Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
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Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Looking to kill some time this upcoming weekend and build a couple raised beds. My 9 yo daughter has a growing greenthumb.
Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Oops, should have been in Personal Consumer Issues - mods, can you move it? My bad
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
If you are growing food, I wouldn't use pressure treated.
I build a raised be with concrete landscape blocks and have an elevated bed with cedar. I thought about composite but am growing food so decided not to use it.
I build a raised be with concrete landscape blocks and have an elevated bed with cedar. I thought about composite but am growing food so decided not to use it.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I've built several planting beds in my life, and I've gone back and forth. As you suggest, cedar is fantastic and will last, but it's very expensive for big enough/strong enough boards. Assuming you're talking about a vegetable garden, definitely do not use treated wood...it will seep in your soil which is the most important tool in gardening. Adding organic compost regularly will ensure your garden is successful for years to come. No reason to possibly poison the well from the start.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Looking to kill some time this upcoming weekend and build a couple raised beds. My 9 yo daughter has a growing greenthumb.
Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
I've ultimately gone to untreated construction lumber -- 4x4s for corner posts and 2x10 or 2x12 for sides on a 4x8 plot. In my experience they hold up quite nicely and for a fraction of the cost (I've got several in my yard). Contrarily, I've built several smaller potters for the patio and always use cedar, both for durability and aesthetics.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
How about cedar cedar fence pickets? The won't be quite as thick, but you can either line the inside with them, so your soil isn't in contact with treated lumber, or I'd imagine depending on the size of the bed that they'd hold up fairly well on their own.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Concrete landscape blocks last forever, are easy to reconfigure (if you like lifting heavy stuff) , are safe for food, and are reasonably priced when on sale. I had a bunch left over from a big hardscape project and used them for raised beds. Came out very nicely.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
No worries.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:44 am Oops, should have been in Personal Consumer Issues - mods, can you move it? My bad
This topic is now in the Personal Consumer Issues forum.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Good advice although I'd use 2X2s (rip a 2x4) and 1X for the sides. Add a couple of the 1X with pointed end for long runs. Even plain old 1X is getting expensive . 1x12 at HD run about $3 a linear foot. If you have a local sawmill you can probably find if for $1/bd ft for pine, fir, etc. And I'd use screws to fasten together (#8 X 1.5" outdoor screws)weirdsong1 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:21 amI've built several planting beds in my life, and I've gone back and forth. As you suggest, cedar is fantastic and will last, but it's very expensive for big enough/strong enough boards. Assuming you're talking about a vegetable garden, definitely do not use treated wood...it will seep in your soil which is the most important tool in gardening. Adding organic compost regularly will ensure your garden is successful for years to come. No reason to possibly poison the well from the start.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Looking to kill some time this upcoming weekend and build a couple raised beds. My 9 yo daughter has a growing greenthumb.
Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
I've ultimately gone to untreated construction lumber -- 4x4s for corner posts and 2x10 or 2x12 for sides on a 4x8 plot. In my experience they hold up quite nicely and for a fraction of the cost (I've got several in my yard). Contrarily, I've built several smaller potters for the patio and always use cedar, both for durability and aesthetics.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Here is another vote for concrete blocks. I was lucky to find a manufacturing plant that would sell me blemished seconds for about 75% off retail.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I used concrete blocks too. Personally I like the look of a raised bed built with concrete blocks.
My signature has been deleted.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
This is definitely the way to go IMO. Cheap and very easy to work with. Sturdy enough to hold up. My first go round way back in the day I used the full thickness cedar boards that cost a fortune. Couple years ago, I built 8 beds using fence pickets and they perform just as good.
I stacked 2 high per side, so my beds are about 12" tall. I used the 5/8" thk boards. Once you get all your tools out you can crank these out pretty quick and it is not backbreaking work like working with concrete blocks would be.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I use 2x8 framing lumber from Lowes, and I make 4'x4' boxes. I get 4 to 5 years of life out of them here in the mid Atlantic region, and then I replace them.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I'm with you...costs in the lumber world are not what they used to be. I'm always happy to shave costs on a hobby that's supposed to have an element of practicality. However, not to disagree, but the only time I built a planter bed with 1xs is only one that hasn't lasted. If it were a small enough bed and perhaps placed on top of a well-drained area, then I'd consider this again.pshonore wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 9:51 am Good advice although I'd use 2X2s (rip a 2x4) and 1X for the sides. Add a couple of the 1X with pointed end for long runs. Even plain old 1X is getting expensive . 1x12 at HD run about $3 a linear foot. If you have a local sawmill you can probably find if for $1/bd ft for pine, fir, etc. And I'd use screws to fasten together (#8 X 1.5" outdoor screws)
Additionaly, I should add that at Home Depot (and Lowes) find warped and slightly damaged boards and then talk to the manager of the lumber section. They'll discount them significantly (upwards of 75%). Obviously ymmv on this...but if you buy when they're not busy, I've almost always had success. It's very easy to hide imperfections on the inside of a planting bed.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I've used pickets too. Use 2x2 cedar in the corners and 1.5" deck screws.jobiewan wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 10:03 am
This is definitely the way to go IMO. Cheap and very easy to work with. Sturdy enough to hold up. My first go round way back in the day I used the full thickness cedar boards that cost a fortune. Couple years ago, I built 8 beds using fence pickets and they perform just as good.
I stacked 2 high per side, so my beds are about 12" tall. I used the 5/8" thk boards. Once you get all your tools out you can crank these out pretty quick and it is not backbreaking work like working with concrete blocks would be.
These have held up well for the past 4 years.
Cost about $40 in materials for 3 3'x6'x18" beds. The organic soil cost several times more than that.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
If I had a yard, I would think about making some of these concrete garden boxes.
https://youtu.be/x7jz96MDvyo
https://youtu.be/x7jz96MDvyo
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
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Last edited by goaties on Thu Dec 08, 2022 5:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Very nice, but I bet the fellow in the vid works for "Hardway Engineering inc."chomusuke wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 10:58 am If I had a yard, I would think about making some of these concrete garden boxes.
https://youtu.be/x7jz96MDvyo
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Cedar four-quarter deck boards (1" thick) are plentiful and easy to come by in the decking section of your home improvement store. That is where I get mine to build raised planters. I don't like concrete blocks because they can absorb a lot of heat energy and make the surrounding soils too hot for many types of garden plants. I just doubled my capacity two weeks ago in light of current world events.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Would you mind linking to an example at Home Depot or Lowe's? I can't seem to locate the product you're referring to. Thanks!lthenderson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:11 amCedar four-quarter deck boards (1" thick) are plentiful and easy to come by in the decking section of your home improvement store. That is where I get mine to build raised planters. I don't like concrete blocks because they can absorb a lot of heat energy and make the surrounding soils too hot for many types of garden plants. I just doubled my capacity two weeks ago in light of current world events.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I don't live near either of those but do a Menards. Here is a link:CRG wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:57 amWould you mind linking to an example at Home Depot or Lowe's? I can't seem to locate the product you're referring to. Thanks!lthenderson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:11 amCedar four-quarter deck boards (1" thick) are plentiful and easy to come by in the decking section of your home improvement store. That is where I get mine to build raised planters. I don't like concrete blocks because they can absorb a lot of heat energy and make the surrounding soils too hot for many types of garden plants. I just doubled my capacity two weeks ago in light of current world events.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
https://www.menards.com/main/building-m ... c-5674.htm
P.S. I misspoke and said four-quarter when it is actually five-quarter.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Excellent. We have one of those near us as well. Thanks.lthenderson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 12:14 pmI don't live near either of those but do a Menards. Here is a link:CRG wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:57 amWould you mind linking to an example at Home Depot or Lowe's? I can't seem to locate the product you're referring to. Thanks!lthenderson wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:11 amCedar four-quarter deck boards (1" thick) are plentiful and easy to come by in the decking section of your home improvement store. That is where I get mine to build raised planters. I don't like concrete blocks because they can absorb a lot of heat energy and make the surrounding soils too hot for many types of garden plants. I just doubled my capacity two weeks ago in light of current world events.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
https://www.menards.com/main/building-m ... c-5674.htm
P.S. I misspoke and said four-quarter when it is actually five-quarter.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
There are some kits available with galvanized metal. If you have a lot of space and free materials from neighbor's surplus, brick or concrete block is durable. In many areas of the country, termites are so annoying I would not build anything in touch with damp ground without putting up a "free buffet!" sign. The metal kits are pricier, but they should last, you can order them online and they are pretty easy to assemble. Check out the "four square garden" method for planter "Mel's mix". Note they take a surprising amount to fill; for a garden you can really do with 6" depth.
Salvia Clevelandii "Winifred Gilman" my favorite. YMMV; not a professional advisor.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I made a two-tier raised bed/vegetable garden out of pressure treated lumber. The research I did indicated that this is safe to do these days. I'll be sure to let you know if I turn green soon.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Double up the cedar fence planks to get the desired thickness.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Dimensional framing lumber (2x6, 2x10, etc) is very cost-effective for making raised beds. However, not all framing lumber is created equal. If you want it to last, seek out Douglas Fir (commonly available but not sold at all lumber yards). It is a much denser wood and holds up MUCH longer in ground contact than other framing lumber.
For actual framing, some contractors don't like Douglas Fir (it can be less straight and splinters easily when toenailing) but for raised beds it will definitely last much longer (in my experience) and generally doesn't even cost any more.
For actual framing, some contractors don't like Douglas Fir (it can be less straight and splinters easily when toenailing) but for raised beds it will definitely last much longer (in my experience) and generally doesn't even cost any more.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I used untreated 12X8 and cut then into two and 6X8 and cut into two and created a square bed, I used outdoors screws to join them and it held good for 4 years, I have now started seeing the wood rotting and may need to repeat again.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I built 8 raised beds using this article out of Sunset Magazine about 8 years ago, still going strong:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard- ... bed-how-to
https://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard- ... bed-how-to
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I was just this weekend revisiting some past research I did on the same question this weekend for my own beds.
As a baseline, I found some fence post test research documenting untreated pine posts failing in as little as 2 years in wet climates, pressure treated posts in the same location lasting for some treatments more than 30 years, and creosote treated posts lasting beyond 50 years (the duration of the study). I don't think they tested cedar posts. If I remember right, osage orange was good for 20-30 years.
Pressure treated wood for garden beds is a polarizing topic. A lot of the discussion is anecdotal or presumptive one way or the other, not based on research, but since that discussion is primarily health related, it's off topic here. The main thing I can say is that in 2003, lumber manufacturers agreed with the EPA to stop pressure-treating wood for residential use with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) over concerns about the arsenic in particular. There have been studies about arsenic leaching and uptake in fruits and vegetables, but I don't think it would be allowed to link to those or discuss them here.
Pressure treated lumber today is primarily made with a copper solution and a fungicide. The most common seems to be copper azole. It is more expensive than CCA, but as far as I know, has similar effectiveness as a wood preservative. As with CCA, you're on your own for searching up studies about whether there are health concerns with copper azole.
A known non-health concern is that many plants are highly sensitive to copper, so even small amounts of copper leaching can cause growing issues. Some people make raised beds with treated wood and paint them or line the insides with plastic to mitigate this concern.
I also found a study specifically looking at effects of wood preservatives on plant growth. Copper naphthenate was found to have little to no effect on the plants. Copper azole was not tested. However, note that there are two types of Copper azole in use. One of them contains boric acid. Borax was tested in the study and although boron is a plant nutrient, it's use as a wood preservative apparently resulted in enough exposure to severely injure plants.
In the end, after my research I chose to make my own vegetable beds out of pine and treat it with copper naphthenate, which is available off-the-shelf. My expectation is this should give me moderate life, at lower cost than pressure treated wood. If I had used pressure treated wood, I would have lined the inside with heavy plastic to guard against copper or boron harming the plants.
Use galvenized nails or good deck screws for assembly. Regular zinc electroplated screws or sinkers don't have enough zinc for sustained ground contact, or for the galvanic reaction that happens with the copper in treated wood.
As a baseline, I found some fence post test research documenting untreated pine posts failing in as little as 2 years in wet climates, pressure treated posts in the same location lasting for some treatments more than 30 years, and creosote treated posts lasting beyond 50 years (the duration of the study). I don't think they tested cedar posts. If I remember right, osage orange was good for 20-30 years.
Pressure treated wood for garden beds is a polarizing topic. A lot of the discussion is anecdotal or presumptive one way or the other, not based on research, but since that discussion is primarily health related, it's off topic here. The main thing I can say is that in 2003, lumber manufacturers agreed with the EPA to stop pressure-treating wood for residential use with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) over concerns about the arsenic in particular. There have been studies about arsenic leaching and uptake in fruits and vegetables, but I don't think it would be allowed to link to those or discuss them here.
Pressure treated lumber today is primarily made with a copper solution and a fungicide. The most common seems to be copper azole. It is more expensive than CCA, but as far as I know, has similar effectiveness as a wood preservative. As with CCA, you're on your own for searching up studies about whether there are health concerns with copper azole.
A known non-health concern is that many plants are highly sensitive to copper, so even small amounts of copper leaching can cause growing issues. Some people make raised beds with treated wood and paint them or line the insides with plastic to mitigate this concern.
I also found a study specifically looking at effects of wood preservatives on plant growth. Copper naphthenate was found to have little to no effect on the plants. Copper azole was not tested. However, note that there are two types of Copper azole in use. One of them contains boric acid. Borax was tested in the study and although boron is a plant nutrient, it's use as a wood preservative apparently resulted in enough exposure to severely injure plants.
In the end, after my research I chose to make my own vegetable beds out of pine and treat it with copper naphthenate, which is available off-the-shelf. My expectation is this should give me moderate life, at lower cost than pressure treated wood. If I had used pressure treated wood, I would have lined the inside with heavy plastic to guard against copper or boron harming the plants.
Use galvenized nails or good deck screws for assembly. Regular zinc electroplated screws or sinkers don't have enough zinc for sustained ground contact, or for the galvanic reaction that happens with the copper in treated wood.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
What type of lumber did you use?mjdaniel wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 1:27 pm I built 8 raised beds using this article out of Sunset Magazine about 8 years ago, still going strong:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard- ... bed-how-to
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
You can go insane worrying about things you "trust." Do you trust where your topsoil, compost, etc came from? Organic is very meaningless for your soil medium. Does your water contain PFAS? Are you using lead-free adapters on your water hose? Do you "trust" your rubber or plastic water hose/irrigation to not leech?goaties wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 11:08 am Fly ash (waste from coal-burning power plants) can be mixed into today's concrete blocks. They are not required to be labeled as such. Fly ash in itself is quite toxic. It is arguable how much toxin leaches into the soil of a raised bed from its surrounding blocks, but I wouldn't want to trust it. Make your own decision. Here's one fairly balanced presentation of the issues from the U of Maryland:
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/m ... aised-beds
I use blocks and they are great; however, I don't plant in the holes.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I also use concrete block. They hold up great and keep the bed a little bit warmer during the last potential frost days.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
If money is no issue, get galvanized horse feed/water troughs (stock tanks) and drill holes in the bottom.fishmonger wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:43 am Looking to kill some time this upcoming weekend and build a couple raised beds. My 9 yo daughter has a growing greenthumb.
Wondering what the best material is to use? I've read cedar in the past, but in my experience 2x6 of cedar are very hard to find. Is pressure treated out of the question due to toxins? Same with Azek or something similar?
e.g. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/catalog/stock-tanks
My ranking:
1. Concrete blocks (or stone if you have the money to spend).
2. Corrugated galvanized panels (line top with rubber hose to protect any sharp edges).
3. Wood
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Raised bed gardener since 2010 with a major garden expansion in 2014.
The 2014 expansion is showing signs of deterioration and certain 2x6s will be replaced either this year or next year.
Ed
The 2014 expansion is showing signs of deterioration and certain 2x6s will be replaced either this year or next year.
Ed
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Some very nice looking stuff here, and prices are hard to beat when comparing against cedar -
https://www.metalgardenbeds.com/
https://www.metalgardenbeds.com/
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
We built three raised beds about 4 years ago. We used cinder blocks. Got them on sale.
Just stack them up three high to the height my wife wanted. Then got a couple of loads of soil in my truck bed from a fertilizer distributed.
I didn’t do any ground prep or securing of the blocks and they have stayed put where I put them 4 years ago.
Just stack them up three high to the height my wife wanted. Then got a couple of loads of soil in my truck bed from a fertilizer distributed.
I didn’t do any ground prep or securing of the blocks and they have stayed put where I put them 4 years ago.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
This year I’m going to make raised beds using these concrete blocks from Home Depot that are made for raised gardens:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oldcastle-7 ... /206501693
The grooves on the side hold 2x6 planks and you don’t have to fill all the grooves. The simplest plan is to get 4 of these, put them, let’s say, 4 feet apart in a square or rectangle and connect them with any length planks you want. Let’s call this a “garden square”.
But maybe you want one or more “garden squares” to be taller. Ok, stack multiple blocks on top of each other and put a rebar through the vertical hole. A change of height throughout the garden will make it look more interesting, give more room for soil for plants with bigger roots, and make it easier for you to reach (instead of sitting on the ground). You can put an optional 2x6 across the top edge too as a place to sit.
And you can put the garden squares in an “L” or “U” shaped raised garden bed. For example, instead of having just 3 parallel raised beds, you could connect the ends of two beds with a plank and another set of blocks and a plank 4 feet away along the parallel edges. Do this again with the third parallel bed to make an “E” shaped planter.
Scroll further down the page to find a video from the store and example gardens in customer reviews.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oldcastle-7 ... /206501693
The grooves on the side hold 2x6 planks and you don’t have to fill all the grooves. The simplest plan is to get 4 of these, put them, let’s say, 4 feet apart in a square or rectangle and connect them with any length planks you want. Let’s call this a “garden square”.
But maybe you want one or more “garden squares” to be taller. Ok, stack multiple blocks on top of each other and put a rebar through the vertical hole. A change of height throughout the garden will make it look more interesting, give more room for soil for plants with bigger roots, and make it easier for you to reach (instead of sitting on the ground). You can put an optional 2x6 across the top edge too as a place to sit.
And you can put the garden squares in an “L” or “U” shaped raised garden bed. For example, instead of having just 3 parallel raised beds, you could connect the ends of two beds with a plank and another set of blocks and a plank 4 feet away along the parallel edges. Do this again with the third parallel bed to make an “E” shaped planter.
Scroll further down the page to find a video from the store and example gardens in customer reviews.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Lumber choice will depend somewhat on where you live. Cedar, pressure treated should be available all over the US. You might want to give your cooperative extension office a call and see if they have a raised bed recommendation for your area.
Black locust would be my first choice for a decay resistant wood, though can be hard to find and is $$ compared to pressure treated. It also will likely outlast me. White Oak is often used in the Northeast for raised beds. Local sawmills are a good source for white oak boards. Or you can order a fancy white oak rasied bed from this company in Vermont.
https://eartheasy.com/farmstead-raised- ... ree-sizes/
Black locust would be my first choice for a decay resistant wood, though can be hard to find and is $$ compared to pressure treated. It also will likely outlast me. White Oak is often used in the Northeast for raised beds. Local sawmills are a good source for white oak boards. Or you can order a fancy white oak rasied bed from this company in Vermont.
https://eartheasy.com/farmstead-raised- ... ree-sizes/
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I used redwood purchased from Home Depot, and had them cut it for me.CRG wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 2:15 pmWhat type of lumber did you use?mjdaniel wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 1:27 pm I built 8 raised beds using this article out of Sunset Magazine about 8 years ago, still going strong:
https://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard- ... bed-how-to
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
What are you guys considering expensive? In my area, you can build a 4' x 8' x 16" raised bed out of cedar 2" x 8" boards for <$200. I built mine 5 years ago and I expect at least another 5 years out of them.
Last edited by Luke Duke on Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
That same size bed from metalgardenbeds cost less and should last forever, at least theoretically.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Just added two 6x4 raised beds to our garden this week. Used 2x12 Douglas fir for sides, 4x4 Douglas fir for corner braces and 1 lb of 2-1/2 inch deck screws. Total combined cost for both was $92.
Forest products are major industry in our region with a large mill 25 miles away. So that does have a bearing on our costs. YMMV
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
This thread is from a year ago, but just thought I'd chime in that I just spent $440 on 2x12 Douglas Fir (112 linear feet) to put together some garden beds for my wife. We did one that is 4'x12'x2' for veggies and two that are 3'x3'x1' that she plans to put strawberries in along side her grape arbor, plus enough to make two more of the smaller boxes for her mother that I haven't put together yet. I used some spare 2x4s that I had on hand for the corner and center braces on the bigger bed.
Thank goodness our small town has a nice compost lot that I can get free well composted material, and that I can grab regular topsoil from my dad's/brother's farm. That bigger box is doing it's best to wear me out, but I still have a few weeks before I have to have that one completely filled.
This summer I'm going to grab some pallets from the farm to make a couple leaf mold bins so we can save them and make better use of them as mulch and eventually soil amendments.
Anyone else doing raised beds this year with lumber prices up?
Thank goodness our small town has a nice compost lot that I can get free well composted material, and that I can grab regular topsoil from my dad's/brother's farm. That bigger box is doing it's best to wear me out, but I still have a few weeks before I have to have that one completely filled.
This summer I'm going to grab some pallets from the farm to make a couple leaf mold bins so we can save them and make better use of them as mulch and eventually soil amendments.
Anyone else doing raised beds this year with lumber prices up?
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
For your 9 year old daughter to "first try things out" without going all in building things. . . .
Concrete cmu tile blocks (8 x 8 x 16)
Either finish ends or runners. (you can use them for other stuff as they are versatile).
Large black pvc concrete mixing tubs/trays from Home Depot. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
Build up the cmu blocks to above ground, sit the trays on top, add potting or other soil, plant stuff.
This is all a temporary setup and if the interest is there for you and/or daughter over time, then do something more permanent and takes more time and money.
You can also use the cmu block and concrete mixing tray setup at various tiered heights for a hydroponic or aquaponic growing system. Works great for that. Tap a pvc drain line at one end of each tub and have that drain into the next tiered lower tub, etc .
j
Concrete cmu tile blocks (8 x 8 x 16)
Either finish ends or runners. (you can use them for other stuff as they are versatile).
Large black pvc concrete mixing tubs/trays from Home Depot. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage.
Build up the cmu blocks to above ground, sit the trays on top, add potting or other soil, plant stuff.
This is all a temporary setup and if the interest is there for you and/or daughter over time, then do something more permanent and takes more time and money.
You can also use the cmu block and concrete mixing tray setup at various tiered heights for a hydroponic or aquaponic growing system. Works great for that. Tap a pvc drain line at one end of each tub and have that drain into the next tiered lower tub, etc .
j
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Thanks for reviving this post. Those boards are expensive. It definitely makes me think of the metal beds as an option. I’ve used redwood before, it’s lasted a long time and pine (not as long). I may go metal...Onlineid3089 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 19, 2021 2:59 pm This thread is from a year ago, but just thought I'd chime in that I just spent $440 on 2x12 Douglas Fir (112 linear feet) to put together some garden beds for my wife. We did one that is 4'x12'x2' for veggies and two that are 3'x3'x1' that she plans to put strawberries in along side her grape arbor, plus enough to make two more of the smaller boxes for her mother that I haven't put together yet. I used some spare 2x4s that I had on hand for the corner and center braces on the bigger bed.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Another vote for using cedar fence pickets, although I have tracked cost changes from last year. Building stuff isn’t a strength of mine but putting two together last year was straightforward: https://youtu.be/yf1S_7zL6jc
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
I was going to say the same thing, just use cedar fencing.
Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Thank you very much for posting this. I have used cedar in the past but I saw an Australian gardening show on cable TV that used metal raised beds that I think I would like to try. The metal ones would be a lot easier to install. Cedar gets expensive if you want high beds.CRG wrote: ↑Mon Apr 13, 2020 2:59 pm Some very nice looking stuff here, and prices are hard to beat when comparing against cedar -
https://www.metalgardenbeds.com/
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- LiveSimple
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
Home Depot Douglas fir wood
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-in-x-12-i ... /205913403
https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-mate ... den-boxes/
https://www.homedepot.com/p/2-in-x-12-i ... /205913403
https://www.weedemandreap.com/best-mate ... den-boxes/
Last edited by LiveSimple on Tue Apr 20, 2021 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Raised Garden Beds - Building Material
My niece wants raised beds also. I sold her on the idea of using straw bales at about $5.50.
https://www.tnmagazine.org/solve-soil-i ... gardening/
(It also makes a good mulch and ground cover for the garden.)
https://www.tnmagazine.org/solve-soil-i ... gardening/
(It also makes a good mulch and ground cover for the garden.)
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