My garden engineer and I were at it again! This time making a Raised Planter Box. I have been using mine as a Salsa Garden growing Tomatoes and different types of Peppers. Once you have your box made it is important to get good quality plant/seeds and nice black dirt. This will give your garden the best chance of growing quality produce. I have found through research and personal experience that Burpee Brand plants tend to do best. They are healthy and fairly hearty little guys and gardening has been a breeze since I switched to using burpee whenever possible.

What you will need

• Four 1×10 or 1x12x12′ boards
  • I used cedar boards….not a fan of green-treated boards for any consumables (The width of board depends on the plants and the desired depth of the soil for a good root system)
• Four 4x4x6′ posts
• Vegetable / Garden Wire 4′ x 25′  (I was fortunate to find this in a packaged roll)
• 1x2x4′ post (I bought one 8′ piece and cut or you can buy already cut to length.)
• Screw in hooks and rings
• 2″ Wood screws
• Weed screen
• Staple-gun
• Dirt & Manure or compost
• 2 Sand Bags

Constructing your box :

(reference graphic at the bottom for numbering and lettering of pieces)

To make base:

1. Cut your boards to length
   • Cut boards to whatever length desired. We cut our 12′ boards to 6′ and 4′ lengths, with two feet left over from each board. (The 2′ pieces will be used later in the in the construction process)
2. Lay your posts out on your garage floor six feet apart.
3. Lay two of 1x12x6′ boards on top of the post (post B) positioning them so they are flush/square with the bottom of the posts
4. Use the wood screws to screw the boards to each post.
5. Flip over and use leftover 1×12 on the inside to create a solid support in the middle of the boards.
6. You should end with a “L” shape wall (this will be sides 1&2 of your planter)
7. Repeat for the opposite side. (this creates sides 3&4 with post D)
8. Carry your two side and end pieces out to where you want your box.

Assemble:

1. Stand up one side of your wall (This is where I suggest a helper, this can be done alone but might get tricky.)
2. Have your helper (or as I call them your minion) hold this up while you position one of the end boards flush and square to the bottom corner of the post and using the woods screws screw to the outside edge of the post (This should look like an L)
3. Stand up the other side of your box and screw end board in place on the other post (square and flush)
4. I suggest that you do one board on each end as it makes it easier to move into position and square up.
5. Once you are happy with the placement and square of the box attach the other end boards.
6. to simplify: use post A and post C to attach your two L walls together.

Prepping Area:

1. I left the bottom of the box open for drainage and used the weed screen to prevent weeds and grass from growing up through the bottom.
2. Lay out your weed screen. (once your box is assembled it helps to staple the screen to the bottom)

Prepare Your Garden

1. Spread sand in the bottom of your planter to encourage good drainage.
2. Fill with your dirt, manure/compost mixture to the desired depth.
   • We filled ours to about 18″-20″ or to the middle of the second board of the box
   • This took two trips to the local yard & garden center…filling the bed of my truck twice with good black dirt

Protect Your Garden:

1. Now we’ll make the deer fencing! (Below is a graphic to help guide you through the process)
   • Take the vegetable wire to create a wall around your posts. (I used the plastic type, it tends to be easier to work with)
2. Staple the vegetable wire to the post D on the far end box and wrap around post A and staple into place and continue to post B.
   • This should cover one end and wrap around the opposite end of the outside wall if done correctly
3. Using one of the 1x2x4′ posts- wrap the fencing around post one time and staple in place.
4. Using the screw in hooks and rings- screw the a hook into side of the 1×2, position one at the top and one at the bottom
5. Hold in place flush with the top board of the box and screw in the hoop/O-ring into the 4×4 post (post B) to meet up with your hook
   • If done correctly the hooks should easily slide into the O-rings to create a closure and hold the fencing in place
   • This can be opened any time you need to work your garden
   • Repeat process starting on the outside corner of where you positioned the hook/hoop closure
   • I did this on both sides just to make it easier to get to either side of the garden
   • This keeps out the deer and bunnies from eating your plants

Plant those veggies!:

1. Plant, water and enjoy!!!

Hunkiedorië

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