How to Build a Raised Garden Bed That Lasts Years

A well-built cedar raised bed lasts a decade. Cheap construction lasts two seasons before the corners blow out.

Use rough-cut 2x10 or 2x12 cedar — never thin fence boards. The thicker stock resists warping and bowing from soil pressure, especially when wet. A standard 4x8 ft bed uses three 8 ft boards and three 4 ft boards (after one 8 ft board is cut in half).

Skip the metal angle brackets at the corners. Instead, cut four 2x4 cedar posts about 12" long and screw the long and short boards into the posts from the outside with 3" exterior screws. The posts give you a much stronger corner and let you embed the posts a few inches into the ground for stability.

Line the inside with landscape fabric (not plastic). Fabric retains soil but lets water drain, which is critical in PNW winters. Don't put hardware cloth or fabric on the bottom unless you have major gopher pressure — open bottoms drain better and let roots reach deeper.

Fill with a quality raised bed mix from a local supplier (Cedar Grove or Pacific Topsoils in the Seattle area). Skip bagged 'topsoil' from big-box stores — it's usually compacted clay and your plants will struggle.