How to build a simple raised garden bed

You can build a raised bed in many ways. The following example uses four scaffold boards to create a straightforward rectangular timber frame.

Raised beds are commonly used in gardens and allotments because they allow you to create a defined growing area and fill it with soil or compost suited to what you intend to grow. Raising the growing area can also make planting, weeding, and general maintenance easier, depending on the bed’s height and design.

Making a raised bed from four scaffold boards

For this example, we’ll use four new whitewood scaffold boards. Alternatively, our scaffold board raised bed kits come with the planks already cut to size, saving you the job of cutting full-length boards yourself.

1. Mark out the bed position. Decide where you want the planter and mark the outline on the ground. Use an edging tool or spade to define the perimeter.
2. Prepare the ground for the boards. Create shallow channels along the marked edges where the timber will sit. For this example, the channels are about 100mm deep, although the required ground preparation depends on the site and how level it is.
3. Position and level the timber. Place the boards into position before permanently joining anything together. Check the overall dimensions and make sure the sides sit as level as possible. Remove or add soil beneath individual sections as needed.
4. Join the corners. Once you’re satisfied with the board positions, form the frame by securing the corners. One simple method is to place appropriately sized wooden blocks inside each corner and screw the scaffold boards into them. This keeps the corner fixings inside the planter.
5. Add additional support if required. Longer sides may benefit from extra support to help keep the timber in position. Drive timber stakes into the ground around the frame as needed, with the number and spacing depending on your raised bed dimensions.
6. Fill the bed ready for planting. Once the frame is secure, fill it with soil, compost or growing mixture for the plants you intend to grow. Rather than filling to the top edge, leave some clearance to help contain the growing medium when watering and maintaining the bed.

You can then start planting once the raised bed has been filled and prepared.

This four-board design is only one way to approach the project. You can cut and arrange scaffold boards to create longer beds, smaller planters, or different layouts, depending on the available space and what you want to grow.