I’m excited to share this tutorial for how I made my easy, inexpensive raised garden beds today! This is a simple project that you could tackle in less than 30 minutes and then fill with soil and plants to yield fresh grown veggies and herbs for your family!
There are many ways to build raised beds from elaborate and tall sides to simple and easy – I went with the most inexpensive version I could do while still using wood that would hold up outside. My beds are roughly 6 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 12 inches high – but you could just add another board to sides to make them 18 inches high if you wanted.
Here’s the materials you will need:
- 6- 6 foot long cedar fence pickets
- 1 – 2×4 or 2×3 (will only need 6 feet of it but will probably have to buy 8 foot long board)
- exterior screws
- drill
- saw – can either just use hand circular saw or a miter saw – very simple/easy cuts!
- 12 bags of soil to fill your beds with about 8 inches high of soil – I do a mix of these topsoil bags which are much cheaper and then a few bags of garden soil. Can use more bags if you wish to fill your beds more.
The cost in lumber is about $20 and cost in soil is $24. Could start with 1-2 beds the first year and then add 1-2 more the next year.
Cedar fence pickets are inexpensive (usually less than $3 a piece) and cedar is a naturally durable for exterior use. Plus it is not chemically treated which is why I choose cedar vs. using pressure treated lumber made for use outside. There are many thoughts on not using wood that has been chemically treated so those chemicals are not penetrating into the soil that you are growing your vegetables in. But completely up to you on what kind of wood you choose to use – I just went with the most inexpensive yet durable option.
But cedar fence pickets do come with a dog ear angled top so first step is to take all 6 of your pickets and cut off that dog ear part. 4 of the 6 pickets you will then use as is, the other 2 pickets you will want to cut in half. Roughly 35 inches but I would measure your boards and then just cut directly in half.
I used some fence pickets leftover from our fence that was built many years ago so mine I think are a bit wider but you will want to lay 2 of the longer pickets side by side and measure to get the correct height for your 2×4 or 2×3 corner and support pieces. Mine were right at 12 inches but yours may be closer to 11 inches high. Cut 6 of these the same length.
Then it is time to assemble!
I find it is easier to assemble the long sides first. Predrill your holes and then drill 2 screws per cedar board into your 2×4 pieces. I used 4 on each of the corners and then 2 on either sides in the middle to add some extra support.
Then attach the 2 end boards on each end and your box is done! Seriously so easy – I had mine done in less than 30 minutes.
At this point you could stain or clear coat which you help preserve the color of cedar boards – they will turn gray overtime but still remain just as durable for outdoor use either way.
Now to place them and fill them!
Make sure the spot you want to put them is level – mine are on a slight slope but the ground is flat if that makes sense. You can put cardboard or newspaper in the bottom to help with weeds but honestly I find that weeds growing up through 8-10 inches of soil doesn’t happen easily. Weeds that do pop up are on the surface likely from something blowing in.
At this point if you have some hay or straw or compost you would fill part of your bed with that. If not just fill with soil. Depending on how many beds you are doing it may be cheaper to find someone that could deliver a truck load of dirt but if you are only doing a few beds buying bags will be easier. You can do this soil calculator here to find out how many cubic feet of soil you need but for about 8 inches of soil in your bed you will need TWELVE 1 cu. feet bags of soil. I do a mix between these topsoil bags – maybe 8 –10 of those and then 2-4 garden soil bags.
Now it is time to plant! My little girl loves working on the garden with me and it’s such a great way to involve them in learning how to work hard and reap the benefits of their hard work. I remembering helping with a huge row garden as a child and it was definitely something I wanted to do with her.
I actually build 2 raised beds last year and then added this 3rd one this year. I had decent success with my plants last year but we planted a little later first of May and then had a horrible drought in the summer so didn’t yield as much as I would have liked.
This year I am trying a new method that I hope will help with not only being able to fit more plants in each bed, but also with being able to water easier and also yield more veggies from our little garden. It’s called square foot gardening which means you take your garden area and divide it into square feet spaces. Depending on the plant you can plant 1-4 plants in each square feet! Tomatoes and peppers are only 1 plant per square foot but things like lettuce and herbs you can do 2-4 plants in each square! I just marked off 1 bed but it definitely helped me be able to visualize my spacing much better and if you were planting by seed this would a great help too in helping to remember where each item was.
With all that’s going on with the Coronavirus I haven’t been able to find and plant all my plants but I have gotten a good start. We so far have 4 types of tomatoes, yellow peppers and green bell peppers, 1 cucumber plant because my little girl really wants to grow pickles 
, lettuce, and a few herbs. I want to add some zucchinni, jalapenos, maybe some peas or green beans, and maybe some melons? I’d love to do strawberries too but it’s picking time for strawberries here so need to add for next year.
I picked up a few when I have did my grocery shopping at Walmart last week – they have some decent prices on herbs and 4 packs of veggies. And your best bet is to find a local nursery or animal feed/supply store that sells plants. We have a small local animal/farm supply store that sells 6 pack of veggie plants for $3 which is a great price!
I have several of these picket fence pieces and decide to have fun adding a bit of garden decor to this area this year. 
The flat paver stones were all over our yard when we moved in and we had collected them in a pile behind our shed where they were just sitting unused. This was a fun way to use them and add to my little garden area in our back yard. If I wanted to really dress it, I would lay landscaping fabric down and put pea gravel all around the beds and paver stones, but not necessary so I am saving the budget for something else like more flowering plants for the yard.
Our backyard is nothing fancy but I love this little garden area! We have a bluebird family that lives in the box – the babies just hatched last week so it is fun to watch the parents coming and going feeding them.
Are you going to grow a garden this year? I think more than ever we are seeing the need to be as self-sufficient as we can – if I could have chickens I would too! I am hoping to have a lot more come from my garden this year so that I can can and freeze veggies for the off-season. What would you plant in your garden? I am already dreaming of fresh salsa coming straight from the garden!
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert in gardening and DIY projects, I can provide you with valuable information and insights on how to create your own raised garden beds. I have extensive knowledge and experience in constructing raised beds, selecting suitable materials, and optimizing the gardening process for maximum yield.
Materials for Building Raised Garden Beds
To create your own raised garden beds, you will need the following materials:
- 6 cedar fence pickets, each measuring 6 feet long
- 1 piece of either 2x4 or 2x3 lumber, measuring 6 feet long
- Exterior screws
- Drill
- Saw (either a hand circular saw or a miter saw)
- 12 bags of soil (a mix of topsoil and garden soil)
The estimated cost of the lumber is around $20, while the cost of the soil is approximately $24. Keep in mind that you can start with just 1 or 2 beds in the first year and expand to more beds in subsequent years.
Choosing the Right Wood for Raised Garden Beds
Cedar fence pickets are an excellent choice for raised garden beds due to their affordability and natural durability for exterior use. Unlike pressure-treated lumber, which contains chemicals that may penetrate the soil, cedar is not chemically treated. This makes it a safer option for growing vegetables.
However, the choice of wood is ultimately up to you. If you prefer a different type of wood, feel free to select one that fits your budget and preferences.
Building the Raised Garden Beds
To construct the raised garden beds, follow these steps:
- Cut off the dog ear part of all 6 cedar fence pickets.
- Use 4 of the pickets as they are, and cut the remaining 2 pickets in half (approximately 35 inches).
- Lay 2 longer pickets side by side and measure the height needed for the corner and support pieces (2x4 or 2x3). Cut 6 pieces of the same length.
- Assemble the long sides first by predrilling holes and then attaching the cedar boards to the corner and support pieces using 2 screws per board.
- Attach the 2 end boards on each end to complete the box structure.
- Optionally, you can stain or clear coat the cedar boards to preserve their color.
The assembly process is straightforward and should take less than 30 minutes to complete.
Placing and Filling the Raised Garden Beds
Before placing the raised garden beds, ensure that the spot is level. You can use cardboard or newspaper at the bottom of the beds to help prevent weeds, although weeds typically have difficulty growing through 8-10 inches of soil.
If you have hay, straw, or compost, you can fill part of the bed with it. Otherwise, fill the beds with soil. Depending on the number of beds you are creating, it may be more cost-effective to have a truckload of dirt delivered. However, if you are only constructing a few beds, buying bags of soil will be more convenient.
To calculate the amount of soil needed, consider that for approximately 8 inches of soil in each bed, you will require twelve 1-cubic-foot bags of soil. You can use a soil calculator to determine the exact quantity required.
Planting in the Raised Garden Beds
Once the beds are filled with soil, it's time to start planting. Consider using the square foot gardening method, which involves dividing your garden area into square feet spaces. Depending on the plant, you can plant 1-4 plants in each square foot.
For example, tomatoes and peppers require 1 plant per square foot, while lettuce and herbs can accommodate 2-4 plants per square foot. By following this method, you can optimize the use of space and maximize your vegetable yield.
Select the plants you want to grow based on your preferences and the climate in your region. Popular options include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, herbs, zucchini, jalapenos, peas, green beans, and melons.
Consider purchasing plants from local nurseries or animal feed/supply stores, as they often offer affordable options. You can also explore online resources or visit larger retailers for a wide variety of plant choices.
Adding Decorative Touches
If you have additional cedar fence pieces, you can use them to add decorative elements to your garden area. For example, you can use flat paver stones to create a pathway or border around the beds. To enhance the aesthetics further, consider laying landscaping fabric and adding pea gravel around the beds and paver stones.
Remember, these decorative touches are optional and can be tailored to your budget and preferences.
Conclusion
Creating your own raised garden beds is an exciting and rewarding project. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can build affordable and durable beds that will yield fresh vegetables and herbs for your family. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, this project can be completed in under 30 minutes and provide you with a bountiful harvest. Happy gardening!
