Hi everyone! I'm new to woodworking and have been asked to build two raised garden beds for a coworker. I've got a few questions that I'd love your input on:
1. What type of wood is better for the garden beds: treated or untreated cedar? There's a lot of back and forth on this.
2. When it comes to the bottom of the beds, I've seen different methods. Some people lay planks flush while others space them out and use wire fencing with landscaping fabric. What's the best approach for the bottom? If I go with a flush bottom, will it drain well? Do I need to add wire fencing or landscaping fabric?
3. Lastly, are there any recommended YouTube videos or plans for building raised garden beds that could help?
Any additional tips would be fantastic. Thanks a bunch!
1 Answer
If you're dealing with burrowing animals, definitely consider using wire at the bottom, but if not, it's not really necessary. I usually go for untreated lumber to avoid any potential leaching into the soil. If you're building directly on grass, cardboard can be a great base to suppress weeds. For dimensions, 2x6 or 2x8 planks work well, depending on how deep you want your garden. And yeah, you'll find plenty of helpful stuff on sites like Gardeners.com, plus some solid YouTube videos to guide you on building raised beds.
Wouldn't treated lumber pose a risk of chemicals leaching into the soil and affecting the veggies?
Thanks for the insight! Why do you suggest cardboard for the bottom when building on grass?