How to Build a Raised Garden Bed
I've built and torn apart enough beds to know what actually lasts: untreated cedar, 4 feet wide, at least a foot deep, and a fill plan that doesn't cost a fortune.
Build with untreated rot-resistant lumber — cedar is the tested favorite, lasting 10–20 years with no chemicals leaching into your food. Keep the bed no wider than 4 feet so you can reach the center from both sides, make it at least 12 inches deep (10–12 inches for tomatoes and root crops), and use 2-inch-thick boards rather than 1-inch so it lasts. Square the corners, level the site, line the bottom with cardboard to smother weeds, then fill — and if you fill cheaply with a lasagna of cardboard, compost, leaves, and a 6-inch soil cap on top, you'll save money and build better soil.
