Things You'll Need:
- 6 2-by-6-inch-by-8-foot treated boards
- Tape measure
- Carpenter's pencil
- Carpenter's square
- Hand saw
- Power drill
- Screw bits
- 1/8-inch drill bit
- Carpenter's level
- Hammer
- Galvanized 3-inch wood screws
- 1 package of 1-by-2-by-17-inch treated wooden stakes
- Compost
- Vermiculite
- Cardboard
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Step 1
Measure two 2-by-6-inch-by-8-foot treated boards marking them at 4 feet on both edges. Use the carpenter's square to draw a straight line across the boards. Cut the boards using the hand saw. Lay the long boards flat and measure and mark 1 inch in from the edge. Measure and mark the boards at 2 inches and 4 inches from the bottom. Drill holes with the one-eighth-inch drill bit. Measure and mark the ends of the short boards you cut at 1 inch. Measure and mark the ends at 2 inches and 4 inches from the bottom. Drill holes in the ends.
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Step 2
Line up the end of a short board with the flat end of one long board. Secure with wood screws using the pre-drilled holes. Add a long board to the opposite of the short board. Attach a short board at the open end of the box created. Lay the rectangular box over the chosen garden spot.
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Step 3
Place a wooden stake in one corner and pound it into the ground with the hammer to a depth of 6 inches. Push the corner of the wooden box securely against the stake and drill two holes at 2 inches and 4inches. Secure the box to the stake with screws. Measure both long sides of the box to 4 feet and draw a line with the carpenter's square on the interior of the box. Add wooden stakes to each corner and at the line marked in the center of the long sides. Pound all the stakes into the ground to a depth of 6 inches.
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Step 4
Place the carpenter's level on the top edge of the short side adjacent to the first stake. The bubble should be centered in the level. Adjust the corner until the bubble is level. Drill two holes at 2 inches and 4 inches into the long board and stake once it is level. Secure the board to the wooden stake with the screws. Move the level to one long side and adjust the board until it is level, pre-drill holes at 2 inches and 4 inches and secure with screws. Do this until the box is secured to all of the wooden stakes.
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Step 5
Add a long board to one long side and a short board to a short side. Line up the pre-drilled holes and secure with screws. Add another long board to the opposite side and secure. Complete the second layer of boards by adding the last short board and securing it. Check each side to be sure that the box is still level and secure second layer of boards to the wooden stakes.
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Step 6
Cover the bottom of the garden bed with one layer of cardboard. Mix compost and vermiculite at a ratio of 2 to 1. Add the compost mixture to the garden bed.
