How to Build the Best Raised Garden Beds for Any Size Garden

Raised garden beds are one of the most practical ways to grow vegetables at home. They improve drainage, warm up faster in spring, protect soil structure, and make gardening easier to maintain long term. Large or small, raised garden beds give you control over soil quality, bed size, and layout, which matters just as much as what you plant in them. These wooden raised garden beds were built to last, sized to fit our space, and designed for growing real food we rely on year after year.

Since building these original beds, we've moved and created entirely new garden spaces, learning even more about what works well over time. Along the way, I've shared how to design an English cottage garden, plan a smaller kitchen garden that actually gets used, and how to grow your own spice rack so the garden supports everyday cooking, not just seasonal harvests.

Why We Built Our Own Raised Garden Beds

Before building anything, we looked at pre made raised garden beds from box stores. None of them met our standards. The wood was thin, the boards were too shallow, and we knew they would warp or pull apart after a few seasons.

I also considered galvanized steel beds. My father in law had built a few, and they were incredibly solid. After seeing them in use, I realized they were more bed than I needed. They were deeper, heavier, and required far more material to fill. I wanted beds that were easy to reach, comfortable to kneel beside, and realistic to maintain year after year.

In the end, building our own raised garden beds was the only way to get long lasting beds in the exact sizes our space required.

Why We Didn't Use Cedar Raised Beds

Cedar is a popular choice for raised garden beds because it naturally resists rot. The downside is cost. Thick cedar boards add up quickly, especially when building multiple beds.

Most cedar garden kits use thin boards that begin to warp after a few summers and winters. Screws loosen, boards pull away, and repairs become constant.

If you can afford thick cedar boards, they're a great option. For us, using ground contact hem fir pressure treated lumber made more sense. The boards are thick, durable, and built to last when in contact with soil. The most important takeaway is thickness. Thick boards matter more than the wood species.

Our Garden Space and Sloped Yard Layout

Our garden sits in the back corner of the yard where the land slopes toward the center. The space forms a loose triangle and backs up to the chicken coop and shed. Because the ground isn't level, every bed needed to be slightly different in size.

We dug the back sides of the beds into the slope so they sat partially in the soil, while the front edges rested on the ground. This allowed the beds to sit level without excessive grading. One of the biggest advantages of building raised garden beds yourself is being able to design them around your land instead of forcing the land to fit the beds.

Our garden sits in the back corner of the yard where the land slopes toward the center. The space forms a loose triangle and backs up to the chicken coop and shed. Because the ground isn't level, every bed needed to be slightly different in size.

We dug the back sides of the beds into the slope so they sat partially in the soil, while the front edges rested on the ground. This allowed the beds to sit level without excessive grading. One of the biggest advantages of building raised garden beds yourself is being able to design them around your land instead of forcing the land to fit the beds.

Materials Needed to Build Raised Garden Beds

You'll need the following materials for one bed. Adjust quantities based on how many beds you plan to build.

• 4 2x8x12 Treated Ground Contact Hem Fir Pressure Treated Lumbar
• 2 2x8x8's Treated Ground Contact Hem Fir Pressure Treated Lumbar 
• 1 4x4x8 Treated Ground Contact Hem Fir Fence Post
• 36 2.5" Lag Bolts
• 36 Washers
• DeWALT Drill/Driver Combo Kit
• Ryobi Miter Saw

Step by Step: Building the Raised Garden Beds

Start by cutting the two 2x8x8 boards into four sections that are 3.5 feet long. These will form the short sides of the bed.

Next, cut the treated fence post into four 20 inch sections for the corners and two 16 inch sections to use as support braces in the center of each long side.

Use the 20 inch posts as your corner bases. Line a long 2x8x12 board flush against the post and secure it with lag bolts. Repeat this with the 3.5 foot boards on the other side. As you attach boards, stagger the lag bolts so they don't collide inside the post.

Once the bottom boards are attached, connect the two 16 inch posts inside the bed, centered on the long sides. These braces prevent bowing once the bed is filled with soil.

The corner posts will extend about four inches above the top of the bed. These are designed to be placed into the ground. The bed is built upside down and flipped into place during installation.

Be sure to reference the photos and video in this post for visual guidance.

Custom Sizes and Layout Options

Think of these materials as a build your own garden bed kit. Using the same method, you can make long beds, short beds, narrow beds, or anything in between. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of building raised garden beds yourself.

How Many Beds We Built

We built four raised garden beds total. Some are longer, others are shorter, but all are rectangular. The different sizes allowed us to work with the slope and maximize the planting space available.

What to Fill Raised Garden Beds With

Filling raised garden beds properly makes a huge difference in plant health and long term soil quality.

If gophers are a concern, start with wire mesh or hardware cloth at the very bottom of the bed to prevent burrowing pests.

On top of that, add a layer of cardboard. This acts as a weed barrier while still allowing water to drain.

Next, layer in organic material like leaves, sticks, and yard debris. This creates airflow and breaks down over time.

Add compost on top of the organic layer. Compost adds nutrients and improves soil structure as it decomposes.

Finish with a high quality soil mix. This is where it's worth spending a little more. Choose a soft, workable soil that supports seed starting and root development. If you plan to grow root crops, allow extra depth for proper growth.

Each year, refresh the beds with compost to maintain soil fertility.

Why You Shouldn't Use Railroad Ties

Railroad ties were once commonly used for garden beds, but they're no longer recommended for edible gardens.

Most railroad ties are treated with creosote, which contains chemicals that can leach into the soil over time. These chemicals pose risks to both plants and people.

Handling railroad ties can also irritate skin and lungs. For these reasons, railroad ties are best avoided when growing food.

Making Raised Beds Look Like They've Always Been There

I love gardens that feel lived in and personal. To soften the look of the beds, we brought in large rocks from around the property and added small in ground flower beds at the ends of the raised beds.

We mix raised beds and in ground planting intentionally. The raised beds are used for vegetables we grow in larger quantities for canning. The in ground beds are reserved for herbs, flowers, cherry tomatoes, and perennials.

Updates and Add Ons Over the Years

In 2021, we added a cattle panel trellis connecting the back two beds. You can see that project here.

If you're deciding what to plant, these herbs are some of the best to grow, harvest, and preserve so you're stocked with spices all winter long.

You can also follow along on Instagram where I share daily updates from the garden.

Closing Thoughts from the Homestead

These raised garden beds have grown with us over the years. They've held spring greens, summer tomatoes, and fall harvests that filled our pantry shelves. Building them ourselves made the space feel intentional from the start.

FAQ About Beds

*Update: We added a cattle panel trellis to connect the back two beds in 2021. Check out that post here!

Happy gardening friends!

update: Come see our NEW gardens on our Tennessee Homestead!