Simple Wooden Raised Garden Beds
Step-by-step guide made from Expedition Northwoods's YouTube video.
Build two simple and affordable 8'x4' raised garden beds using untreated Douglas Fir lumber. This project is designed to be long-lasting and is suitable for beginners, requiring only basic cuts and assembly.
- Difficulty: beginner
- Time: about 1.5 hours
- Finished size: 8' L x 4' W x 11.25" H
Tools
- Circular Saw (Corded Circular Saw, DeWalt)
- Cordless Drill/Driver (Milwaukee)
- Sawhorses (optional)
- Sledgehammer
Materials
- Douglas Fir Boards (6, Untreated Lumber, 2x12x8 ft)
- Wooden Stakes (4, 2x2x3 ft)
- Landscape Timber (1, 8 ft)
- Construction Screws (1 box, Grip-Rite, #10 x 3-1/2 in)
Step by step
Step 1: Cut All Lumber
Cut all the lumber to size: the 2x12 boards for the sides, the landscape timber for corner supports, and the 2x2 stakes for mid-span support.
- Cut the Short Side Boards. Measure and cut two of the 8-foot 2x12 boards exactly in half to create four 4-foot boards for the short sides of the beds.
- Cut the Corner Supports. Measure and cut the 8-foot landscape timber into eight equal 11-inch sections. These will be used as internal supports in each corner of the two beds.
- Cut Points on Support Stakes. Using a circular saw, make a diagonal cut across one end of each 2x2 stake to create a point.
Step 2: Assemble Bed Frames
Assemble the two 8'x4' bed frames by screwing the boards together at the corners, then adding the landscape timber sections inside each corner for structural support.
- Assemble the First Frame. Lay out one 8-foot board and two 4-foot boards to form three sides of a rectangle. Use construction screws to join the corners.
- Add Corner Supports to First Frame. Place one of the 11-inch landscape timber sections into each assembled corner. Drive screws through the side boards into the timber block to secure it.
- Assemble the Second Frame. Repeat the assembly process for the second raised bed, screwing the boards together at the corners and adding the internal support blocks.
- Tip: Use at least three screws per corner joint for a strong connection.
- Tip: 2.5-inch screws, which are also sufficient may be easier to work with than the 3.5-inch screws shown initially.
- Common mistake: Not adding the internal corner supports can lead to the bed falling apart over time as the wood expands and contracts.
Step 3: Install Mid-Point Support Stakes
Drive the pointed 2x2 stakes into the ground at the midpoint of each 8-foot side and screw them to the frame to prevent bowing.
- Drive Stakes into the Ground. Position a pointed 2x2 stake at the center of each 8-foot board. Use a sledgehammer to drive the stakes firmly into the ground.
- Tip: Position the stake's angled cut toward the exterior of the garden bed so that it pushes against the outer beam.
- Secure Stakes to Frame. Drive screws through the 2x12 board into the stake to lock it in place. This prevents the long side from bowing outwards.