How to Build Raised Veggie Garden Boxes

A raised vegetable garden box is one that is raises the soil and roots well above the ground. This raise can be anywhere between an inch to several inches, depending on your personal preference. These boxes can help you separate and organize your vegetable plants. Raised vegetable garden boxes are constructed using solid 2-by-4 lumber pieces, which means you can choose whatever kind of lumber you desire and customize and personalize your vegetable garden box for your back yard. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Bring your measuring tape into your garden to determine how large you want your vegetable garden box to be. Measure how long and wide you want the box to be, along with the height of the raised box. Write all three measurements down.

2

Lay the 2-by-4 lumber pieces down. Use the three measurements and a pencil to create the pieces needed for the vegetable garden box. The front and back pieces should be drawn on the lumber with the length and height measurements. The side pieces should be drawn using the width and height measurements. These four pieces will give you a box frame. Cut these four pieces out with the table saw, and remove the majority of splinters by sandpapering the ends.

3

Arrange the four pieces to create raised garden box frame. The side pieces should go in between the back and front pieces. Apply nails through the front and back pieces with a hammer, so the pieces become connected. Use the level during this process to make sure the box frame is even.

4

Place the frame on top of the plywood sheet. Use the pencil to trace the outer perimeter of the box. The plywood rectangle just drawn will be the bottom of the vegetable garden box. Remove the frame from the plywood and cut the plywood piece out with the table saw. Remove any splinters by sandpapering the edges. Place the plywood bottom piece on top of the frame. Apply nails through the bottom plywood piece, so the nails extend into the lumber frame. The nails should be spaced 2 inches apart.

5

Put the measuring tape inside the garden box and measure the height of the garden box walls. Also collect the measurements of the inside length and width of the box. Use these measurements to cut out four plastic pieces with the scissors that will go on the inside walls of the box. Apply glue to the inside walls and apply the plastic pieces to the inside box frame. This will ensure that the wood does not become damaged from the soil or vegetables.

6

Create a drainage system for the vegetable garden box by drilling 10 small holes in the bottom of the box. These holes should be evenly spread around on the plywood bottom and should be drilled with the 1/2-inch drill bit and drill. Creative Homemaking suggests adding small rocks on the holes to keep the soil in the box, as the water will still drain past the rocks.