Oh joy, the newness of Spring is upon us here in Texas! I am so ready for the flowers and bees and all things gardening. There is nothing like the taste of homegrown tomatoes and fresh basil! The joke with my mom is that it takes about $500 worth of good soil for a $2 tomato plant. Growing all organic, I know exactly what has gone into my food and what I should get out of it. So, it’s time to build some more raised beds.
Choosing untreated cedar (or redwood if its available) is the best bet for durability and non-toxic growing containers. I built two different styles of beds and feel free to copy the materials list, although the prices may vary on when and where you buy the materials. I built two different sizes and altered them slightly because I used some supplies I had on hand. However, I will post pictures of both, but only instructions for the second one. You cannot get more simple than building a basic box.
Materials:
12 5/8″ x 3 1/2″ x 6′ #2 Cedar Picket (fence boards) $1.45 each
1 4x4x8 Rough Green Western Red Cedar $16.45
64 Deck screws (2″ kind) $9.37 (for a whole box)
Total cost for a 6′ x 3′ raised bed: $43.22
And FYI, you could make this less expensive by getting the thick cedar post from a Habitat Restore or something. The first one I made for about $15 cheaper, (not this one) but it was too deep and honestly, I know it will not last for more than a year or two without reinforcing the edges. The key is to have some weight at the corners to hold the hundreds of pounds of soil pushing on it over time, as well as it being drenched at times. Spending the extra $10 on the cedar post is worth it.
Directions:
1. Cut the cedar post to make 4 – 14″ sections.
2. Set up 2 of the sections with 4 of the boards on top and drill 2 deck screws on each board. This may be overkill, but I want these beds to last for several years at least. (See picture)
3. Then take 4 of the remaining boards and cut them in half to equal 3′.
4. Set the already attached boards upright and then screw in the 3′ boards on top of one another, the same way as the sides. (See picture)
