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A job always sounds daunting before you start. When I began mulling over the idea to convert my vegetable garden into raised beds, I assumed it would be difficult and very time-consuming. I was wrong! Putting a raised bed together takes a couple of hours at most and the benefits are endless. Raised beds offer great drainage, decreased weeds, and easier gardening. But you don’t need to hear me preach the benefits; I want you to see just how easy it is!
Watch how to make these raised garden beds:
My bed is 4 feet by 24 feet. This is large for most and I don’t expect anyone to actually want that. Attached is the layout for a standard 8-foot by 4-foot bed with all the materials needed. Download the PDF here.
Prepare your area by clearing the grass or anything that may be setting roots into the ground. I like to make the bed above ground then set it in place.
Here’s the general process for raised garden beds:
- Put the bed together starting with one post and continue until the bed is completed.
- Dig your footing holes for the posts and turn the raised bed over to set in place.
- Backfill holes with dirt. I use a mixture of 1/2 topsoil and 1/2 compost mixed with 1-2 cubic feet of perlite (or vermiculite). Add the soil, compost and perlite alternately and mix together.
- I finished my bed with post caps and finials because, well, it’s me and I always have to go a little over the top.
Once complete, you’re ready to let the bed set over the winter. If you don’t have access to good quality compost, place as many leaves in the bed as possible and let them compost over winter.
I’m not an expert but I do love gardening. While I may be young, I’ve been gardening for years and have found a raised bed to be super beneficial. I hope you’re inspired to try your own!
How deep are your raised beds?
Thank you.
Bobbie
Kaleb, thank you for posting, how to make raised beds. My question is, do I need to bury a cedar plank into the ground to keep the dirt from coming out the bottom?
Great video, finally putting in raised beds this year, your video helped me decide on size and depth. Cannot wait to get started.
I will be making at least 3 raised beds at my new home. Do you use pressure treated wood or not? I’ve read about the copper leaching from it, but do I want to remake the beds every 3 years if I don’t?
Our new HOA just broke ground on a garden area, waiting on fencing to be installed this week. I’d like to put in a raised bed but in your video you were preparing one for the fall and for it to compost all winter. Is there a problem with planting in it this spring or would there be more of a chance of weeds to establish themselves since the soil was disturbed? Would a barrier at the bottom be recommended?
Thanks!!!
Denise
Hi Caleb! I just rented a raised bed from my community garden in Gardnerville, Nevada. My question is should I replace the old soil or just mix in some amend. What are the layers of soil in your raised beds. Thank you!
Love your variety of video’s. Can you make a video of how you compost?
Thank you.
I have never been able to plant a vegetable garden as my land is mostly ledge… This Spring we will try a small raised garden bed to get some vegetables… Thank you for the great video to make a 4 x 6 raised bed..fingers crossed it gets us a few Salads ❣️
I currently have a raised bed 28″H x 95″L x 50″W(12″D) that is too old & I need to replace. My next one will be longer & closed underneath for storage. That way I won’t have to worry about grass/weeds growing underneath but, will have space for pots, etc.. I mostly grow herbs, strawberries & blueberries that I trade for other things they grow-win win. I keep wire fence around the sides to keep critters out. I might need to put something along the top for birds & squirrels. Any suggestions on the structure and/or plantings would be appreciated.
I like the way your raised bed are built, but I want to ask how do you keep the grass from taking over on the summer? From Texas