Build a Raised Garden Box
If you don't have the space to put in a large garden, don't let that stop you from growing and enjoying fresh vegetables. Make a small, raised garden bed instead, which is nothing more than a planter box made with rot- and weather-resistant lumber to hold the soil and plants. Making a raised garden bed is not difficult, and it's a project most do-it-yourself homeowners can tackle with confidence. It can be made of varying dimensions to fit any size backyard and, more importantly, help give your back a break.Select and Prepare the Area
Find a relatively flat area on your property for the raised garden. Measure and spray landscaping paint on the ground to indicate the perimeter of the box. Make the painted perimeter a few inches longer and wider than the box.
Remove the turf with a flat-edge shovel and compact the dirt with a hand tamper. Use a 4-foot carpenter's level and check several areas of the bed for level. Add or remove dirt as needed to level the area.
Spread landscaping fabric over the entire area. Allow a few inches to hang over the edges of the planting bed.
Construct and Install the Box
Measure and cut an 8-foot cedar board in half to make two, 4-foot sections. Stand two 8-foot cedar boards on edge, parallel to each other, and put one 4-foot section between the ends of the longer boards. Align the boards at each corner so they are flush with each other and attach them together with three or four 3-inch galvanized screws. Repeat the process with the two corners at the opposite side of the frame.
Cut four sections from the 4-by-4 post to attach to the inside of each corner. The length of each section should equal the height of the cedar frame. Don't assume 2-by-10 boards measure 10 inches wide. Take a measurement and cut the post sections to size.
Put one 4-by-4 post section on the inside of one corner. Position the section so the top is flush with the top edges of the 2-by-10 boards. Drive three or four galvanized screws through the boards on each side of the corner to attach them to the post. Repeat the process to attach a 4-by-4 section to the inside of the remaining three corners.
Ask an assistant to help lift and place the box on top of the landscaping fabric. Use a utility knife to cut and remove the excess fabric from around the box. Fill the box with enriched soil and plant your plants.
Comments
Post a Comment