See how to make it in five simple steps

33 backyard projects

Raised beds make gardening easy. Filled with soil mix, they provide the excellent drainage needed to grow picture-perfect vegetables and flowers.

You can build the basic raised bed pictured above in a few hours, then add versatility by mounting PVC pipes inside to hold hoops that elevate bird netting or row covers over your crops. Orient your bed north-south for maximum sun exposure.

Use redwood or cedar — both are beautiful and rot-resistant. You’ll need a table or power saw to cut the wood; after cutting, paint the wood on all sides with an oil-based sealer. An electric drill is helpful, though not required. Our total cost: $187.

DESIGN: David C. Becker

Materials

• One 6-foot-long 4-by-4 ($15)

• Six 8-foot-long 2-by-6s ($75)

• One 10-foot-long 1-inch PVC pipe ($3)

• Two 10-foot-long ½-inch PVC pipes ($6)

• ½ gallon semitransparent exterior oil stain ($15)

• 32 3½-inch #14 wood screws and 16 ½-inch #8 wood screws ($29)

• One 4- by 10-foot roll of ¼-inch-mesh hardware cloth ($15)

• Eight 1-inch galvanized tube straps (semicircular brackets; $3.60)

• 32 cubic feet (1 1/5 cu. yd.) planting mix ($25 in bulk or $100 in bags)

Prep first, then build the bed in five simple steps

With a table or power saw, cut the 4-by-4 into four 16-inch-tall corner posts. Cut two of the 2-by-6s in half. Cut the 1-inch PVC pipe into four 12-inch-long pieces and the ½-inch PVC pipes into 6-foot-long pieces. Stain lumber; let dry overnight. Assemble pieces on a hard, flat surface. Now you're ready to put it all together.

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