Build this raised bed with benches for a garden thats high off the ground, with seating on all four sides. Ideal for people with back or knee issues.
This half-day project makes gardening easier and more comfortable. Its higher than most raised beds, so you dont have to bend over quite as much, plus it has a bench on each side so you can sit while you plant, weed, and harvest. This is an ideal garden set-up for older gardeners, folks with back or knee problems, or anyone simply looking for an attractive, unique style of raised bed to add to the yard.
Cut the lumber yourself if you have some woodworking experience, or make it easy by having the boards pre-cut at your local home improvement store.
Be sure to choose a level piece of ground in a well-drained area that gets at least 6 to 8 hours of sun per day.
To help prevent weeds, cover the ground inside the bed with newspaper or landscaping cloth before filling with premium quality soil developed especially for raised beds, such as Miracle-Gro® Raised Bed Soil. Also, be sure to feed your veggies and herbs throughout the season with a plant food like Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Tomato, Fruit & Vegetable Plant Food, which is designed to give your edible plants the nutrients they need to grow strong and deliver a big harvest.
To build our Raised Bed with Benches, watch the video, scroll down for instructions, or download our printable PDF guide.
A raised garden bed with built-in bench seating is a great way to make gardening easier and more enjoyable. Elevating the bed reduces back strain from bending over, while the benches give you a place to relax and take breaks. With some simple DIY skills you can construct a beautiful and functional raised bed with benches to grow vegetables, herbs flowers, and more.
Benefits of Adding Benches to a Raised Garden Bed
Combining bench seating with a raised garden bed offers several advantages:
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Reduces bending and strain for more comfortable gardening. Working at waist height or sitting puts less stress on your back and knees.
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Provides built-in seating. Benches give you a convenient spot to sit while gardening, observing your plants, or just relaxing.
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Increases accessibility. Having benches makes gardening possible for those with limited mobility who can’t kneel or bend over easily
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Encourages relaxation and enjoyment. Benches let you spend more time unwinding and enjoying the beauty of your garden.
Planning and Design Considerations
When planning your raised bed with benches, think about the optimal size, shape, seating placement, and materials:
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Size A 4×8 foot bed is a nice standard size, but adjust dimensions to fit your space Make it at least 12-18 inches deep for adequate root room
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Shape: Rectangular is simplest, but L-shaped, U-shaped, and custom curves work too.
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Seating: Benches on 1, 2, or all 4 sides are great options. Position benches where you’ll access the bed most.
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Materials: Naturally rot-resistant woods like cedar and redwood are attractive options. Use coated deck screws to prevent corrosion.
Step-by-Step Building Instructions
Follow these steps to build a raised bed with a bench on one side:
1. Cut the Wood to Size
Cut all wood boards to the lengths specified in your plans using a miter saw. Precut wood from the lumberyard simplifies this step.
2. Construct the Side Walls
Attach boards together with deck screws to form the two side assemblies. Check corners are square.
3. Add Supporting Corner Posts
On the outside of the side walls, position and screw in 4×4 posts at the corners to provide sturdy supports.
4. Build the Benches
For each bench, screw a 2×4 cleat and 2×6 seat boards together using deck screws and exterior wood glue.
5. Attach the Benches
Screw the completed benches into the 4×4 corner posts at a comfortable height (around 18 inches).
6. Make the End Walls
Construct the front and back walls by screwing boards together, just like the side walls.
7. Bring It All Together
Screw the front, back, and side assemblies together with the 4×4 posts at the corners to finish the box frame.
8. Add Bottom and Soil
Line the bottom with hardware cloth to keep out pests. Fill with high-quality raised bed soil mix and start planting!
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to build a raised garden bed with benches that will last for years:
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Use naturally rot-resistant wood, or pressure-treated lumber approved for ground contact. This prevents premature decay.
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Elevate the bed at least 6 inches above ground for drainage and to deter burrowing pests.
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Include perimeter supports like 4×4 posts every 4-6 feet to prevent bulging and keep beds level.
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Use galvanized or other coated deck screws to resist corrosion. Regular nails will rust and stain the wood.
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Add casters to make moving and repositioning the bed easy. This allows you to rotate it to follow the sunlight.
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Line the bottom with 1/4-inch hardware cloth to block pests from burrowing up from below.
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Fill with a quality soil mix specially blended for optimal drainage and nutrients in raised beds.
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Allow enough space between plants for them to mature to full size. Overcrowding causes issues.
Get Growing!
With the right plans and materials, you can create a wonderful raised bed with built-in benches to make gardening more comfortable, accessible, and enjoyable. The seating allows you to spend time relaxing and observing nature in your personal garden sanctuary.
Learn more about how to get started!
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
What will you grow? Fresh plants delivered safely to your door.
DIY Raised Redwood Flower Bed Design with supported Bench Seat
FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy or build raised garden beds?
However, a Durable GreenBed kit is useable for 20-25 plus years and stays attractive for just as long. A homemade raised garden bed might be cheaper in the short term, but it will cost you far more time and money in the long run.
What is the German raised garden bed method?
What is Hugelkultur? Hugelkultur is German for hill culture or hill mound. It basically means building a raised garden bed using wood materials or wood shavings to pile up in a mound. You then layer on compostable materials and soil until you have a raised bed, usually 1-2 feet high, to plant your garden in.
What do I put in the bottom of a raised garden bed?
All you have to do to hold the soil inside your raised bed is put down some type of porous material. You can do weed barrier cloth or plain ol’ burlap.Apr 27, 2024
What are the disadvantages of raised garden beds?
While generally minor, raised beds do have some disadvantages. Raised beds dry out faster than level garden sites. Accordingly, they have to be watered more frequently in dry weather. Initial construction of the raised bed may take more effort than maintenance of the conventional garden.
Can you build a raised bed with benches?
Build this raised bed with benches for a garden that’s high off the ground, with seating on all four sides. Ideal for people with back or knee issues. This half-day project makes gardening easier and more comfortable.
How big is a raised garden bed?
Free PDF download (link at bottom of blog post). This raised garden bed measures 4’x6′ and has a bench attached to it. The instructions include how to build a raised garden bed with illustration, measurements, shopping list, and a cutting list. Before you begin building look for an area that gets plenty of sun light.
Are raised garden bed plans a good idea?
If any backyard furniture deserves an award for being highly utilitarian, the raised garden bed is a top contender, and you need raised garden bed plans to make one! In essence, a raised bed is a massive planting box. It doesn’t sound like much when it’s described like that, but it solves a lot of problems.
How big should a garden bed be?
At 3 feet wide and 6 feet long, this garden bed design has enough space for tomatoes and other sprawling plants, but it’s still narrow enough for you to reach the center from either side. The cap railings add a hint of complexity, but they add a more finished look to the garden bed, and give you something to rest on and place your tools.
How long does it take to build a raised garden bed?
This raised garden bed design from Chris Hill is just wonderful. It’s higher than your average raised beds, and it comes with benches where you can sit as you harvest, water, or plant in your garden. And the project will only take you half a day if you have some woodworking experience.
How do you build a raised garden bed?
Once you have selected an area mark an outline of the size of the raised garden bed and level the area. Measure, cut, and lay landscaping fabric on the ground and begin building.