DIY raised garden beds

Kevin built DIY raised garden beds for the first time about five years ago. He and his dad built them as a birthday present to me one summer and they went all out. The raised garden beds were beautiful. They made them out of 4×4 square, cedar and they had a little ledge that was perfect for sitting as I dug in the dirt. They were solid and held up well year after year.

But, those DIY raised garden beds were also expensive. Each one – and they built me just two – was just under $200. Looking at that number now, I’m actually a bit embarrassed. The significant cost was due to the thickness of the 4×4 wood we stacked for each side of the box. However, at the time, we were both working, we had one child and we wanted to make something that was really high quality. That cost us money.

Fast forward to life on the farm and DIY raised garden beds like that are out of the question. They simply cost too much for the amount that we need and I realize for most people even one is out of the question. The thickness quality would be wonderful to have, but we’ve found a way to make more inexpensive, simple DIY raised garden beds that work just as well.

Our farmhouse raised beds

Last year we made four 4×4 DIY raised garden beds, four low 8×4 beds and two high 8×4 beds and they all cost less than $50. In fact, the 4×4 beds cost just about $30. These raised garden beds worked wonderfully and our garden flourished.

This year, we are making at least 20 new DIY raised garden beds in various sizes using the simple design we used last year. We’re already off to a great start making more 4×4 boxes and 4×8 boxes and I wanted to share the process with all of you.

Since this year is a bit odd with the coronavirus outbreak, I’m guessing everyone has some extra time on their hands (unless you’re considered essential) and might be thinking about how you can start a garden too. It makes me feel better knowing we will be able to feed ourselves, and hopefully some of the neighbors too.

Keep reading to find all the instructions and make sure to watch the video below so you can see us in action building a box. But, please be kind. This is Kevin’s very first video. 🙂

Why raised garden boxes?

There’s a few reasons I love raised garden beds.

• I like that they provide organization for the garden.
• They also help to keep a pathway between the crops so that nothing creeps into another veggie’s space.
• Raised garden beds also help prevent soil compaction.
• They provide better drainage for fruit and vegetables since they are sitting above the ground. The water always has somewhere else to go. For us this is really important. Our property is fairly low lying and we have some soggy parts, including where the garden is. The beds help to prevent root rot for our plants.
• And, some people will tell you, they aide in keeping pests away from your crops. However, those pests were made to eat your veggies. They tend to find a way. Although, the boxes do seem to help slow them a bit.

Supplies needed for the 4×4 DIY garden boxes

• (4) 4×4’s cut to 12-inches long for corner posts
• (8) 1-inch x 6-inch cut to 4 feet long
• (24) 2.5-inch deck screws
• Hand drill. You can find the Milwaukee Cordless Hand Drill we use here.
• Miter saw or a table saw – If you don’t have one of these home improvement stores will often cut wood for you. You can find the Dewalt saw we use here.
• Optional: Sandpaper. We do not sand our boxes since the weather will wear at them natural.

Steps for assembling the 4×4 DIY garden boxes

1. Once you have your wood cut into the lengths above, lay everything out.
2. Begin by screwing in the bottom boards first to the 4×4 corner posts
3. Once all bottom pieces are attached, screw in each of the top boards to the 4×4 corner posts

Supplies needed for the 4X8 DIY garden boxes

• (4) 4×4’s cut to 12-inches long
• (4) 1-inch x 6-inch cut to 4 feet long
• (4) 1-inch x 6-inch cut to 8 feet long
• (2) 2×4’s cut to 12-inches
• (24) 2.5-inch deck screws
• Hand drill. You can find the Milwaukee Cordless Hand Drill we use here.
• Miter saw or a table saw – If you don’t have one of these home improvement stores will often cut wood for you. You can find the Dewalt saw we use here.

Steps for assembling the 4×8 DIY garden boxes

1. Once you have your wood cut into the lengths above, lay everything out.
2. Begin by screwing in the end 4-foot long boards
3. Once all bottom pieces are attached, screw in each of the bottom, 8-foot side boards to the 4×4 corner posts
4. Then screw in the bottom 4-foot end boards.
5. Then screw in the top boards in the same fashion.

What’s next?

Before filling your garden beds with soil, I’d recommend killing the grass in the box area. You don’t need harsh chemicals to do that with either. You can see how we do that naturally – and for almost no cost – here.

Once that’s done, you can fill them in with multiple different kinds of soil. I’ve found that what works best is often a mixture of compost, topsoil and sand. I like mushroom compost the best but I’ve also used “dairy doo” too.

When your beds are filled, follow the depth and spacing instructions for your specific plants. And, if you’re going to plant multiple kinds of vegetables in one box, make sure you know what grows well together.

Grow some goodness this year, friends. <3

Thank you so much for visiting today! We hope to see you again. If you want to learn more about our garden plans for the season, click here or watch the YouTube video here. You can watch the DIY raised garden beds YouTube video here.