Too Lazy To Garden
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Beginner
4' × 8' × ~11 inch tall (11 inch corner supports)
1.5 – 2 hours
$80–$120

Super Simple 4×8 Cedar Raised Bed

A simple, popular rectangle bed made from cedar. Great for vegetables, herbs, and flowers.

Estimated cost

$80 – $120

Estimated time

1.5 – 2 hours

Lifespan

8–12 years with proper care

Soil needed

32 cubic feet (about 1.2 cubic yards)

Weight empty

120–150 lbs

Weight full

1800–2200 lbs (with soil)

Best for

Vegetables, herbs, and flowers

Placement

Place on level ground in full sun. Leave space to walk around all sides.

Finished 4×8 cedar raised bed on grass
Finished build

Boards to Buy

Boards to BuyQuantityWhat You Use Them For
2×6 × 8 ft cedar boards64 cut to 45" for short ends + 2 full length for long sides
2×2 × 8 ft (optional corner + middle supports)1Cut into 4 pieces @ 11 inch for corners, plus 2 more @ 11 inch for middle supports if desired
  • ·(40) 2.5" or 3" exterior deck screws (not drywall screws)
  • ·Landscape fabric (optional) — bottom weed barrier
  • ·(4) Metal L-brackets (optional) — for stronger corners

Steps

  1. 1What you cut: keep 2 of the 8 ft boards as they are (these are the long sides).
  2. 2Cut the 2 short 4 ft boards into 45 inch pieces. You’ll get two 45 inch boards.
  3. 3Why 45 inch? So the bed ends up exactly 4 feet wide on the outside. If you don’t cut them, it will be too wide.
  4. 4Cut the 4 corner 2×2 boards into 11 inch pieces. You’ll get four 11 inch corner supports.
  5. 5Lay everything out on the ground to make a big rectangle: two long 8 ft boards on the sides, two 45 inch boards on the ends.
  6. 6Stand a 11 inch 2×2 corner support in each inside corner. Screw through the long and short boards into the corner support. This makes the bed much stronger and keeps it square. The supports will be flush with the top board because two 2×6 boards are really 11 inch tall.
  7. 7Screw the corners together. Put 4 screws in each corner (two through the long side, two through the short side).
  8. 8Optional: add metal L-brackets on the outside corners for extra strength.
  9. 9Optional: staple landscape fabric on the bottom so weeds don’t grow up into the bed.
  10. 10Set the bed on flat ground. Done.
  11. 11Tip: cedar is naturally rot-resistant. Avoid pressure-treated lumber for food gardens.
  12. 12Staining (Optional): Cedar is naturally resistant to rot. If you want the bed to look better and last longer, you can stain or seal the outside only. Avoid staining the inside if you plan to grow vegetables or herbs.
  13. 13Optional: add a 2×2 middle support on each long side to keep the boards from bowing outward under soil pressure. Cut two 11-inch pieces from the leftover 2×2 × 8 ft board and screw one to the middle of each long side, driving the lower end into the ground for extra hold.
  14. 14Do you need corner boards? For a 4 ft bed, not really. For a 6–8 ft bed like this one, yes — recommended. For over 8 ft, strongly recommended.

Tools needed

  • ·Circular saw or miter saw
  • ·Cordless drill / driver
  • ·Tape measure
  • ·Pencil
  • ·Speed square (very helpful for making straight cuts and checking square corners)
  • ·Safety glasses & work gloves
  • ·Optional: staple gun (only if using landscape fabric)

Common mistakes to avoid

  • ·Not making the bed square
  • ·Using regular screws instead of deck screws
  • ·Not adding corner supports on long beds
  • ·Placing it on uneven ground

Maintenance tips

Check screws once a year and tighten if needed. Re-stain the outside every 2–3 years if desired.

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