How to Build a Citizen Gardener Raised Bed

Here is a pictorial set of instructions for building a raised bed as taught by the Citizen Gardener class for about $25.

Materials (use regular lumber, not chemical treated)

QTY 1: 2 x 10 – 8′
QTY 1: 2 x 10 – 10′
QTY 1: 2 x 2 – 8′
QTY 32: 2-1/2″ deck screws (1 lb box is enough)
Outdoor wood glue (waterproof)

Cut Lumber

Cut the 2×10-8′ in half so you have 2 48″ pieces
Cut the 2×10-10′ into 2 51″ pieces
Cut out 4 9″ pieces out of the 2×2-8

Line showing half-way mark of 2x10-8 -- a little more than 48 inches — Line showing half-way mark of 2×10-8 — a little more than 48 inches

Note: I cut the 48 inch pieces a little long because I actually cut the 2×10-8′ in half. The box doesn’t wind up being a perfect square, but no one notices!

Cut 4 pieces of 2x2 to 9" each — Cut 4 pieces of 2×2 to 9″ each

Pile of 9 inch 2x2 pieces — Pile of 9 inch 2×2 pieces

Assemble

Joints are made using the combination of wood glue and deck screws.
Attach the 2×2-9″ pieces to the long sides (51″ pieces) – locate the piece 1-1/2″ from the edge of the board (1-1/2″ is the width of the other board)
Attach 48″ pieces (don’t forget to glue all mating surfaces)
Ensure top edges of boards match so that top surface of bed will be level
Check for squareness by comparing diagonal measurements
Drill pilot holes to reduce the chances of splitting wood

Measuring for line at 1-1/2" using a scrap piece of lumber — Measuring for line at 1-1/2″ using a scrap piece of lumber

mark line at 1-1/2" from edge of 51" board — mark line at 1-1/2″ from edge of 51″ board

line at 1-1/2" represents where boards meet each other — line at 1-1/2″ represents where boards meet each other

run bead of outdoor wood glue to 2x2-9" — run bead of outdoor wood glue to 2×2-9″

attach 2x2-9" to 51" board along line drawn at 1-1/2" — attach 2×2-9″ to 51″ board along line drawn at 1-1/2″

NOTES: Drill pilot holes for the screws to prevent splitting the wood. Make sure no gap exists between two pieces of wood– the glue should be forced out of the joint if you have it tight. It is important for the two pieces of wood to be held together very tightly; this is the purpose of using screws. Your choice whether you install the screws from this side or the other side.

This is how the boards are joined using a 2x2 — This is how the boards are joined using a 2×2

NOTE: You can see the points of the screws coming out of the side of the board, which will scratch a person walking by if they get too close. This is the reason we stopped using 3″ screws and started using 2-1/2″ screws. I like starting the screws on the 2×2 side instead of the 2×10 side because it hides the screw from view, the board splits less often, and I like have the head of the screw in the piece of wood that will rot first (will hold better for longer).

Make sure top edge of board line up evenly before you screw them together

Check for squareness by measuring diagonally across the bed

Check for squareness: both diagonal measurements should match

When everything is in place use all 8 screws per joint

Done, you have a box that will hold 1/2 cu-yard of soil and is sized to give you 16 ‘squares’ of planting space!

Posted

March 11, 2012

How-To

Brian Gallimore

Tags:

bed, build, Citizen Gardener, lumber, raised bed

Comments

12 responses to “How to Build a Citizen Gardener Raised Bed”

Brian Gallimore

March 15, 2012

After building these several times, I have some ideas for improvements:
1- Don’t use a 2×2 to measure the 1-1/2″ mark. The width of the 2×2 is less than the width of the 2×10. Use a tape measure.

2- 3/32″ is the size of the drill bit to use for pilot holes.

3- Use 2-1/2″ screws instead of 3″ screws and start them from the inside instead of the outside. The 3″ screws are too long, protrude and are very sharp. Starting them on the inside (with the pilot hole) has less chance of splitting the 2×2. Also, the 2×2 will rot before the 2×10, so it is better to have the screw threads in the board that rots later.

I’ll update the body of the blog post later, when I have some good pictures to replace the existing ones with.

Reply
Getting Started in Vegetable Gardening – North Texas | North Texas Vegetable Gardeners Blog

March 21, 2012

[…] a good deal of time and effort (and maybe money) to do this. The quick and easy solution is to build a raised bed. Some books say 6″ of soil will be enough, but I think we need at least 9″ of good […]

Reply
Linda Walbridge

March 23, 2012

I’m about to build my first raised vegetable bed. Any suggestions on where to buy reasonably priced soil to fill the bed? I’d appreciate your info on this – I live in Forney.

Reply
1. Brian Gallimore
  
  March 26, 2012
  
  Linda, see the two companies recommended in this thread: http://northtexasvegetablegardeners.com/forum/index.php?topic=115.msg460#msg460
  
  Reply
  1. Linda Walbridge
    
    March 31, 2012
    
    Thank you ! The bed is built, area prepped and next purchasing soil.
    
    Reply
Jim White

April 29, 2012

There is a Living Earth Technologies in Rockwall. Much closer!

Reply
Daniel

July 21, 2012

Hey Brian what a small world right? Was just looking into making a garden as we are moving from an apartment to a house and I come across something you wrote. Appreciate you passing on the info!!!! RON PAUL 2012!!!

Reply
1. Kim
  
  November 15, 2012
  
  lol, just came across this website in searching online for info on gardening in North Texas, and clicked this article. I’m a big Ron Paul fan too!
  
  Reply
How to Build a Raised Bed Box (alternate method) | North Texas Vegetable Gardeners Blog

September 29, 2012

[…] article will describe an alternate method to building a standard Citizen Gardener raised bed box. The advantage to this method over the standard design is that it uses slightly less wood, wastes […]

Reply
Regina

January 11, 2017

I have an old entertainment frame made of what I think is plywood. Is this okay to use for framing the raised garden or will this be detrimental to the crop?

Reply
1. Kathleen Johnson
  
  August 26, 2019
  
  Is it weatherproof? If not, don’t use it!
  
  Reply
Vegetable Gardening 101 | North Texas Vegetable Gardeners Blog

January 9, 2019

[…] a good deal of time and effort (and maybe money) to do this. The quick and easy solution is to build a raised bed. Some books say 6″ of soil will be enough, but I think we need at least 9″ of good […]

Reply