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How to build a raised bed
A raised bed warms up quicker in spring, drains well, and keeps paths and beds apart, so you never tread on the soil you grow in. 1.2m wide means you can reach the middle from either side.
- DifficultyMedium
- Time2-3 hours
- Size1.2 x 2.4m, 30cm deep
- Rough costabout £156
What you need
| Item | Qty | Cost | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treated timber boards, 150 x 38mm x 2.4m | 6 | £60.00 | B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
| Treated timber post, 47 x 50mm x 1.8m | 1 | £6.00 | B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
| Exterior wood screws, 5 x 70mm | 1 | £7.00 | B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
| Plain brown cardboard | 1 | £0.00 | |
| Peat-free compost, 15 bags of 50 litres or Bulk bag of topsoil and compost mix | £82.50 | Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · B&Q · Wickes · Amazon |
Prices are rough guides. Shop links are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you (more).
Tools
- Saw
- Drill or screwdriver
- Tape measure and pencil
- Spirit level
- Spade
Step by step
- Pick a flat, sunny spot and mark out a rectangle 1.2m x 2.4m. No need to dig or lift the grass.
- Cut two boards in half to make four 1.2m end pieces. Cut the post into four 40cm corner posts.
- Make each end: lay two 1.2m boards on top of each other and screw them to a post at each end, with the posts on the inside. Two screws per board into each post.
- Stand the two ends up and screw the long 2.4m boards onto the posts to make a box. Measure corner to corner both ways - if the two match, it's square.
- Move it into place. Push the corner posts into the ground (they stick out 10cm below the boards) and check it's level.
- Lay cardboard over the bottom, overlapping so there are no gaps, and soak it. Fill to the top with compost - it'll sink a bit, so top it up after a few weeks.
Tips
- Never use old railway sleepers for food - many were treated with creosote.
- Treated timber lasts about 10 years; untreated about 3-5.
- Leave 45-60cm between beds for paths - enough for a wheelbarrow.
Or buy one ready made
Rather buy one? Raised bed kits of this size cost about £50-120.
Thompson & Morgan · Suttons · B&Q · Wickes · Amazon
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