YellaWood® Outdoor Building Project Plans
Build a Raised Garden Bed
- Cutting parts: Less than 1 hour
- Assembly: Less than 1 hour
- Finishing: 1 hour
- Total: 2 – 3 hours
This plan is so simple you could build several of various sizes in one day. The simple corner trim detail serves to both cover the end grain of the side pieces as well as reinforcing the corners. Landscape fabric stapled to the bottom keeps your potting mix in place while allowing adequate drainage for your plantings.
Perfect for a patio or deck, you can tend a little patch of vegetables just outside your door. You can also grow herbs or flowers, or you can place them around your home to use as landscape beds. Customize as you like – the concepts and details are the same; the only thing you have to change is the measurements of your side pieces.
Before you get started, please read our info on safety, fasteners and building tips.
Note: YellaWood® brand products are treated with a micronized copper wood preservative and are approved for use in applications such as a raised vegetable bed. Learn more here.
Download the PDF
Tools
- Circular saw or miter saw (or even a hand saw)
- Drill/driver
- 7/64" drill bit
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Brad nailer or hammer and nail set
Materials
- (1) 2 x 8 x 8'
- (1) 1 x 4 x 5'
- 3" deck screws
- 1½" galvanized brads or finish nails
- 3/8" galvanized staples
- Landscape fabric (at least 24"x 27")
Cut List
- A: (4) 1½" x 7¼" x 24"
- B: (8)¾" x 3½" x 7¼"
- C: (1) trim fabric to fit
Detail Drawings
Steps
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TIP
We did not show the use of weatherproof glue in this assembly, as an eventual weathered, curled look with somewhat loose joints is preferred in this case. By all means, however, the use of glue and a quality finish is recommended if that “weathered barn” look is not what you eventually want.
1
Cut four lengths of 2 x 8 at 24" for the sides (A). You should be able to do this with a single eight-footer, which usually measure at least 96 1⁄2", if not more. Drill pilot holes in both ends of two side pieces where they will connect to the ends of the other two side pieces.
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2
Connect the sides with 3" deck screws, keeping the outside faces flush with the ends. It will help to do this on a flat surface to keep the bottom edges flush with each other. Those will then become a nice, level top when you flip the assembly over.
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3
Cut eight corner trim pieces (B) from 1 x 4 to a length 7 ½" and place each piece at the corners so they overlap the corner joints of the box assembly (see detail illustration). Attach with 1 ½" galvanized brads or finish nails.
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4
Attach a piece of landscape fabric to the top edges (those that will eventually become the bottom) with galvanized staples. Let the fabric sag, as you want to leave room for the fabric to sag and settle with the eventual weight of your planting mix. Trim edges with a utility knife after you’ve driven all your staples flush.
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5
Turn over and break all edges/sand all surfaces to eliminate splinters. Apply a weatherproof finish if desired, and place in your new planting spot, add the potting mix of your choice, plant and tend!
