sides.  This will create a 8’ x 4’ raised bed that is 18” tall.

  5. Line the bottom and inside of the raised bed with weed fabric.

  6. Add topsoil and compost mixture to fill the bed.

Pro Tips:

  • Don’t stain the inside of your lumber or buy treated wood.  This may allow chemicals to seep into your soil.

  • Use a good topsoil with high organic matter for best vegetation growth.  Add sand if drainage needs to be increased.

  • Cover the soil with a mulch to prevent soil from drying out in the summer heat.

  • At the end of the season, till up your plants to create more organic compost matter for next season.

  • If possible, place the long end of your bed north and south so the taller plants receive the most sun without shading the other plants.