Some people use attractive decking boards as a grassy mulch in the garden, using it to flatten out the soil and to hold moisture. But there are those among us who have built raised beds from decking boards.
Using decking boards or similar materials to create a full-height deck between raised beds is a great idea. It can be a great space for storing extra seed pots, raising plants off the ground and creating some privacy from the garden below.
A raised bed is a garden design used to increase the vertical space available for plants and flowers. Raised beds can be built from either commercially available materials or recycled decking timber, although not as attractive or drought tolerant. To construct an elevated source of organic fertility, use a solid base of fill material or base boards, such as timber uprights.
Having a raised bed means that you can have beautiful garden beds without the trouble of weeding or clearing ground. By using decking boards, you will have raised beds that are durable and easy to maintain. With just a few simple steps your garden beds will be up and ready for planting.
Build a raised bed from decking boards.
To build your raised bed, you’ll need to use decking boards. Decking boards are made of plastic and come in different thicknesses. You can find them at any home improvement store or lumber yard, but be sure to measure the thickness of your bed frame before purchasing materials; for instance, if you’re making a 12″ high x 4′ wide raised bed frame from 2x4s (standard stud size), then you’ll want decking boards that are at least 7/16″ thick (the lower-end of what’s available).
Once you’ve selected the correct decking board thickness, make sure all sides are parallel by using a spirit level on top and bottom edges as well as along both sides. If one side isn’t perfectly horizontal or vertical when compared with another side, adjust it until it is—this will help ensure that plants have room to grow without being crowded by soil at any point along their length. Also consider how tall or short you want your raised beds to be: if someone who enjoys gardening but has limited mobility needs access from either side of an elevated garden area in order to tend it regularly without getting down on one knee every time they need something from within their growing space, having shorter beds may make gardening easier than having taller ones would.
The frame should be between 600 and 750mm high, to allow you to reach the middle of the bed without leaning over.
The frame should be between 600 and 750mm high, to allow you to reach the middle of the bed without leaning over. This is important for safety. We’ve found that a minimum frame height of 600mm allows us to kneel comfortably, while a maximum of 750mm suits most people.
Fit posts at the corners and at the level, spacing them at no more than 1.5m apart.
Fit posts at the corners and at the level, spacing them at no more than 1.5m apart. The frame should be between 600 and 750mm high—this will allow you to reach the middle of the bed without leaning over.
Screw two lengths of wood together to make a corner post, then slot them into position.
Now you are ready to screw the boards together. You can use a spirit level to ensure that the boards are horizontal, the same height and distance apart, at the same angle and at right angles to each other. There is more than one way of doing this so watch out for any variations in how you may have done it yourself. The idea is that when all four corners meet in a square, they should be able to stand up on their own without falling down – like a jigsaw puzzle.
Cut balustrade panel to fit, then screw into position around the box.
- Cut the balustrade panel to fit and screw into position around the box. Use a spirit level to check each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along.
- Once all boards are in position and secured, fill with compost and plants.
Fit three lengths of timber to each side, screwed through the posts into the outside-facing edges of the bottom boards.
- Fit three lengths of timber to each side, screwed through the posts into the outside-facing edges of the bottom boards.
- The posts should be spaced no more than 1.5m apart and no more than 750mm high or 600mm high, depending on your height requirements.
Start at one end with one board, using it as a spacer, and place another board on top, aligned flush with the edge of the previous board.
To begin building your raised bed, first check that the boards you have chosen are flat. If they aren’t, they will be hard to install and won’t look good when finished—but don’t worry, we’ve got a solution.
Next, start at one end with one board, using it as a spacer and place another board on top, aligned flush with the edge of the previous board. You can use a spirit level to check each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along. The frame should be between 600mm (measuring from underside of lower rail) and 750mm high, to allow you to reach the middle of the bed without leaning over.
Fit posts at corners and at level spacing them no more than 1.5m apart if possible or practical in some situations depending on layout or size/shape of garden beds being built which may affect final height required for headroom etc….cut balustrade panel(s) (or any other type)to fit then screw into position around perimeter.
Fix each board in place by screwing through into posts at either end.
- Check the boards are level and aligned flush with the edge of the previous board.
- Use a spirit level to check each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along, then screw through into posts at either end to secure it in place.
Use a spirit level to check each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along.
Use a spirit level to check each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along. If one board is not horizontal, it will create a dip in the bed and this will make it hard to plant and will cause soil to wash away.
Once all boards are in position and secured, fill with compost and plants!
Once you have all your decking boards in place, you can begin to fill the bed with compost and plants. Before filling, use a spirit level to check that each board is perfectly horizontal as you go along. This simple method will help you create a beautiful decking bed for years of pleasure.
Start at one end with one board, using it as a spacer and place another board on top, aligned flush with the edge of the previous board. Repeat this process until all boards are secured into position; then fill in any gaps between them by carefully compacting soil around them so that no air pockets remain. Lastly, spread 2 inches (5cm) of compost over top of this layer before planting up.
This simple method will help you create a beautiful decking bed for years of pleasure.
This simple method will help you create a beautiful decking bed for years of pleasure.
Decking boards are great to use in raised beds as they’re hard-wearing and easy to maintain, but they can also be painted or stained if you want to add colour or interest.
This is such a simple project that anyone can do and it adds so much character to your garden. Not only will it allow you to grow your own food in the most natural way possible, but it will also get children involved in gardening too.
Final words
Now that you’ve learned how to build a raised bed with decking boards, it’s time to get started on your project. Just follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be done in no time. Of course, you can always customize the size of your garden to meet your needs. We wish you the best of luck with your project.
