Building a Raised Planter
- 1). Select the best location for your raised garden planter. Choose an area that receives as much sunlight as possible throughout the day. The area also should be level to avoid one area of the garden from becoming swampy if it doesn't drain well. A sunny, level area near the kitchen is a good location.
- 2). Determine the dimensions of your planter. You want to be able to reach everything in your planter without having to step on the soil. Compacted soil yields fewer fruits. Keep the width of your planter to less than four feet, but the length can be as long or as short as you like. The height should be no shallower than six inches, especially if you have rocky or claylike soil. If you want to plant crops that require more room for roots, make your planter 10 inches deep.
- 3). Prepare the site for your raised planter by placing stakes at each corner. Wrap twine around the stakes to see the actual dimensions of your planter in your chosen location. Make adjustments if necessary. When you've settled on the site, dig out existing turf and loosen the soil beneath. Rake the soil until it's level.
- 4). Cut the 4-by-4-inch piece of lumber into four 16-inch pieces. These four pieces will be the corner posts for your raised planter. Cut two 2-by-6-inch boards for each side, according to the lengths you previously determined.
- 5). Dig post holes four inches deep for the four corner pieces. Securely position them in the ground. Lay the bottom layer of 2-by-6-inch boards in place. They should butt up against the outsides of the four corner pieces. Drill them into the corner pieces with galvanized screws. When all four boards are in place, add the second layer of 2-by-6-inch boards directly on top of the the first layer. Screw these boards into the corner posts as you did with the bottom layer. Unlike the corner posts, the 2-by-6-inch boards don't need to be recessed into the ground. You can dig a shallow trench for them if you prefer to recess them.
- 6). Fill your planter with good soil. One of the major benefits of raised planters is that you can use perfect soil. Fill your planter with a mixture of topsoil, organic compost and manure. In the fall after you've harvested your plants, add organic matter, such as lawn clippings or dead leaves, to continually add nutrients to your soil.
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