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Raised Garden Bed
Learn how to build a raised garden bed out of 2x4 and 2x6 boards.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time
- 6.3–12.3 hours
- Cost
- $$
Cut list
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg and center support | 6 | 1" × 3" × 22" | — | ☐ |
| Leg | 4 | 1" × 5" × 22" | — | ☐ |
| Long side boards | 8 | 1" × 5" × 54" | — | ☐ |
| Short side boards | 8 | 1" × 5" × 28" | — | ☐ |
| Long top cap board | 2 | 1" × 3" × 58" | — | ☐ |
| Short top cap board | 2 | 1" × 3" × 28" | — | ☐ |
Materials
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Board, 2x4 120" | 3 board | ☐ |
| Board, 2x6 120" | 7 board | ☐ |
| Box of 2 1/2 inch blue Kreg Screws | 1 each | ☐ |
| Box 2 1/2 inch wood screws | 1 each | ☐ |
| Outdoor stain / Sealer | 1 each | ☐ |
| 1 roll of weed barrier | 1 each | ☐ |
| Soil to fill planter - Approximately 19.1 cubic feet | 1 each | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools
- Drill / Driver
- Miter Saw
- Pocket Hole Jig
- Random Orbit Sander
- Staple Gun
- Tape Measure — optional
Instructions
1. Gather Materials
Gather materials. Redwood or cedar are both good choices for outdoor projects. You'll need 2x4 and 2x6 boards.
2. Make Cuts
Use a miter saw or circular saw to make each cut according to the cut list. Feel free to modify the size as needed to best fit your needs.
3. Create pocket holes
Use a pocket hole jig to attach the two boards that form each leg. Drill pocket holes into the 2x4 board. I'd recommend creating 4 pocket holes for each leg.
4. Connect legs
Use 2 1/2 inch Kreg screws to attach the leg boards.
5. Layout boards
Layout the legs and long side boards.
6. Attach side boards to legs
Use 2 1/2 inch wood screws to attach each 2x6 board to each leg. Use 2 screws on the end of each board.
7. Prepare to add short side board
Here is a photo showing the two longer sections prior to adding the other 2 sections.
8. Connect short side boards
Use 2 1/2 inch wood screws to attach the shorter 2x6 side boards to the leg.
9. Sides added
Here is a photo showing the sides connected.
10. Connect the last side
Complete the four sided box by attaching the remaining side with 2 1/2 inch wood screws.
11. Create cap boards frame
Form the frame for the top cap out of 2x4 boards. Connect at each corner from the underside using 2 1/2 inch Kreg screws.
12. Create pocket holes
Drill pocket holes to enable the top caps to be connected from the underside using 2 1/2 inch Kreg screws.
13. Add center 2x4 supports
Center the 2x4 middle supports on the outside of the planter and then attach with 2 1/2 inch screws from the inside.
14. Prior to cap
Here is the planter prior to the 2x4 cap frame being attached.
15. Attach cap from underside
Attach the top cap to the sidewalls from the underside using 2 1/2 inch Kreg screws.
16. Level
Determine where the planter will go. Create a level surface.
17. Weed cloth
Add weed cloth to prevent unwanted vegetation from growing into your planter. Use chicken wire to keep gophers out if needed.
18. Add soil
Add soil to the planter. It will take approximately 19 cubic feet. Plants some flowers, herbs, or vegetables!
