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This is a bigger raised bed than most — full 2x12 panel walls on 4x4 corner and mid-span posts, built as flat wall sections on the ground and then stood up and joined, the same way you'd frame a small building. The trickiest moment is standing the second wall while it's held only by a temporary 2x4 brace and a helper; get that brace on securely before you let go, because an unsupported 2x12 wall is heavier and more awkward than it looks.
Every panel-to-post joint uses two rows of screws — one set pinning the boards together edge to edge, a second parallel set driving into the post itself — which is what actually makes this bed rigid enough to hold soil pressure without bowing over a season. The optional backdrop turns the bed into a trellis support too; keep its post height consistent (all 2 ft or all 3 ft exposed, not a mix) or the top rail will run visibly out of level.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 2x12, 4 ftFront wall panels. | 12 each |
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 2x12, 6 ftFront wall panels. | 3 each |
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 2x12, 6 ft 9 inLeft and right side wall panels. | 6 each |
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 2x12, 7 ftBack wall panels. | 6 each |
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 2x12, 3 ftJoint support for the back wall. | 1 each |
| Cedar or pressure-treated, 4x4, 3 ftCorner and mid-span mounting posts. | 6 each |
| Pressure-treated, 2x4, 3 ftTemporary joint supports while standing the walls. | 2 each |
| Pressure-treated, 2x4, 5 ftOptional backdrop/trellis posts. | 5 each |
| Pressure-treated, 2x2, 7 ftOptional backdrop top rail. | 2 each |
| Wood screws, 3" | 1 box |
| Hardware cloth or chicken wireOptional — lines the bed to deter burrowing pests. | 1 roll |
Overall cost: $$$$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Front wall panels, shortCedar | 12 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 48" |
| Front wall panels, longCedar | 3 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 72" |
| Side wall panelsCedar | 6 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 81" |
| Back wall panelsCedar | 6 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 84" |
| Back wall joint supportCedar | 1 | 1 1/2" × 11 1/4" × 36" |
| Mounting postsCedar | 6 | 3 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 36" |
| Temporary joint supportsPressure-treated pine | 2 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 36" |
| Backdrop postsPressure-treated pineOptional. | 5 | 1 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 60" |
| Backdrop top railPressure-treated pineOptional. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 1 1/2" × 84" |
Buy 38 boards at 8 ft.
3 boards
27 boards
6 boards
2 boards
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Lay a 4x4 post on the ground and lay the 6 ft 9 in side panel boards on top of it. Align the panel-board edges flush with the post, then attach with six screws per board — three per side of the joint. Repeat for the second post on that wall.
Align the second wall's panel boards along their posts the same way. Then lay that assembly on the ground with the panel boards standing up in the air, lay a 2x4 across the top of the boards (a helper holding the boards steady makes this much easier), and screw the 2x4 to the panels with it pointing opposite the posts. This temporary brace provides the joint support you'll need in a few steps — get it solidly attached before letting go of the assembly.
Align the front panel edge with a side wall panel, with a helper holding the panels in place. Attach each front board to the side panel with six screws: three along the panel-to-panel edge, and a parallel set of three through the front board into the 4x4 post for extra security. Repeat for the other side.
Draw a centerline down the 3 ft joint-support board. Lay the six back-panel boards flat on the ground, line them up, then place the joint support on top along your centerline. Drill through the support and into each panel board in a zigzag pattern, three screws per board.
Align the back panel's edge with a side wall panel and attach the top board first, using the same two-row screw pattern (into both the side panel and the post) as the front wall. Work down from the top board to the bottom, then repeat on the other side. The garden bed box is now complete.
Mark each backdrop post 2 ft from one end. Decide whether you want 2 ft or 3 ft of backdrop exposed above the bed and be consistent across every post — mixing heights will make the top rail visibly out of level. Align a post's marked line with the top of the back panel, hold it plumb, and attach with at least three screws; check it's level with the first post you set before moving to the next. Space the remaining posts evenly, then lay the two top rail pieces across all five posts, butted together over the center post, and attach each with two screws per post.
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