These beds are the simplest things in the world! I started with two a few years ago. This season I have five. Shooting for eight next year. Thanks for spreading the word.
You’re the man, Scott. If gardening this year goes well (my first year), I will reward myself next year with a Greenstalk setup and metal raised bed. With your help, I feel very confident! This method of raised bed construction is fantastic!
My knees were screaming as I watched you scurry from corner to corner, lol. Great alternative to using screws and 4X4 corners, which are not cheap either. Me personally, I prefer the look of a wooden bed. Nice Job! Stay Well!!!
Found this video today in October 2024 and immediately went to Lowe’s to buy supplies and build one. $3.88/block x 8 = ~$32 $7.26 2x6-8ft x 6 = ~$44 Total = ~$76 + tax I had rebar sitting around from another project so didn’t have to buy those. Definitely recommend anchoring as it locks everything in place. Thanks for the tips!
My 5 year old vivosun heat matt cooked half of my pepper plants. Just ordered a spider farmer 20 x48 heat matt with thermostat. Went with Spider Farmer because of your grow tent video. Stay Well!!!
You are awesome!! I am a lady gardener and can't do very heavy! Thanks ! I will try and let you know! I like your buddy supervisor watching 6:33 watching you! 1:31
I not only have several of these beds, I also have made a portable hoop tunnel over one to string my tomatoes. By attaching the cattle panels to a board that goes through slots, I can move my hoop tunnel when I rotate my tomatoes to another bed. I cover the hoop with shade cloth in summer and with 6 mil plastic for late spring and fall. Works great!
I used those blocks as stands for my chicken coop, worked great. I did my raised beds almost identical, but I used deck ties and screws - they are 15 years old and still functioning great - but I like the idea of these blocks better. That staking is important enough to call it mandatory I think.
Those concrete blocks make it easy….😊 Easy to replace wood in a few years time😊 Cheap, cheaper if your using reclaimed timber or timber you have at home 🏠
I built my planters out of 2 x 6 redwood 17 years ago and they are still in great shape.I also used coated deck screws and they have not rusted. I would not use interior grade pine or Douglas Fir in an exterior usage, does not last. Use pressure treated or redwood for longevity. I can see value in those concrete blocks though they dont have great looks. My corners are redwood on the inside and so not visible. I also used a clear wood preserver on the exterior of my redwood beds and they look like the day I made them....17 years ago.
Those are great blocks! I have a couple beds made with them. They really are as easy as you demonstrated. Thank You for giving gardeners options for raised beds.
Looks easy. My only concern is that the long pieces may start to bend outward with the weight of the soil. Maybe a stake or post in the middle of each board can prevent that from happening. If a board starts to rot, the construction method in this video would make it very easy to replace.
Cool! This is how I built my biggest bed only, since I had some 12" wide boards, I have only one board per side. Solid and inexpensive because I used "free" boards from a concrete pour. So much cheaper than all the metal corner hardware I found online.
Thanks Scott! I love your videos. I've built a bed in my backyard last year using these exact same things! The only thing I did in addition was to do something to preserve the wood. I fear these boards will start to warp in a couple of years. I appreciate that you didn't get treated boards for the possible chemicals involved. I bought some tung oil and I think this will help preserve the boards in a natural way. I would recommend 16oz for each layer, so the two layers of boards that you showed us would require 32oz of tung oil. The boards really soak it up, but I think it will help them last longer. Teak oil is another option, but isn't as natural as tung oil.
This is exactly how I built my first raised bed ever. I did three layers and it was sooo easy. Filling it was the hard part. Yes, I put logs, branches, and unfinished compost at the bottom, but carting garden soil to fill the top of a 4’x8’ bed was still tons of work. Worth it, though. Caution: the long sides will warp after a year, especially on higher raised bed. Consider adding some kind of braces.
I had the same experience. I made mine three blocks tall and the weight of the soil started pushing everything outwards within the first year. I ended up cutting down some pieces of 2x4 and screwing those to the sides as vertical supports. And even though we did use rebar to anchor the corner blocks, they had also been pushed out of position. I got some flat metal corner braces and screwed those into the tops of the boards over the corner blocks. Now everything seems much sturdier!
Made it today, my first raised bed! Material costs were even a bit cheaper at my local store (Lowes in Chicago suburban area). I’m staying with one layer this year. Looks easy to expand higher next year. I’ve wanted to do this for 6+ years but no time to construct.
That looks like a great and easy project. I would be nervous about leaving that rebar sticking up exposed especially when kids or pets might be playing around the beds so would definitely place a third block until adding the third level. I imagine filling the bottom with planting material would be easier with it shorter at first? So placing the third boards when you are to the point to build up that level may help? I'll have to check out your videos on filling a raised bed for your techniques. Thanks for a great video.
5 minutes! The gold medal goes to Gardener Scott...the medal will be in the firm of golden tomatoes, or maybe golden beats, or maybe golden ___(fill in the blank)
Only thing easier would be if you swung by and put a couple in for us - hardest part would be finding straight boards and the box store :) Thanks Scott sharing this.
Most gardeners are missing the boat. Consider using discarded upright Freezers or refrigerators for a raised bed. They are just the right size for weeding and harvesting at waist height, making them ideal for wheelchair access or seniors, or those with back problems. One or a dozen, it 's up to you. It took me two weeks on Craigslist to get an even dozen boxes, and that was being picky. No stainless steel, or black refrigerators, no side-by-sides, only white boxes. They come insulated, and the type of soil they have is up to you. No more gophers, moles, rabbits, either! Just remove and discard the doors and shelves, fill and plant. Water with a garden hose, or plumb them with an irrigation system from below. Ideal for an apartment with a small patio, or a big yard. No more bending to weed! Best of all, they're free, and you keep them out of the landfill! Details to your questions if you like. Upcycle those landfill white elephants!
Thank you Scott - I built one like this four years ago and they held up pretty well. One bed was subject to heavy standing water so it rotted out. This year I am sanding, sealing the wood and placing them where the ground will not be subject to standing water. My only problem this year was I discovered apparently that I'm not a good wood selector. I left it to my Home Depot guys and got pieces that were chipped and not level. I'm making the beds three boards high so the middle board will buldge. I've seen people use a metal strip and screw the boards together on the inside but they never say what those are called. Do you know? I suppose I could use wood too but I like the idea of a thin support structure. Thanks again for all of your videos. They are very well done and very informative.
Those are great unless you've got mostly rock like we do. I guarantee I'd hit a massive rock while trying to anchor at least one of those corners with rebar.
I usually don't. When buried under a foot of soil most grass will be smothered and die, especially when the grass is dormant. If you have a grass that spreads by roots or rhizomes, laying cardboard down first can help kill it too.
People and pets have been injured with rebar, I would not leave it sticking up. Also most beds will be safer with hardware wire or rabbit wire on bottom.
I am about to put in my first raised garden and found your videos most helpful, I do have one question. I am putting it on my grass and was going to dig up my grass, but this looks like you just built it over some grass. So is it necessary to dig up my grass as I can't see my grass growing that high buried under all the soil, so should I be fine to just build it over my grass? Also, just a comment. Lowes has the brick on sale for $2.50 each, the 2x6x12 cost me $12 each and I had them cut off the 4'. So it cost me just $34 a layer. A lot cheaper than anything else that I have seen.
With soil eight inches deep and more the grass should be smothered and killed. You can dig up the grass, turn it over, and then bury it to hasten breakdown.
That's a little close to the entrance to your shed. From the angle on the ramp, it looks like you're not driving anything into it from there. But if you need to use a dolly to bring large stuff into the shed, your back's gonna notice. BTW - great idea on the simplicity. I'll definitely be doing something like it! (further away from my shed, though 🙂)
@@GardenerScott The camera perspective makes it look like you're almost at the ramp. Thanks for replying and for the videos. They're very interesting and have some great ideas.
Unfortunately I have had to place a long layer of hardware cloth under my beds because I have burrowing moles that come up in the beds and destroy everything otherwise!
not to pop your raised bed but...... i live in the south zone 9. wood on the ground wont last here, and to use treated would leach into your soil. is there any thing you can think of that will work that will last and not poison us? please and thank you.
I'm in the south zone 9 as well. Maybe you create raised bed wall panels out of hypertufa. It's a lightweight concrete made from portland cement, peat moss (you could use coco coir optionally), and perlite. All of those materials are relatively inexpensive. HTH
Strange, I had posted a comment here and then edited it with cost details after pricing out these supplies at my local big-box hardware store and now the comment is gone. Deleted? Or are dollar values somehow banned in TH-cam comments?
See now from me wooden beds just don't cut it. The ones that killed a few years ago all rotted the ones I built last year got infested with termites on me😮 I thought those are very interesting bricks that you're using. Do you have a preferred type of wood. 🪵
I would use cedar but it costs a lot here. I plan to use composite deck planking for my next bed. You might consider that because termites won't eat it.
These beds are the simplest things in the world! I started with two a few years ago. This season I have five. Shooting for eight next year. Thanks for spreading the word.
You’re the man, Scott. If gardening this year goes well (my first year), I will reward myself next year with a Greenstalk setup and metal raised bed. With your help, I feel very confident! This method of raised bed construction is fantastic!
Thats a great looking bed and adapatable Scott. and it certainly wont move with that rebar. Great video again mate
My knees were screaming as I watched you scurry from corner to corner, lol.
Great alternative to using screws and 4X4 corners, which are not cheap either.
Me personally, I prefer the look of a wooden bed.
Nice Job! Stay Well!!!
Found this video today in October 2024 and immediately went to Lowe’s to buy supplies and build one.
$3.88/block x 8 = ~$32
$7.26 2x6-8ft x 6 = ~$44
Total = ~$76 + tax
I had rebar sitting around from another project so didn’t have to buy those. Definitely recommend anchoring as it locks everything in place. Thanks for the tips!
My 5 year old vivosun heat matt cooked half of my pepper plants. Just ordered a spider farmer 20 x48 heat matt with thermostat. Went with Spider Farmer because of your grow tent video.
Stay Well!!!
Awesome! My Lowes has those blocks in stock. I calculate the price for the wood and the blocks.... 70 bucks per 4X8 bed with two layers! I'm doing it!
Built several beds this winter in prep for this season. It was AMAZING to do this rather than screws etc!
You are awesome!! I am a lady gardener and can't do very heavy! Thanks ! I will try and let you know! I like your buddy supervisor watching 6:33 watching you! 1:31
I saw those blocks & had the same idea but Gardener Scott beat me to the punch.
( as well as many others also did)...as usual!
Best video I have ever seen on building gardening beds 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I've got a questions - how would you do this on a slope? Thank you!
Dig into the upslope side and use the back wall of the raised bed against the slope.
Hindsight 20/20. I used a popular kit to build out my first raised bed. I wish I'd either done something like this or gone with a metal one.
I not only have several of these beds, I also have made a portable hoop tunnel over one to string my tomatoes. By attaching the cattle panels to a board that goes through slots, I can move my hoop tunnel when I rotate my tomatoes to another bed. I cover the hoop with shade cloth in summer and with 6 mil plastic for late spring and fall. Works great!
Wow! First time seeing the planter block, it makes it so easier & less daunting. Thanks for sharing Gardener Scott.
That's great. Never knew about those corner pieces. Will definitely consider.
Thank you Scott being looking for something like this for awhile!
I used those blocks as stands for my chicken coop, worked great. I did my raised beds almost identical, but I used deck ties and screws - they are 15 years old and still functioning great - but I like the idea of these blocks better. That staking is important enough to call it mandatory I think.
Those concrete blocks make it easy….😊
Easy to replace wood in a few years time😊
Cheap, cheaper if your using reclaimed timber or timber you have at home 🏠
I built my planters out of 2 x 6 redwood 17 years ago and they are still in great shape.I also used coated deck screws and they have not rusted. I would not use interior grade pine or Douglas Fir in an exterior usage, does not last. Use pressure treated or redwood for longevity. I can see value in those concrete blocks though they dont have great looks. My corners are redwood on the inside and so not visible. I also used a clear wood preserver on the exterior of my redwood beds and they look like the day I made them....17 years ago.
Those are great blocks! I have a couple beds made with them. They really are as easy as you demonstrated. Thank You for giving gardeners options for raised beds.
Looks easy. My only concern is that the long pieces may start to bend outward with the weight of the soil. Maybe a stake or post in the middle of each board can prevent that from happening. If a board starts to rot, the construction method in this video would make it very easy to replace.
Cool! This is how I built my biggest bed only, since I had some 12" wide boards, I have only one board per side. Solid and inexpensive because I used "free" boards from a concrete pour. So much cheaper than all the metal corner hardware I found online.
Should I have to get a special piece of wood to build this?
I have some of those blocks they are amazing!
All I have to say, is, THANK YOU‼️
Thanks Scott! I love your videos. I've built a bed in my backyard last year using these exact same things! The only thing I did in addition was to do something to preserve the wood. I fear these boards will start to warp in a couple of years. I appreciate that you didn't get treated boards for the possible chemicals involved. I bought some tung oil and I think this will help preserve the boards in a natural way. I would recommend 16oz for each layer, so the two layers of boards that you showed us would require 32oz of tung oil. The boards really soak it up, but I think it will help them last longer. Teak oil is another option, but isn't as natural as tung oil.
Thanks for the tips. I’m planning a video on preserving wood and will show linseed oil too.
We have been watching you for years and we just look d at these at Lowes!
The concrete pieces are at Lowe’s?
Brilliant! I wonder if I can use something like this to build a big cold frame to cover my veg patch next winter. Hmmmm
This is exactly how I built my first raised bed ever. I did three layers and it was sooo easy. Filling it was the hard part. Yes, I put logs, branches, and unfinished compost at the bottom, but carting garden soil to fill the top of a 4’x8’ bed was still tons of work. Worth it, though.
Caution: the long sides will warp after a year, especially on higher raised bed. Consider adding some kind of braces.
I had the same experience. I made mine three blocks tall and the weight of the soil started pushing everything outwards within the first year. I ended up cutting down some pieces of 2x4 and screwing those to the sides as vertical supports. And even though we did use rebar to anchor the corner blocks, they had also been pushed out of position. I got some flat metal corner braces and screwed those into the tops of the boards over the corner blocks. Now everything seems much sturdier!
What about adding rebar stakes in the middle of the long side on the outer edge of it to keep it from pushing out?
@@Danlyman2010I would consider using a more substantial stake
@@Danlyman2010 I used 4ft boards with another set of blocks in the middle.
Oh new bed…. Exciting stuff
Kate is watching with a keen eye 😂
I made one of those 4 years ago👍
Made it today, my first raised bed! Material costs were even a bit cheaper at my local store (Lowes in Chicago suburban area). I’m staying with one layer this year. Looks easy to expand higher next year.
I’ve wanted to do this for 6+ years but no time to construct.
Congratulations! Staring simply and expanding later is a great strategy.
Hi. I built one of these last year😊
That looks like a great and easy project. I would be nervous about leaving that rebar sticking up exposed especially when kids or pets might be playing around the beds so would definitely place a third block until adding the third level. I imagine filling the bottom with planting material would be easier with it shorter at first? So placing the third boards when you are to the point to build up that level may help? I'll have to check out your videos on filling a raised bed for your techniques. Thanks for a great video.
5 minutes! The gold medal goes to Gardener Scott...the medal will be in the firm of golden tomatoes, or maybe golden beats, or maybe golden ___(fill in the blank)
Very nice Scott!! ❤
Love it! The construction materials looks very familiar 🥰
Thank you so much for sharing this quick & easy build! I am going to put in a couple more beds this year & this will work great 😊
What type of wood is best to withstand bad weather? Should I stain it, get it treated or plain?
Pressure treated wood, cedar, and redwood wood are commonly available and hold up better. Stain and wood oil can extend the wood's longevity.
@@GardenerScott awesome thank you!
Looks great.
I really like that setup. Thanks for sharing. I hope you aligned it with that out building beside it. If not? It''s your deal. I would go crazy.
Yes, I like the symmetry of alignment.
Aesthetically pleasing. Thanks for reply.@@GardenerScott
This is will be my first bed I think.
SUPER EASY, SUPER AWESOME 🎉
Only thing easier would be if you swung by and put a couple in for us - hardest part would be finding straight boards and the box store :) Thanks Scott sharing this.
Cheers for this, just bought some of those corner pieces was figuring out some ideas
Most gardeners are missing the boat. Consider using discarded upright Freezers or refrigerators for a raised bed. They are just the right size for weeding and harvesting at waist height, making them ideal for wheelchair access or seniors, or those with back problems. One or a dozen, it 's up to you. It took me two weeks on Craigslist to get an even dozen boxes, and that was being picky. No stainless steel, or black refrigerators, no side-by-sides, only white boxes. They come insulated, and the type of soil they have is up to you. No more gophers, moles, rabbits, either! Just remove and discard the doors and shelves, fill and plant. Water with a garden hose, or plumb them with an irrigation system from below. Ideal for an apartment with a small patio, or a big yard. No more bending to weed! Best of all, they're free, and you keep them out of the landfill! Details to your questions if you like. Upcycle those landfill white elephants!
Excellent!!: ❤️💯☺️
Just found your videos! Love the way you explain things, subscribed!
Thanks! Welcome to the channel!
Thank you Scott - I built one like this four years ago and they held up pretty well. One bed was subject to heavy standing water so it rotted out. This year I am sanding, sealing the wood and placing them where the ground will not be subject to standing water. My only problem this year was I discovered apparently that I'm not a good wood selector. I left it to my Home Depot guys and got pieces that were chipped and not level. I'm making the beds three boards high so the middle board will buldge. I've seen people use a metal strip and screw the boards together on the inside but they never say what those are called. Do you know? I suppose I could use wood too but I like the idea of a thin support structure. Thanks again for all of your videos. They are very well done and very informative.
It could be pipe straps or hurricane straps.
Just don’t be fooled by the plastic ones, lol. I use these planter blocks and the concrete ones work perfectly.
Home Depot carries the concrete corners. I have to master leveling the soil😂 Aw hell, just let it grow 🍃 🍂
Are you going to use the rebar extensions for tubing to cover the bed or help brace a trellis?
I had that thought if I don't add another layer.
Cool!
these blocks tend to sink into the ground after a few years is the only drawback especially with a 3rd layer.
Those are great unless you've got mostly rock like we do. I guarantee I'd hit a massive rock while trying to anchor at least one of those corners with rebar.
Probably need to add to have your utility lines marked before you drive the rebar in the ground if you got any doubts about where things are.
Good tip. That was the first thing I did when I started developing a plan for the new garden.
That is so cool! Do you do anything to kill/remove the grass? Building our raised bed soon!
I usually don't. When buried under a foot of soil most grass will be smothered and die, especially when the grass is dormant. If you have a grass that spreads by roots or rhizomes, laying cardboard down first can help kill it too.
Thank you!
People and pets have been injured with rebar, I would not leave it sticking up. Also most beds will be safer with hardware wire or rabbit wire on bottom.
What type of board are you using? Pressure treated?
It is a basic fir board.
Have you heard of the new gmo tomato? I plan on growing 2 plants to trial and save seeds. They are supposed to grow to type.
Yes, I have. The purple color looks very rich.
I am about to put in my first raised garden and found your videos most helpful, I do have one question. I am putting it on my grass and was going to dig up my grass, but this looks like you just built it over some grass. So is it necessary to dig up my grass as I can't see my grass growing that high buried under all the soil, so should I be fine to just build it over my grass? Also, just a comment. Lowes has the brick on sale for $2.50 each, the 2x6x12 cost me $12 each and I had them cut off the 4'. So it cost me just $34 a layer. A lot cheaper than anything else that I have seen.
With soil eight inches deep and more the grass should be smothered and killed. You can dig up the grass, turn it over, and then bury it to hasten breakdown.
I'm so doing this.. ty!!!
That's a little close to the entrance to your shed. From the angle on the ramp, it looks like you're not driving anything into it from there.
But if you need to use a dolly to bring large stuff into the shed, your back's gonna notice.
BTW - great idea on the simplicity. I'll definitely be doing something like it! (further away from my shed, though 🙂)
I don't drive anything into the shed but I did measure well and did test runs with my wheelbarrow and big tools.
@@GardenerScott The camera perspective makes it look like you're almost at the ramp. Thanks for replying and for the videos. They're very interesting and have some great ideas.
Unfortunately I have had to place a long layer of hardware cloth under my beds because I have burrowing moles that come up in the beds and destroy everything otherwise!
Please breakdown the lumber needed
Would they have all materials at Home Depot??? Looks like something I want to do
Yes, they do.
I live in Portugal..never seen them there🤔
Where was this video when I built my beds🙈
Thank u!!!
Hi there, would this work on a slight slope?
Sure. Dig into the upslope side to level the space.
What kind of wood is needed? Is there a certain type/size?
Regular lumber will work and you can choose the size.
You made my weekend! I need to re-do an existing bed and this is the answer!! Thanks!
Helo chúc bạn ngày nghỉ cuối tuần vui vẻ hạnh phúc ❤🤝.
How many times do you think you can stack them up?
Three should be no problem.
What is the measurement of the board? 2x4?
What size wood pieces were used?
As I explain in the video they are 2"x6", eight feet long.
Not in Australia....yet
How would you place these if your land is not flat?
Dig away high spots to fill low spots.
@@GardenerScott Thank you.
any idea how much it would cost?
In my area it's about $40 per layer.
8 of these blocks are like 32 bucks. using simple 4*4 (or even 2*2) posts cut to size is like 2-4 bucks.
is this a 4x8 or 3x8 bed??
It is a little bigger than 4x8.
Never seen a tape measure that didn't have cm on them!
not to pop your raised bed but...... i live in the south zone 9. wood on the ground wont last here, and to use treated would leach into your soil. is there any thing you can think of that will work that will last and not poison us? please and thank you.
I'm in the south zone 9 as well. Maybe you create raised bed wall panels out of hypertufa. It's a lightweight concrete made from portland cement, peat moss (you could use coco coir optionally), and perlite. All of those materials are relatively inexpensive. HTH
@@eklectiktoni i will look into that... thanks!
I also have concrete block beds; th-cam.com/video/Vq2Mh3cQ7lc/w-d-xo.html
@@GardenerScott i like this idea better. its easier for me to work with. thanks for the reply..
Strange, I had posted a comment here and then edited it with cost details after pricing out these supplies at my local big-box hardware store and now the comment is gone. Deleted? Or are dollar values somehow banned in TH-cam comments?
I didn't see that comment. I'm not sure what may have happened.
$100 for a single raised bed? ok
You had five minutes of Pre work but thanks
😂😂😂😂😂 5 minutes 😂😂😂😂😂😂
See now from me wooden beds just don't cut it. The ones that killed a few years ago all rotted the ones I built last year got infested with termites on me😮 I thought those are very interesting bricks that you're using. Do you have a preferred type of wood. 🪵
Redwood or pressure treated lasts well. Cedar is a good choice too.
I would use cedar but it costs a lot here. I plan to use composite deck planking for my next bed. You might consider that because termites won't eat it.
Garden beds made from composite wood from recycled materials. Damm that's a good idea. Someone is going get rich off that.
I used cedar boards and brushed them with 100% tung oil. Now that will take a lot longer than 5 minutes 😉