How to Make a Strong Wood Raised Bed

A strong and sturdy raised bed takes a little more effort to build than a typical vegetable garden bed, but it lasts longer and can support bigger plants. Made with 4 x 4 lumber, a bed with overlapping corners will last for years and can be built higher than many other beds. Gardener Scott shows all of steps to build a sturdy wood bed that looks great and is highly functional.
Wood clamp: amzn.to/2MByOrh
6" Pole Barn Nails: amzn.to/2MDBQLw
3" Screws: amzn.to/2MDBQLw
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[@jefftritten9440]

OK, great. Thank you! Using treated lumber will be a big plus. I recently built a raised bed using treated lumber but it is lined with the corrugated steel roofing panels. I need to build another for my rhubarb and was wondering about having the treated lumber in direct contact with the soil. I have seen mixed opinions on this issue, so knowing that you collaborated with Oregon state gives me some peace of mind.

[@norseknowhow]

So beautiful work!

[@rrjmflores]

Love this video, thank you for the tutorial!

[@mandyhahn4507]

Love these beds! Very nice! I may give a more shallow version a try! Thanks so much!

[@danielmusick211]

Thank you for the videos.

[@GardenerScott]

You're very welcome.

[@shanepetersen5870]

Great video Scott, I look forward to seeing your yard develop

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Shane.

[@marymiller5394]

Excellent raised bed ideas. Here’s a suggestion: If you cut all of the endpieces the same length (39.5”?), you can still stagger the ends diagonally rather than opposite corners. An architect once told me that this was structurally more sound, but it probably doesn’t matter when using 4x4s.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. Diagonal corners could be a nice option and provide a great looking bed, but I was limited by the tools I have. A straight cut is easier and one I thought most gardeners can handle. With the right jig and a saw that can handle the additional length of the diagonal cut, it's very doable.

[@SGaux]

​@@GardenerScott- I don't think that he meant 45 deg mitres but rather having all shorts the same length and shifting their position.

[@jasonmorrow9616]

Your videos are so well produced and organized! I'm really enjoying them. Thank you!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Jason. I appreciate that.

[@stevelirette5421]

Very nice look. I would not have thought 4x4

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks! It makes for a nice, heavy, sturdy bed for the big plants I'll be growing in it.

[@dianeladico1769]

Those beds are gorgeous. So glad I found your channel. Thank you for sharing.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Diane.

[@m3mikec]

Will be following along as you move forward with your back yard additions. I like things that last longer! Say, I’ll bet your boots 🥾 have some stories to tell 😆. Cheers

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I've been thinking of retiring those boots, with the many projects they can tell about, but they're still functional and comfortable. 🙂

[@OrtoInScatola]

Scott, those look awesome! I wanted to make a flower bed for the front garden and I think I might just follow your lead on this one

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Francesco.

[@fotyfar]

Def u r so talented in teaching, love ur quite easy smooth way of explaining things, God bless u Scott 🙏

[@GardenerScott]

Thank you very much.

[@tastyfrzz1]

I like the idea of 4x4 over steel siding .

[@amyschaefer1140]

Very nice! Any suggestions on how to place raised bed on a sloped yard? Thanks.

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks, Amy. I've grown in many raised beds on slopes. Essentially the uphill side becomes a retaining wall. Dig away a section of the hill, level the soil base, and place the bed. It's usually best to place a line of raised beds so the slop is held back.

[@sarahmontague4055]

Hey Scott! I've been watching you for a while and I just moved into a very old house that has 3 established granny smith apple trees in the back yard. When we moved in they had already born fruit even after years of neglect. Do you have a video already that can give me a few pointers to take care of those trees or do you know of a gardener who specializes and does videos about them like you?

[@GardenerScott]

I don't have a video on established trees yet. I like some of the videos from Dave Wilson Nurseries.

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

Great Video. I planning raised beds this spring. Originally was going to do 2x12's but after some thought I decided to go this route. I'll either use 4x4 or 4x6s. Do you think lining the inside with galvanized metal will increase the life?

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, lining the beds will increase the life of the wood. And consider using a wood preserver or stain on the outside.

[@amiejohnsonm.ed.9396]

Like the video - love the tee shirt. Where did you get it?

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. It was for a fundraiser at a middle school where I managed the garden. I love it too.

[@kmh997]

Hi Scott. I'm glad to stumble upon your videos, I'm sure I can make this bed (and the others) - and I'm motivated to do so after watching your videos! But I have a question. I was planning to put my raised beds on concrete, so ...do I need to build a floor for them, or something? I'm sure I can use landscape cloth to prevent erosion escaping out from the bottom of the beds, but do I need something more? Should I put legs on the beds? I have a large RV pad, but no RV, and it's a full sun ideal spot for vegetables, that's why I have this question. I really hope you don't tell me that I can't (or shouldn't) plant over concrete. It gets blazing hot here and I worry that the concrete will make the beds too hot for my friends. All my beds will be at least 2 foot deep, but most will be 3 foot tall...if that makes a difference. Initially I had thought to build 2 foot tall beds with one foot legs, but I have yet to figure out how to make a bed with legs and a floor. If only the concrete wasn't there! Do you have any advice?

[@GardenerScott]

The concrete will act as a floor and you don't need to add anything else. If you use landscape cloth or similar material it will probably make for easier cleanup if you choose to move the bed later. If you build it on legs, you will need to build a bottom. As long as you have a minimum depth of eight inches of soil you can grow on top of concrete. Your planned depth will be good.

[@WomensTop20]

Pre!

[@przybyla420]

Hi Scott, do you have any experience with charring wood that contacts the soil to extend its lifespan? You don’t want to do it with treated wood, of course. I’ve been trying it, but not long enough to tell how well it works.

[@GardenerScott]

I just released this video that may be what you're thinking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gojKYpmja7imZ68

[@dianaburditt9559]

Thank you, Gardener Scott, for this great video on how to make a sturdy raised bed! My husband just built ours, and we’re considering staining the exterior and top board it to match the fence. Would that be something you would recommend or avoid? Also, is it necessary or advisable to line the inside walls with plastic? We can’t wait to start our garden in the spring!

[@GardenerScott]

Staining the exterior will have no effect on the plants and can add a nice visual element. I say go for it. I don't recommend lining the inside with plastic. I like having an oxygen interchange all around the bed and the wood is often wetter where it touches the plastic and that can accelerate decay.

[@dianaburditt9559]

@@GardenerScott Thank you!

[@2Drezik]

superb video, did you make it to the archway process ? lovely idea

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. Yes, I have another video that shows the arch process.

[@2Drezik]

@@GardenerScott just watched, what an amazing result ! Thank you for sharing those superb ideas and design !!

[@karenkeck]

Great information, thank you! Question - should I use any type of screening on the ground of the bed to thwart voles or moles?

[@GardenerScott]

I put hardware cloth and chicken wire under my beds to keep out voles and gophers. It helps.

[@karenkeck]

@@GardenerScott Thank you, love your videos, they help so much!

[@Nat2uDragneel]

Great Video. Love the design of those beds. I do have a question. Do you ever line your beds? I'm in the process of building some but I am worried that soil will leech out the sides when I water or during a rain storm. Any thoughts on this? Thanks!

[@GardenerScott]

Thanks. I don't line the beds and haven't had a problem with soil leaching out. With organic matter in it the soil holds together well and there is very little gap between the boards when it's built.

[@Nat2uDragneel]

@@GardenerScott That is good to know. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question. I know you are told this a lot but your content is fantastic and very inspiring. Thanks for being willing to share your knowledge! Especially when I know you have answered some questions a hundred times.

[@raymondrodriguez1494]

Do you have three shorter 4x4s on both ends?? I'm a little confused on that part.

[@scray00]

Me too but it doesn’t look like you got an answer lol.

[@trade0714]

I like the durability of the Forever metal beds, but much prefer the looks of the 4x4 post beds. The work required in building the wooden beds would be fun to me, not work. In checking with Home Depot, the cost of either untreated or pressure treated 4x4's is about the same. I saw the video where you said it didn't matter much if the lower part of the bed were pressure treated as long as the upper isn't. Which would you prefer ... untreated but preservative coated for the lower part, ... or pressure treated for the lower part?

[@GardenerScott]

I've had issues with pressure treated wood warping. That's often easier, but untreated wood is often straighter and adding preservative is a good option.

[@slydog7131]

@@GardenerScott Since it has been a few years now, how about doing a video where you dig down into your 4x4 beds to see if there is much decay?

[@62fastcar]

Hi Scott, what is the length of the short & long 4x4s?

[@GardenerScott]

The bed is 3' x 10'. I cut off 7" of alternating boards to get the overlapping corners.

[@brianlee6849]

I'm thinking about doing the same except rough cut 4"*4" straight from mill . Also I was thinking about doing interlocking corners with same length offset all the way around would this be just as strong as the alternating lengths or not? Thank you

[@GardenerScott]

The interlock will add strength.

[@brianlee6849]

@@GardenerScott Yes definitely I'm just taking a little different approach by interlocking corners by offsetting the same length to make it more simple but your way to interlocking corners is more beautiful I may still do that I just don't want to have left over waste from all the different cuts. Thank you

[@raymondrodriguez1494]

Also, do you only put one 6 inch nail in the middle of all sides and continue layer after layer?

[@GardenerScott]

I was using two or three nails on the sides of each layer. The ends do have three short pieces.

[@raymondrodriguez1494]

@@GardenerScott thank you sir

[@ConspiracyCracker89]

Stop calling him Scott. That's Bob Ross of agriculture.

[@LarryDickman1]

He has to start calling them happy plants on all future videos.

[@tranthiduyen615]

Anh ơi, vườn rau nhà anh rộng lớn vậy,anh trồng cây măng tây đi anh

[@GardenerScott]

Tôi sẽ trồng măng tây vào mùa xuân

[@tranthiduyen615]

@@GardenerScott vâng thật tuyệt vời ạ.em mong sớm được xem anh trồng cây măng tây ạ

[@LarryDickman1]

@@tranthiduyen615 không gì ngon hơn măng tây tươi

[@tranthiduyen615]

@@LarryDickman1 vâng đúng vậy, ở Vietnam món măng tây có ít và họ bán rất đắt

[@marcbuacharern840]

Hi Scott, how many pieces of 4 x 4 x 8 did it take to build one bed?

[@GardenerScott]

I used 11 4x4x10.

[@marcbuacharern840]

Gardener Scott thank you! 🙏🏽

[@jefftritten9440]

I notice that you build many raised beds out of 2 inch planks. Are you using cedar? I have been researching to see if it is ok to build raised beds using treated lumber and I see arguments both for and against it. Some say that modern techniques of lumber treating are not as harmful as they used to be. What do you think?

[@GardenerScott]

Cedar costs too much in my area to use. I do use pressure-treated wood with no problems. I coordinated with Oregon State University to do soil tests in beds with the treated lumber and the findings showed no adverse effects. A video on that is coming in the months ahead.

[@afram560]

How about using railroad ties ?

[@GardenerScott]

I've used aged ties. New ties can leach creosote and harm plants.

[@afram560]

@@GardenerScott thanks, I was thinking along the same

[@storedaway]

What type of lumber are you using?

[@GardenerScott]

I'm using 4x4 treated lumber for these beds. I would prefer redwood, but it cost too much.

[@reeseoroni]

@@GardenerScott - excuse me that I'm not familiar with terms, but is "treated" lumber the same as "pressure treated" wood? I thought pressure treated wood was not good for a garden.

[@GardenerScott]

Yes, Terese, that's what I was referring to. Years ago, pressure treated lumber was treated with arsenic and that's what gave it a bad name. Today it is treated with a copper treatment and doesn't have the same toxic problems.

[@reeseoroni]

@@GardenerScott thank you for explaining. Love your videos, so glad I stumbled upon your channel.

[@RosaRamirez-ne1ml]

How is the bed doing now in 2023?

[@GardenerScott]

It's great. You can see it in many of my newer videos.

[@ahsanshoaib3371]

I believe this was pressure treated lumber?Are you planning on growing edible plants in these beds? Are not you worried about the PT chemicals leaching into soil or are you going to cover the inside with some plastic sheet etc. Beds look great assembled.

[@GardenerScott]

It is pressure treated wood and I am not planning to grow edibles in these beds. I'm not overly concerned about chemical leaching in the beds where I do grow edibles. In the US, arsenic is no longer used and that is what concerned many gardeners. Now the chemicals are primarily copper based and the research I've read makes me comfortable growing in them.

[@ahsanshoaib3371]

@@GardenerScott I see, good to know. I read conflicting opinions and couldn't reach a conclusion myself. Well with PT 4x4, these beds are probably going to last 30+ years.

[@SGaux]

That looks like salt-treated. Is that safe for edibles?

[@GardenerScott]

It is copper treated and is safe.

[@billbreiner9852]

I built a similar bed with treated 2x6's. The wood rotted in two years. Treated wood doesn't last.

[@slydog7131]

I built PT wood beds with 2x10s. Though indeed some rot will occur, the beds held up for 13 years here in the PNW, and I think they could be constructed to last longer.

[@LarryDickman1]

Not sure what type of PT you bought. There are 2 types. One is not treated for ground contact and the other is. Read the end label on any PT you buy.

[@slydog7131]

@@LarryDickman1 This was all ground-contact rated lumber. About 13 years is typical, but sometimes less. I've got a 4x4 corner post in one of my beds that is failing after ~ 7 years. From videos I've watched, 2 inch cedar lasts about the same. But, lining the bed with a couple of layers of heavy weed cloth would extend the life considerably. The old PT wood, with the arsenic compounds, would last perhaps 40 years, though you might not.