Submitted by Ana White on Fri, 2010-05-14 05:03
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About Project
Cedar raised bed make gardening easier, more accessible, more economical, and more efficient. But often a cedar raised bed can cost hundreds of dollars. With this plan, I figured out how to create raised cedar beds - deep ones - for about $10 each.
Materials and Tools
Shopping List:
6 Cedar Fence Pickets
1″ Screws
2″ Screws
Wood Glue
Finishing Supplies
Tools:
measuring tape
square
pencil
safety glasses
hearing protection
drill
circular saw
table saw
Cut List
Cut List:
4 – 1×6 Fence Pickets @ 72″ (Side Panels, you can trim the dog ear off and work with a 71″ Fence post)
8 – 1×2 Fence Pickets @ 11″ (Corner Posts)
4 – 1×6 Fence Pickets @ 17 3/4″ (End Panels)
2 – 1×2 Fence Pickets @ 72″ (Top Trim, I used the non-dogeared ones from the center of the cuts)
2 – 1×2 Fence Pickets @ 19″ (Top Trim, Ends)
General Instructions
Work on a clean level surface and check for square after each step. Predrill and countersink your screw holes. Be safe, especially with the table saw, and have fun.
Step 1
Rip your Corner Posts
In 160 Plan Posts, I’ve never asked you to rip anything. And I’m dreading asking you to rip this fence post. But I’ve done the math, and by ripping one fence post into 4 – 1 1/4″ wide strips, you are saving quite a bit of money (well, that is, if you intend to build a garden full of planters). So set your tablesaw to 1 1/4″ and rip one of the fence posts to 1 1/4″ wide, as shown above. If you don’t have a table saw, you can use 1×2 cedar boards, but you will need to add 1/2″ to the final top trim boards on the ends. And you are going to have to shell out an extra few bucks.
Step 2
Side Panels
Use your 1″ screws and glue to put together your side panels as shown above. The post will overextend the sides by 5/8″ as shown above. I also used my Kreg Jig™ to join the boards together in the center, and you can do this too. But I feel like my planters are too “flat” and had I not joined the boards in the center, the planter would be more rustic.
Step 3
End Panels
Build your end panels exactly like your side panels.
Step 4
Assembling the Panels
The panels should fit together like a puzzle. Fasten with 2″ screws and glue. Check for square.
Step 5
End Top Edges
Finish the end top edges just like you did the sides. If you used 1x2s measuring 1 1/2″ wide, you will need to measure and cut this board to the planters dimensions.
UPDATE: Here's those cedar beds I built for $10 bucks each . . . just before the moose ate the entire garden :( I can't rave enough about these beds, my garden was amazing and super low maintenance. BUILD THESE. It's a must build.
The other night, you may have noticed that my post for the night didn't get posted until 3AM. That's because I was at Blue until 10 PM, then we had to drive home a couple of hours (and we spotted a bear crossing the road) and of course unload everything from our daytrip to the big city, and then I could sit down and write my post. I should have a couple of "emergency" posts on hand, but I always end up using them right away, or feel like I am keeping a secret from you.
Anyway, while at Blue, shopping for mortar and grout and stuff for our river rock stone veneer for the face of our house, I happened to smell some cedar. And I love the smell of cedar. So I followed my nose to a pile of dogeared 1x6s on special for $1.59 each. Cedar.
$1.50 Each for a 1x6, 6' Long. That's 1/3 the cost of pine 1x6s. And granted, these were fence pickets and the corners were tapered off, but that's only the top inch.
And yes, the were 5/8" thick instead of 6/8" (or 3/4"), but I was okay with not paying 10 times as much to get my corners back and an 1/8" of thickness back. Besides, I had a specific use in mind for these fence pickets.
image from Living the Country Life
As a child, my mother fed us on a garden she grew. Nine children. And I can less than fondly remember that garden, the size of a football field, and each of us kids had a row the length of a football field to keep weed free. So the thought of a raised garden, much easier to maintain and more effective, efficient and warmer (because warm is an issue in Alaska). And much easier on our backs.
image from Kiwicreativeinc
image from Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens has a complete slideshow of the benefits of a raised garden here.
I especially loved these long an thing raised beds because they made sense to me - no reaching for weeds and each plant gets full sun. And I could line them up in rows, label each bed, and Gracie could get her very own row (except we'll try to make Grace's gardening fun and not all work).
So I bought six boards for a grand total of $9.54, and went home and somehow found 20 minutes to build this
Not bad for $10. And naturally weather resistant cedar too! For a planter, you want to use natural wood because treated lumber releases odors and chemical that you don't want mixed in with your food. And cedar naturally resists rot and insects, so a great choice for planters.
This planter also resists rot and insets, is just under $10. But I think you are going to be okay with a little elbow grease (and a lot of burned calories) to get this:
I haven't found the time to finish the planter (and may choose to leave them natural) but I wanted to share this project with you right away because I'm not sure how long these boards will be marked down. And I'm not sure how long these boards will be on the shelf - I just called in an order for 150 boards.
Of course, you can build a different size, lower sides, or even planters with enclosed bottoms. And I also thought that these boards would make great siding boards for our playhouse.
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i plan to build this raised
i plan to build this raised beds, but it will cost much more than yours.Turkey is expensive :(
These are great! I may have
These are great! I may have to build a couple, they'd be perfect out front of my house. But I'm jealous. Where did you see the bear?? Brown or black? I just traveled the Rich on Tuesday evening, no bear. Just a couple swans, and a couple moose. Thanks for the inspiration!
rats! unavailable at any
rats! unavailable at any Lowe's in my area, according to the website. :( Guess I'll have to check out the local stores in person to see if I can find something close in price.
So...while you're on a garden kick, got any ideas for a potting bench? ;)
Just wondering what type of
Just wondering what type of screws do you use. Is there a different type for outdoor so they don't rust? Thanks for the plans.
Rust proof screws
Galvenized or stainless steel screws are what you want. They are not cheap.
Hey, I'd love to know how YOU
Hey, I'd love to know how YOU finish screw holes when you plan to leave stuff in its natural finish? I have heard of saving the sawdust, mixing with white glue, and packing it back it... but I'm just not that careful with my sawdust!
Could you please clarify the
Could you please clarify the reason for the 5/8"-inch overhang for the uprights on the ends and sides?
Thanks for another great idea on material!
not available in my area
not available in my area either :(
The overhang is so that they meet up at the corners to be a combination of decorative and functional to help keep the boards together. Of course this is my assumption, but it seems totally logical!
oh for screws, definitely use
oh for screws, definitely use outdoor screws- they are slightly more expensive, but are rust free. I use deckmate screws- they are around $7/lb but come with a special star bit that makes screwing them in a cinch! No slipping or stripping!
OK, don't laugh but, when I
OK, don't laugh but, when I saw all those planters lined up with names on them, it kinda looked like coffins! Good grief!
Anyhow, this is a PERFECT project for me this year. I want so badly to plant some veggies on the farm but am not quite sure where the final garden spot is going to be. In the meantime, I'm gonna build me some of these babies.
Thanks, Ana! Once again, you're rocking it! Have a super weekend!
I think we will be trying
I think we will be trying these. I was trying to find a more inexpensive way to build a planter out front of the house and I think this is a perfect answer. If we get a chance this weekend we will certainly post pics! Thank you!
Thank you so much for all
Thank you so much for all your great plans.. I work at "blue" and cannot keep up with all the great projects.. i built the sawhorse table the toddler picnic table now im onto the simple outdoor dining table and benches, the raised planter beds are next and i was hoping for a simple square planter box for the front of the house. Keep up the fabulous work i enjoy waiting for your posts on a day to day basis
Ok, I can't believe how
Ok, I can't believe how timely this is. I have been trying to work on some raised beds, but it has been so rainy and cold here that I am never able to get outside to work. I'm so excited! We are supposed to have decent weather this weekend, and I really want to make these. I was wondering though, if any of the outdoor furniture plans could be easily adapted to utilize these Cedar posts. They are $2.47 at my "Blue" but I think this could make a great outdoor table and bench set. These would probably require more sanding for furniture. How much difference in esthetics would the 1x6 make from the 1x4's? It would be wonderful to have cedar furniture for so cheap.
Michelle mentioned a potting
Michelle mentioned a potting bench... I second that, I would love your take on a potting bench! Everything else you do is perfect, so why not a potting bench!!! Thanks! ":<>
ROTFL at Leslie! Coffins! I
ROTFL at Leslie! Coffins! I just snorted coffee everywhere when I read that!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Awesome plans Ana! I JUST built raised beds last month using fir because cedar was triple the cost. Bummer! I would have much preferred cedar! :)
Ana I love the size of these.
Ana I love the size of these. You will have to post pics of yours finished and set up with plants. These are going to be perfect for me also. Maybe I can get mine built next week. Hopefully this last snow storm is our last for the season.
Lovely Idea...I would like
Lovely Idea...I would like this a lot. Trish
i'm LOVING this idea! thanks
i'm LOVING this idea! thanks for the plans. i looked on blue's website & found these...
http://www.lowes.com/pd_60825-70740-054699062412_5002559_?productId=3189807&Ntt=cedar%20wood&Ntk=i_products&pl=1¤tURL=/pl_Stocked%2Bin%2BStores_5002559__s?Ntk=i_products$rpp=30$No=30$Ntt=cedar%20wood
wow...that's a huge url! anyhow, is that the same thing you used?
thanks!
one more question...what does
one more question...what does it mean to "rip" the corner posts? is this just cutting them into strips? can you do it with a miter saw?
thanks!
"ripping" is cutting a board
"ripping" is cutting a board along it's length. I can't see how you could do this with a miter saw. even a circular saw would require bracing and getting a straight edge. If you don't have a table saw I would spend a bit extra lumber you don't have to rip for those pieces.
Or... on a QUIET evening, a
Or... on a QUIET evening, a blue or orange employee might rip them for you in the store. :) At orange, the first two cuts are free.
I used these
I used these http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=5447-43656-17168&langId=-...
They were almost marked down 50%!!! That's huge on building materials.
Hi Ana!Looking at the cut
Hi Ana!
Looking at the cut list, you have 2 1x6's at 72 inches. For some reason, I'm looking at the pictures and it looks like each side used two boards so wouldn't that be FOUR boards at 72 inches? I could be making this up, though. I've been painting all day and I'm tired.......
I'm definitely going to build
I'm definitely going to build these!
When you get a chance.... I'd LOVE to see a plan for potting bench with an upper shelf for small pots and large bottom shelf to store larger pots and supplies. I have scrap wood that I'd like to use and need a place to work and store stuff.
Awesome! Thanks for
Awesome! Thanks for sharing... Can't wait to make this!
Greetings from Juneau,
Greetings from Juneau, Alaska!
Your blog is wonderful. We made our raised beds out of cinder blocks. Would you believe that cedar was more expensive 10 years ago. Now that we have Home Depot, I'm off to check out the scrap ben. Cedar fence boards would work great for making flower boxes too. I can't wait to get started.
Keep up the great work!
Loved this plan! Made one
Loved this plan! Made one raised bed for myself and a modified small one for my 7 year old daughter who loves to garden. Instead of ripping a board (don't have the right saw to do that) I used a pack of 24" stakes and cut them down to size. Thank you so much for making a garden bed design so affordable. ~ Sue
Could these be painted or
Could these be painted or stained? Or is that not recommended for growing vegetables in it? I really want to make this, but we don't have any equipment. Just a hammer and screwdriver. Are the saws necessary? Could I just have the store cut them?
Tara, see here on how I'm
Tara, see here on how I'm building 28 planters today. It's a little less refined looking in the end but simplified. You could ask your local home improvement store to cut the boards and then use a hammer nails and glue to put the beds together. The link is here http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs529.ash1/31051_39403601661...
As far as painting or staining, I would just maybe do the outsides or use an organic paint or stain so your food doesn't get contaminated.
Good luck with your building projects.
I am working on making one of
I am working on making one of these planters. I cut the dog ears off of mine to make it eaiser to get the boards flush. But after I did this I had to adjust some of the other measurements. I made the 17 3/4 inch sides 17 1/4 in order to get enough out of the shorter boards.
I also cut the corner posts at 12 inches not 11 so that it was as long as the 2 6 inch boards.
Will post pictures when they are finished!
Hey, Ana, finally blogged
Hey, Ana, finally blogged about my beds here: http://holesinmyshinyveneer.blogspot.com/2010/05/raised-garden-beds-la-k....
I didn't include anything technical that would help anyone, though -- sorry! I did my corners a bit different-- used cedar 2 x 2 balusters on the inside. I also made supports with leftover picket pieces that I screwed on the inside to keep those long sides straight.
Thank you for my first project! I can use a chop saw unassisted now!
[...] How to Build Big Cedar
[...] How to Build Big Cedar Raised Beds for $10 — Ana White UPDATE: Here's those cedar beds I built for $10 bucks each . just before the moose ate the entire garden I can't rave enough about these beds, my garden was amazing and super low maintenance. BUILD THESE. [...]
Hi Ana, I am sooo obsessed
Hi Ana,
I am sooo obsessed with your website.
I wasn't sure where I could email you this information.
In case you are interested, I tried downloading the PDF plans for your $10 raised planter beds above, but an error was thrown.
Love love love Knock-off Wood!
Those poor Moose look
Those poor Moose look starved! I hope that your hard work at least went to helping them out!
I'll be looking this up again in a few months once our snow goes away...
Ana - I thave a deer problem.
Ana - I thave a deer problem. I want to build raised beds...but want you to figure out some sort of attractive cover to put over the top to keep the animals out! I envision some sort of frame with a screen "door" that swings up and open so that you can still access the plants when you need to.
You want a "hoop house".
You want a "hoop house". Arches made of PVC or conduit, covered with chickenwire, hinged on one side of the arch so you can lift it out of the way.
http://mikesupsanddowns.blogspot.com/2010/09/low-hoop-house-build.html
Cover for raised bed
I too have deer and vole problems but found this raised bed design that has an easy fix. Check it out: http://www.sunset.com/garden/backyard-projects/ultimate-raised-bed-how-t...
I, too, have got a deer problem
And a raccoon problem, as well. I'm thinking of one box with a screen door on top. I'll try to post plans once I actually draw them up. I figured with a $20 screen door from Blue (http://tinyurl.com/3pvavoe) at a 25 degree angle, you need to make one long edge about 15 1/4" taller than the other and the overall box would be 80 1/2" long (door size) and about 32 5/8" wide. That's all based on my rather old recollection of trigonometry. Hinge the door on the taller long edge and open it up to tend to your plants. Cover the screen with plastic and use it to grow in late winter/early early spring.
The other box I'll put 6' long fence stakes (http://tinyurl.com/3lufv24) in the corners and hang mesh netting around it. That way I can have taller climbing plants (beans, tomatoes) in the box. I figured with the narrow width of the box (maybe 4' max) the deer will be unlikely to want to jump in. Raccoons I'm hoping won't try to climb the netting.
Does that sound sane? Anyone else have any ideas?
Hey Ana! Thanks for this
Hey Ana! Thanks for this plan! It is officially the first thing on my "real" build list (because the first thing on the build list in my head is a boyish play kitchen for my 14 month old). Just wanted to let you know the PDF isn't up for some reason. I like to save them just in case :).
cedar plank planters
I have rthritis and would like to have these on legs raised for working about 3-4 ft high...any suggestions on how to adapt?
Try her toy box plans! We
Try her toy box plans! We made it (and use it as a toy box) and it would be perfect. Considerably smaller than this, but it's a start! Good luck!
Raised planting table
Make a table of cedar (narrow farmhouse table with shorter legs), and build a bottomless box on the top. Line with landscape fabric and fill with lightweight potting soil.
OR: Build a tall box, filling it in with cement blocks as you add the sides, then line with landscape fabric and fill with dirt. The blocks keep you from spending a fortune on potting soil.
OR: Stack bales of straw (wheat straw or oat straw, not hay) to the height you want, cover with several layers of newspaper, and top it with 6-8 inches of potting soil.
Eventually the straw will decompose, but it's a commonly used elevated planting bed for leafy greens ans other shallow-rooted plants.
Build Strong
Dirt is HEAVY, especially when wet! You'll have to add a ton of legs and most likely center supports as well if you plan on making the planter span any significant length. I wouldn't go more than 2' without a support.
My mom has arthritis so she
My mom has arthritis so she has her box gardens sitting on saw horses.
That was a REALLY easy build, Thanks
Just finished four out of the six of these we are building. We modified the design and went three pickets high so our garden plants have plenty of root space over our rocky base soil. Even with the modification this design used a very small amount of lumber, and went together very quickly. We had four frames completed by early afternoon.
We ripped our boards which saved a ton of money, and made choosing lumber easy. The last rip of one of these pickets is a difficult and dangerous one. It is an easy cut to lose a finger on so If you are not completely comfortable with your table saw just buy the 1 X 2 boards.
Boards are $1.67@Blue, $1.97@Orange
My local Blue is showing them in stock for $1.67 right now.
5/8in x 5 1/2in x 6ft DE Western Red Cedar Fence Board
http://goo.gl/rdzgB
And Orange has them for $1.97 each.
5/8 in. x 6 in. x 6 ft. Western Red Cedar Dog Eared Picket
http://goo.gl/Bjelt
Of course, if you only have Orange in your area, print out the page from Blue and take it in and ask them to match the price!
Going to pick some up this weekend, and give my husband a heart attack when I fire up the table saw. :-)
lucky you! My local Blue
lucky you! My local Blue charged me 2.29 a board today. Can't believe there's such a radical price difference within the same store chain.
Styrofoam makes great planter filler
I have quite a few tall pots and large, deep planters that are deeper than any roots will ever grow. Instead of filling them completely with dirt, I go to my stash of styrofoam packing peanuts to fill the bottom of the pot. I have even broken up chunks of styrofoam from electronics packaging like monitors and TVs to fill up large spaces like the tall vase shaped pot on my front porch. I am not sure about chemicals in the styro, so I usually use only for flowers and not edibles.
REMEASURE YOUR BOARDS AFTER YOU BUY
This weekend I bought the cedar fence boards from Blue and happily started cutting according to the plans (the tag said they were 5 1/2 x 5/8" However, I soon discovered when drilling my pocket holes that the *actual* measurements were 5 1/4" wide and only 9/16" thick, so nothing fits. I've been having to re-cut recalculate the plan measurements, and I'll possibly have to get more boards. My own fault;I should have double checked anyway. Just wanted to warn everyone that the tags may be incorrect.
Great creation
I am just about to start my raised-beds. Wish me luck for I am not very good at building things!!!!!!. Thank you for the idea.
Lovely horses)
Thanks for this tips, realy, it helped me a lot on my mom`s backyard. Problem with blurring the garden beds by rain was solved.
Pickets
I work at the Home Depot on Edinger Ave. in Santa Ana, CA. We have tons of these cedar pickets every day (I'm on vacation right now, so I can't remember the price at the moment). Most of the guys will cut the ends off for you if you want it done in the store, and we don't charge for that. Look for me in the Hardware dept. and I'll gladly do it for you. Also check our cut cart; we sometimes have pickets and other wood scraps for sale for $.50 or a dollar each. Great and easy project and I plan to do it myself!
Moose pic...
Unfortunate but maybe choose a different pic for the homepage slideshow? At first glance they look like emaciated horses and it is troubling!
Could I...
Could I cover the bottom with a tarp or something just in case I need to move these later on?
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