How to build raised beds for CHEAP
The most antisipated and requested video is finally here! an instructional video on how I make raised beds. this can be modefied just like anything else in t…
25 Responses to How to build raised beds for CHEAP
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It is as simple as 1 2 3! just take off the old board (its ok if some soil falls out), then replace the board with a new one, and finally refill any dirt that fell out in the process.
MIgardener
June 20, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Hi, there. I just saw your video and it’s pretty helpful. I wish I’ve seen it sooner though. I’m new on doing gardening. I purchased some 6 raise beds from my neighbor (size 4×4). I’ve been using it for 1.5 now. One of the side of bed rot and now it’s falling apart. Do you have any suggestion? there’s already 5 ft tall tomatoes planted on them but I don’t want to dig them out and relocate them since they’re blooming. Any suggestion? Thanks in advice for replying. If not thanks for info. video.
TakekoZiyi
June 20, 2013 at 4:43 pm
What you would want to look into is trace levels of lead in the soil, that would be a problem. I hear of people recycling plaster from old homes that were contaminated with lead paint. They would grow a plant that likes those trace elements ( non-edible of course), until the heavy metals were at a safe level. Just thought I would share that with you.
James Mueller
June 20, 2013 at 4:52 pm
Really need some brackets to go on the outside corners – to reinforce the strength.
williamsea10
June 20, 2013 at 5:13 pm
Shouldn’t need a liner for good hardwood. Also no liner to stop dirt leakage between board cracks if use cured dry wood and making sure boads fit flush. Also over time that poly tends to break down and get loose in the bedding soil, and a mess to remove. And could leach some chemicals into the soil as well. Same to avoid solid or weed guard in yards …in the end they leave a big mess and a pain to clean up! Go more natural when possible.
MsChrisXena
June 20, 2013 at 5:43 pm
Way to go making a guy feel secure in his masculinity! Yes indeed ….”I’m a girl and the same thing happens to me!” Got a good laugh out of your comparison….;-)
MsChrisXena
June 20, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Believed to be some drawbacks to pressure treated wood (CCA), given the various chemicals used to PT the wood. Some likely to leach into the soil, then into the vegs over time (but arsenic is not supposed to be used in in PT wood since 2004, but never use re-cycled older wood regardless for veg. beds). Best bet is using untreated hardwoods such as redwood, or second choice is cedar. You can stain with organic soy-oil before using to help preserve the wood, but likely the beds will outlast YOU!
MsChrisXena
June 20, 2013 at 6:26 pm
it is easier if you pre-drill all the pieces of wood before you put them together, measure the thickness of the wood, then you mark it with a pencil on the piece of lumber you are going to drill, it would help if you pre-screw all the screws and you only have to pre-drill the piece of wood that goes on top of the other one, if the two pieces of lumber are not level, raise the one that is lighter in weight which is the end piece…you need a new bit and also you need to fully charge your drill
besamemucho5
June 20, 2013 at 7:01 pm
I am a girl and I have a similiar fate when I build things using a drill and the stuff wobbles when I am through…
H Miller
June 20, 2013 at 7:20 pm
I did similar but used 2×4’s in the corners and sides, staked in the ground for support. Good vid but I was laughing at your carpentry skills 😉 came out kinda clean anyway. Thumb up
fReAkY mOnKeY
June 20, 2013 at 8:06 pm
Or line the sides with poly.
David Armstrong
June 20, 2013 at 8:29 pm
Post one yourself and show us how.
David Armstrong
June 20, 2013 at 9:16 pm
You must not drill often.
brian kav
June 20, 2013 at 9:34 pm
You have to be careful using pressure treated lumber anyway. The chemicals can leach out into your soil. You’re better off either doing it the way you did it, with regular lumber and replacing it every few years, or using a naturally water resistant wood, like cedar.
TJinPgh
June 20, 2013 at 10:11 pm
Hey, thanks for the mesh wire idea! Have a vole in my strawberry patch. Also, if you put down blocks for a border, you could use 12″ blocks instead of standard 8″ blocks. They have larger cells and can be filled with marigolds, etc. Thanks again.
Scott Peak
June 20, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Hello, whoever posted this video, so what do you do after you get them built, do you just fill with soil and plant the seeds and voila?
kajohnson0618
June 20, 2013 at 10:48 pm
We are doing raised beds this year (2013) too, but we use a couple “cement blocks” to help steady the boards while we drill.on some shallow beds we line the bottom with a metal mesh wire then the weed cloth to keep moles from eating our veggies and flowers
Mona Morgan
June 20, 2013 at 11:47 pm
Great idea. We uploaded a video of how to make a raised bed and why raised beds are a good idea. The redwood we used in our demonstration was cut to length for a small potato bed.
CAMasterGardener
June 21, 2013 at 12:45 am
weed tarp would work well. but honestly its just your hands I am worried about. glass and metal won’t effect plants growth much.
MIgardener
June 21, 2013 at 1:10 am
I am building my beds over urban that was topped with garbage for years. I’ve cleared the yard, but I’m worried about growing food over soil that held things like glass, metal, batteries, etc. What can I use to line the bottoms?
tobecrude
June 21, 2013 at 1:15 am
You could have used the other long board you got there, as a surface to make it A LOT easier ..
G0MPgomp
June 21, 2013 at 1:50 am
what size was the wood ?
juicetcs
June 21, 2013 at 2:28 am
hay this was wonderful you gave a great hint about the bottom, concrete. I have left over bags from last weeks project . and I can now use them to put a bottom in my raised beds I want to build this week. awesome thanks
emys kerny
June 21, 2013 at 2:45 am
pressure treated wood may leech chemicals into your food, thats why most people dont use them.
Michael Hicks
June 21, 2013 at 3:26 am
Did you ever think about using linseed oil to preserve the wood longer? Seems like it would be a good choice from what I have read. Redwood and cedar are outrageously expensive so I am looking towards using cheaper wood like you did but I want to try to preserve the wood without harmful chemicals.
Michael Hicks
June 21, 2013 at 3:40 am