How to Build a Raised Vegetable Garden Box

Build a raised garden box in areas where the soil is poor.

Build a raised garden box to grow vegetables in areas where the soil is heavy, sandy or too wet. This style of garden is easy to plant and maintain, as the raised garden box is easy to reach and the soil is high in quality. Build multiple beds so there is a 2-foot wide walkway between each to allow room for mowing and garden maintenance. Maximize the growing space by using the square-foot method of planting–where you can plant one tomato or nine bean plants in one square foot.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• Landscaping timbers
• Pea gravel
• Weed prevention fabric
• Nails
• Garden grade topsoil
• Organic compost

Instructions

1. Select a full-sun location to build the raised garden bed, making sure there is enough space to accommodate the desired size. Remove all weeds and debris from the ground and mark the box dimensions to make it easy to install the timbers.

2. Dig out soil around the marked dimensions of the garden box to a depth that is equal to one-half of the height of one landscaping timber. Set the first level of timbers into the soil and fasten them together at the corners with nails.

3. Remove 2 to 3 inches of soil from the interior area of the garden box in wet landscapes. Level the area and add 1 to 2 inches of pea gravel as a bottom layer. Install a section of weed prevention fabric over the pea gravel.

4. Add a second layer of landscape timbers on top of the first layer and secure with nails to prevent them from moving or sliding. Add a third level of timbers if the raised garden box is not a minimum of 8 inches high.

5. Place a metal stake on the outside center of each side of the garden box to provide support and prevent the landscape timbers from bowing. Set the stakes so they are flush with the landscape timbers and pound them 6 to 8 inches into the ground.

6. Fill the raised garden box with a mixture comprised of three parts garden grade topsoil and one part organic compost. Purchase a large volume of compost and topsoil from landscape companies to reduce your cost.

References

• Texas A&M University: Building a Raised Garden Bed
• Popular Mechanics: How to Build a Raised Garden Bed
• Square Foot Gardening; Arlen Albrecht, CRD Agent; 1999