How to Construct a Raised Garden Bed
(4’x8’x2’)
Materials:
4 – 2” x 12” x 8’ pressure treated or cedar wood
4 – 2” x 12” x 4’ pressure treated or cedar wood
6 – 1 ½” x 1½”x 2’ pressure treated or cedar wood (referred to as a brace)
2 – 1” x 4” x 6’ pressure treated or cedar wood
32 – 2½” coated screws – self tapping if possible
24 – 3½” coated screws - self tapping if possible
1 – drill bit to pre drill holes if not using self tapping screws
1½ yards of top soil – 40 cu feet.
0.7 yards of compost – 20 cu feet
0.4 yards of peat moss – 4 cu feet (You can substitute perlite or vermiculite)
Construction: Need two people and level
Step 1 – Use three 1½” x 1½” x 2’ braces to fasten
two of the 8’ boards together. Put one brace in the
middle and one on either end. Use four 2½” screws in
each brace. Do the same for the other two 8’ boards.
You now have two 8’ x 2’ sides of the raised bed.
Helpful Hint: If you lay the boards on a sawhorse you can
build them without having to bend over.
Step 2 – Attach two 4’ pieces to the ends of the two 8’ sides
using twelve 3½” screws. Start at the bottom of each end.
Put your screws into the 8’ board, not the brace.
Step 3 - Attach the other two 4’ pieces to the opposite
part of each end of the bed using the remaining twelve
3½” screws.
Step 4 – Make sure the bed is level.
Step 2 - Start at the bottom
Brace
