How to Build Raised Vegetable Garden Beds

There are many benefits to planting your vegetable garden in raised beds. Raised vegetable garden beds will allow your garden to drain properly. It will also extend your growing season because the soil in a raised bed warms more quickly than the soil in the ground. 

Things You Will Need:

• Shovel


• Trowel


• Rake


• 4 one-by-twelve treated wooden boards


• Nails


• Wood screws


• Hammer


• Screwdriver


• High-quality potting soil


• Compost


• Seeds or seedlings

1. Choose the location for your new vegetable garden. You will need to choose a flat, level location that receives 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. Your garden should be located conveniently to your home and a water source, which will allow you to care for it easily.


2. Prepare the area. Mark the location of your raised garden beds with stakes and string. This will help you to determine the size and dimensions of your garden beds. Use a shovel to remove the top layer of sod and dig up the underlying dirt. This will help your vegetables to take root.


3. Assemble a simple rectangular garden bed frame using the one-by-twelve pieces of wood and wood screws. Ensure that the corners are square and the sides are straight and level. Insert a few nails to help to support the frame. 


4. Combine a mixture of half soil and half compost. Mix these two components well. Fill the garden bed with this mixture. Allow a 1-inch frame around the top of the garden bed.


5. Use a rake to smooth the surface of the soil.


6. Using your trowel, plant your vegetable seeds or seedlings according to the directions on the package. Water the seeds well after planting.