Building Raised Garden Beds

Project Overview

This spring I built a set of four raised garden beds from cedar, each measuring 4' x 8' x 18". The beds are arranged in an L-shape against the south-facing fence to maximize sun exposure. An integrated drip irrigation system keeps everything watered automatically.

Materials

• Wood: 2x10 rough-cut Western Red Cedar (rot resistant, no chemicals needed)
• Hardware: Stainless steel #14 x 3" screws, galvanized corner brackets
• Soil Mix: 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss / perlite
• Irrigation: 1/2" poly tubing, 1/4" drip emitters, battery-powered timer

Construction

Each bed uses three stacked 2x10 boards per side, joined at the corners with internal corner brackets and exterior stainless screws. The beds are lined on the bottom with hardware cloth (1/4" galvanized mesh) to deter gophers and moles.

Key Steps

1. Level the ground where each bed will sit
2. Cut cedar boards to length (4' and 8' pieces)
3. Pre-drill all screw holes to prevent splitting
4. Assemble corners using interior L-brackets first
5. Stack and secure additional courses
6. Staple hardware cloth to the bottom frame
7. Fill with soil mix in layers, watering each layer

Cedar Selection

Avoid using pressure-treated lumber for food gardens. Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant and food-safe alternatives.

What I'm Growing

Bed	Crops	Notes
1	Tomatoes, peppers, basil	Full sun, trellised
2	Lettuce, kale, spinach	Partial shade cloth in summer
3	Carrots, radishes, beets	Root vegetables, deep soil
4	Strawberries, herbs	Perennial bed

Irrigation System

The drip irrigation runs off a simple battery-powered timer connected to the garden hose bib. Each bed has a dedicated 1/2" mainline with 1/4" drip emitters spaced every 12 inches. Total water usage dropped by roughly 40% compared to overhead sprinkler watering.

Lessons Learned

• 18" depth is ideal for root vegetables; 12" would have been sufficient for leafy greens
• Copper tape around the top edge effectively deters slugs
• Companion planting basil near tomatoes genuinely reduced aphid problems