DIY Raised Garden Beds

Our first raised garden bed is officially complete and I’m already dreaming up more! But before I get carried away with future plans, I wanted to walk you through the process of building this one.

The Design

I intentionally picked a simple design for this garden bed in hopes that this could be a simple weekend project. Compared to some of the more complicated ideas I sketched out, this version was definitely easier, but not without its hiccups.

The Tricky Bits

Leveling anything is always the bane of my existence. I always think it’ll be quick and painless… but it never is. Lesson learned: leave extra time (and patience) for this part of the process.

Another unexpected issue? Board length vs. block placement (aka: MATH). I didn’t fully account for how much space the corner blocks would take up. Because the ends of the boards didn’t meet directly in the center of each block, I had to trim a bit off to get a better fit.

To save you the same headache, I’ve included my measurements below!

Step-by-Step: How We Built It

1. Lay out your boards and find your ideal spacing

2. Check for square by measuring diagonals

3. Remove boards and level the blocks underneath

4. Add boards rebar support through center of block

   (this gives the bed strength)

5. Line the bottom with cardboard to prevent weeds

6. Fill with soil (we used a mix of compost + garden soil)

7. Plant and enjoy!

Measurements & Materials

• 6 2ft pieces of rebar

• 12 raised garden bed blocks from Lowes

• 4 6x12 boards cut to:

  • 6ft (x4)

  • 4ft (x4)

  • 19in (x4)

Thinking about trying this? Let me know what you'd plant first!

Garden Bed Layout