Building your own garden bed is easier than you might think. With the right materials and strategic yard placement, you can have a beautiful bounty of fruits, vegetables, and flowers.
Not all lumber works well for garden bed projects, so you’ll want to choose wisely to build one that will last throughout the seasons.
Redwood Lumber
Redwood lumber is the top choice for a raised garden bed. It’s naturally UV-, rot-, and pest-resistant.
Additionally, redwood lumber can last for many seasons outside in the elements, which not every material can do. For example, it’s best to avoid Douglas Fir as a garden bed material, which is more prone to rot.
Western Red Cedar
Another great option is western red cedar. Like redwood, it can contain red tannin, which delivers a warm, rich look with all of the same preventative benefits from sun damage, decay, and pests.
Though it can be slightly pricier than redwood lumber, compare what’s available at your local lumber store and consider each material type when deciding on your garden bed budget.
Azek PVC Decking
Composite decking can also be used to build garden boxes. It’s PVC, which means it’s highly durable and water- and rot-resistant, as long as you have the right support with 2x4s or 4x4s of redwood lumber or western red cedar.
Tips for Building a Long-Lasting Raised Garden Bed
Once you have the lumber materials you need to get started, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- A garden bed should ideally follow 2x dimensions, such as 2×6 or 2×12, depending on how big you’d like it to be. 2×12 redwood lumber with 2×4 or 4×4 support posts creates a durable, economical garden box that will last for years.
- Choose an area of your backyard that will receive enough sun for what you intend to grow. Then, decide whether you want a single raised garden bed or several in a row. Measure the space length and width, and bring your dimensions to your local J&W Lumber store to get the exact materials you need.
- Avoid pressure-treated lumber when building garden boxes. Chemicals can leach into the soil, which you’ll especially want to avoid when planting anything edible, particularly if you want an organic garden.
- Garden box kits are a timesaver. It takes little time to put together to get a sturdy structure. Use an oil-based stain to penetrate the wood from the inside out for the exterior of the garden bed only.
- Line the inside of the garden beds with wire mesh to serve as a weed, pest, and bird barrier, and keep your plants healthy and fully intact.
Find the Lumber You Need to Get Started
A garden box instantly adds life to any backyard and can be customized to fit the size of your outdoor space.
Whether you want to plant a few herbs or create rows of different vegetables for each season, you can easily start small and continue to build as your garden ideas grow.
At J&W Lumber, we have all the materials you’ll need to start your DIY project, as well as garden box kits to make it even simpler to get started. Stop by one of our many locations and speak to one of our friendly representatives today.