Building a Raised Bed

The following instructions are to build a simple 8 foot long, 4 foot wide raised bed that is 12 inches high.

We use cedar lumber boards that are 1 inch thick, but you can use any type of wood (non-pressure treated) that fits your budget.

Step 1. Gather Your Supplies

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Take one of the 1"x12"x8' boards and measure the halfway point. (It should be close to 4' in length).
Cut the 1"x12"x8' board in half, resulting in 2, 1"x12"x4' boards.
Take one of the 2"x4"x8' boards and measure 11 inches.
Cut at the 11" mark, and repeat, measuring and cutting 5 more times.
You will have 6, 2"x4"x11" boards, with some of the board left over. These are the braces.

Take one of the 2"x4"x11" boards (brace), and place it underneath one end of a 1"x12"x8' board.
Attach the 2"x4"x11" brace to the 1"x12"x8' board using 6 screws.
On the other end of the 1"x12"x8' board attach another 2"x4"x11" brace.
Repeat this process for your other 1"x12"x8' board.

Place the 1"x12"x8' board with the attached 2"x4"x11" brace upright.
Take one of your 1"x12"x4' boards and line up the edges to your braced board so it makes a corner. (image 1)
Attach the 1"x12"x4' board to the brace using 4 screws. (image 2)
Place your second 1"x12"x8' board upright and align next to the two boards you attached in steps 2 and 3. (image 3)
Attach this board to the 2"x4"x11" brace using 4 screws. You will now have 3 sides of your box completed. (image 4)
Take your second 1"x12"x4' board, and align it with the edges of the two 1"x12"x8' boards.
Attach this 1"x12"x4' board by screwing it into the 2"x4"x11" brace. Repeat on the other end. (image 5)
You now have a rectangular bed, 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. (image 6)

To prevent the sides of your raised bed from bowing outwards, it needs to be reinforced.

Measure the midway point, (about 4 feet), of your 8' board.
Take one of your remaining 2"x4"x11" and attach it at this midway point using 6 screws. (image 1)
Take the other 2"x4"x8' board, align it with the 2"x4"x11" brace in the middle, and attach it using 2 screws. (image 2)
Using your last 2"x4"x11" brace, place it under the 2"x4"x8' board across from the other midway brace. (image 3)
Attach the 2"x4"x8' board to this brace using 2 screws. (image 4)
Using 6 screws, attach the 2"x4"x11" brace to the 1"x12"x8' board. (image 4)
Finally, cut off the excess of the middle 2"x4"x8' board. (image 5)
Your raised bed is now ready to be filled with soil. (image 6)