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A 6-foot picket-sided raised bed on 2x3 corner and center legs, capped with a 2x3 trim rail you can rest a trowel on — built from four identical corner assemblies.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L | Material | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side top trim Cut the long pieces FIRST. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 75" | 2x3 | ☐ |
| End top trim About — measure your built bed and cut to fit. | 2 | 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 34" | 2x3 | ☐ |
| Legs Cut LAST from the offcuts. Eight corner legs + two center legs. | 10 | 1 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 11" | 2x3 | ☐ |
| Side pickets | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 72" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| End pickets | 4 | 5/8" × 5 1/2" × 35" | Cedar fence picket | ☐ |
| Item | Qty | ✓ |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared (Cedar) Sides and ends, two boards high. | 6 each | ☐ |
| 2x3, 8 ft Legs and top trim. Douglas fir / hem-fir / red-toned studs for durability and food safety. | 4 each | ☐ |
| Exterior screws, 2-3/4", self-tapping Frame and trim. | 50 each | ☐ |
| Exterior screws, 1-5/8", self-tapping Pickets to legs. | 40 each | ☐ |
| Garden-safe exterior oil Rated for food gardens — this wood touches the soil your dinner grows in. | 1 pint | ☐ |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber varies by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Speed Square. Materials: 2x3, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 2-3/4", self-tapping
Screw pairs of 11" legs into four L-shaped corner assemblies with the 2-3/4" screws — two screws per joint. Identical is the requirement: stack them and check.
Tools: Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, Exterior screws, 1-5/8", self-tapping
Lay two corners on the floor, set two full-length pickets across them two-high, and screw with the 1-5/8" screws — flush edges, square corners. Repeat for the second side. Working flat on the garage floor is the source's method and the right one; gravity holds the layout for you.
Tools: Drill / Driver. Materials: Cedar fence picket, 5-1/2" x 72", not dog-eared, 2x3, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 1-5/8", self-tapping
Screw a center leg to the middle of each side panel — this is the anti-bow anchor that keeps a 6-foot picket wall straight against a season of wet soil. Then stand the sides up and screw the end pickets to the corner legs, closing the rectangle.
Tools: Circular Saw, Drill / Driver, Tape Measure. Materials: 2x3, 8 ft, Exterior screws, 2-3/4", self-tapping, Garden-safe exterior oil
Lay the long 2x3 trim flat across the side tops and screw down with the 2-3/4" screws. Measure the ends of YOUR bed — picket thicknesses stack differently every time — cut the end trim to fit, and screw it home.
Oil everything with the garden-safe finish, set the bed in the sun, fill with soil, and plant. The cap rail is where the coffee goes during the morning inspection.