Another advantage of the "bench" style of raised beds is that they're high enough to eliminate bending over altogether while you garden, a point that won't be lost on those who suffer from bad backs. In addition, installing a caster on each leg of the raised bed makes it portable.
But the benefits of this style of raised bed don't stop there. Many of us landscaping for small spaces live in the city, also known as "the asphalt jungle." And asphalt simply isn't friendly to plant-lovers. The raised bed that we built for this tutorial dwells on asphalt, near the back door of an urban home. No other style of raised bed would make sense in such a location.
Supplies Needed
- Drill and attachments
- Saw
- Tape Measure
- Screws
- Paint and brush
- Landscape fabric
- Staple gun and staples
- Lag bolts and ratchet wrench
- 4 Casters
- 4 finials (optional)
Let the Cutting Begin!
Selecting boards from your 2x4 pile, cut 2 of them to a length of 3', and cut 2 others to a length of 16" (see photo above). The former will be the legs for one side of the raised bed; the latter will be the braces, which will join the legs together, forming a framing unit. Repeat this process for the other side of the raised bed.
The braces will be attached to the legs in Step #3....
