" twist drill bitWhen conventional gardening is not an option — if you don’t have the space, perhaps, or the right kind of soil — raised beds are often a viable, if not advantageous, alternative. Beds with conservative widths (3'–5') allow you to reach into the middle to plant or weed without ever stepping on, and thus compacting, the soil. And the bench seats at the ends allow you to sit comfortably, as opposed to bending over while tending the bed.
MATERIALS
Lumber
2"×8" cedar (two 12' lengths)
Supplies
Twenty-four 3" galvanized wood screws
Tools
Tape measure
Pencil
Carpenter’s square
Wood saw
Power drill
" twist drill bit
Driver bit to match screws
Preparing the Bed for Planting
While you can simply fill a raised bed with soil once it is built, doing some prior ground preparation will produce much better results. Once you’ve chosen a location (a spot that will provide full sun is ideal), remove any turf. Next, dig down, turning over a couple feet of subsoil. Finally, fill the bed with a good mixture of soil, compost, and manure, and level the surface.
SHALLOW RAISED BED. The built-in benches on this handy planter provide a convenient and comfortable perch for tending your plants.
Cutting the lumber. Cut the cedar into two 72" lengths for the long sides 
, two 33" lengths for the short sides 
, and two 36" lengths for benches 
.
Constructing the bed. Create a rectangular frame by fastening the long sides to the short sides , as shown. Then set the bench seats atop the frame, flushing up the edges, and fasten them in place.
Setting up the bed. Locate the bed where it will catch full sun if possible. Mark off the size of the bed with stakes and string. Then use a shovel to dig down and remove all sod, grass, and weeds.
FIG. 1
BUILDER’S TIP
Adding bench boards to the ends of the raised bed not only provides a comfortable seat for weeding but also serves to strengthen the corners.
