How to Build a Raised Square Foot Garden

A few months ago, I helped my dad build a raised square foot garden. This project took a half day and the total cost of supplies was around $200. This is definitely an intermediate wood working project. It requires quite a few tools and knowledge on how to build. A raised square foot garden bed is ideal to keep animals out and it makes gardening easy on the back.

We were inspired by these plans. Please know, that you do not need to use the wood we listed. If you don’t prefer pressure treated wood, you can use cedar. For those who have never bought cedar its a bit more expensive. Cedar is excellent for exterior wood working projects. Remember we built this size raised planter because it worked in the area they we were putting it. You can always use this design an alter the size to accommodate you area.

Supplies:

• One box of coarse-threaded 2” treated deck screws
• One box of coarse-threaded 1-5/8” treated deck screws
• One bag zinc plated bolts and nuts (#10 24×1”) (for  square foot divider)
• One bag washers (#10) (for divider)
• 2 – 2”x10” pressure treated pine lumber 8-feet long (frame of the square foot garden)
• 3 – ¼”x1½” pressure treated pine lattice 8-feet long. Cut these boards into 4-foot lengths.
• 1 – roll or piece of fiberglass screening sufficiently large enough to cover the bottom of the Square Foot Garden.This prevents mix from plugging holes in the bottom of square foot garden “box”.
• 4 – 2”x2”x36”  decorative balusters which are used to support the boards that hold up all the dirt.
• 1 – 2”x6” pressure treated pine lumber 12-feet long. Cut these boards into 4 equal lengths boards (approximately 36inches long).
• 1 – 2”x4” pressure treated pine lumber 12-feet long. Cut into 4 equal lengths boards (approximately 36inches long).
• 2 – 1”x4” pressure treated pine lumber 8-feet long. Cut these boards into 4 foot lengths. These will become the top plates to finish off the square foot garden.
• 4 – 2”x6″ pressure treated pine lumber 8-feet long.Cut these board to 46-1/4″.(Flooring)
• 4 – 4”x4” post caps which are used to decorate the top sections of the garden and can be opted out and not used.

Drill pilot holes for the screws along four of the edges of the 2″x10″. (This will make the box portion of your raised garden)

This is a close up of the holes I drilled along the edge of the four boards.

Next get the 2″x4″s and 2″x6″s and these will make up the leg portions. 

Screw the 2″x6″ to the 2″x4″ (like the picture above). Continue to do this four times this will make up the legs.

I always pre-drill the holes before I screw the boards together, so I don’t split the lumber. 

Now that I finished all four legs I set them aside.

Now using the 1/4″ x 1 1/2″ Pine boards I created a square foot divider.

With all of the boards stacked I drilled it every 12″. 

Then I laid the boards out making a cross pattern to be bolted together. 

I used 1″ bolts, nuts and washers in each hole. Then I hand tightened down with some pliers. 

Once you complete the divider this is what it should look like completed. 

Here is a close of the bolt going thru the wood divider. 

This is what it looks like when you close the lattice for storage. 

This is showing the lattice in mid-stage of being opened or closed.

Attach the 2″x2″ balusters to the inside of the 2″x10″. Attaching these will hold up the floor to the square foot garden. 

Flip over the frame of the square foot garden and stand the legs up to be attached to the corners.

This is an overview shot to see how the legs will be sitting against the frame. At this point go ahead and screw the legs to the frame. 

Once all of the legs are screwed in go-ahead and flip you square foot garden over. 

Now take the the four decorative post caps and mount them to the top with a screw or construction adhesive. 

Measure the distance between the decorative caps and cut (using a circular saw) the 1″x4″ boards to give the garden box a finished look.

Take the 1″x4″ board and place between the decorative caps and screw in to place. 

Double check the placement of the foldable lattice and how it fits.

I placed the cut 2″x 6″ boards into the frame giving the box a flooring. On a side note: I used a pencil for my spacing between boards for drainage.

Take the screening and cut it to fit inside the bottom of the garden box.

Staple the screening into the bottom of the garden box to stop the dirt from pouring out the drainage slots. 

Their you have it a raised square foot garden, all you need to do is add dirt and herbs. My parents loved how the Raised Square Foot Garden bed turned out. They have tons of herbs planted in it!

Do you like to garden? Have you ever built raised garden beds? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

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