30 Free DIY Raised Garden Bed Plans (PDF Instructions) (2024)

Looking for raised garden bed plans? You’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking for a waist-high raised garden bed or just a little elevated raised garden bed, we’ve got 30 free plans to choose from. And best of all, most of the DIY raised garden bed plans are available as a PDF files, so you can download and print them out at your convenience.

Raised garden beds are a great way to grow your own vegetables, herbs, and flowers. They can be built at any size and height to meet your needs, and they can be made from a variety of materials. If you want to build a raised garden bed, find 30 free diy raised garden bed plans (pdf instructions) that contain step-by-step instructions on how to build a raised garden bed. You can find free plans for raised garden beds made from wood, stone, brick, and even recycled materials. If you’re handy with tools, you can easily build your own raised garden bed. No matter what your budget or skill level, you can find raised garden bed plans to suit your needs.

These free raised garden bed plans are perfect for making your backyard look amazing. Raised garden beds are very aesthetically pleasing, and you can grow crops there. You can also grow your favorite flowers!

Mainly, people use garden beds to grow crops when the soil is eroded and isn’t working well. These can also help keep your crops safe from insects, so fewer pesticides are used, which results in good quality and healthy crops. This article will cover a range of 30 free DIY raised garden bed plans, from wooden to metal ones, from self-watering to two-tier ones, and from pallet wood to ones with rolling wheels! There’s a lot to choose from.

1. Sturdy Raised Garden Bed

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Here’s a fantastic plan for the people who like to keep things basic as they tend to add a clean and minimalistic look to the house. Simple wood is being used and a rectangle shape. It is very spacious, so you can grow many crops in it. thenavagepatch

2. Above Ground Garden Bed

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Are you trying to find something that will get the job done and look aesthetically pleasing? This is an excellent plan for you as it has many combined materials, and you can grow almost any type of crop there. It turns out to look stunning! familyhandyman

3. Raised Garden Bed on Legs

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Sometimes, we just want something simple and easy to get the job done and add the X factor. This plan is very beginner-friendly! Lag bolts galvanized screws, mesh hardware, a box of screws, landscape fabric, and a few other tools and materials will be required for you to successfully nail this project! instructables

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Metal is a very strong material, so it is perfect to use for a project like this one! It is durable and sturdy, and that is what is required to hold that much soil into place! It also looks very pretty in the sunlight, and it will reflect some of the sunlight, which will make it look shiny. mklibrary

5. Hugelkultur Raised Garden Beds

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These raised garden bed plans are just perfect to crop many plants; for example, this plan includes around six beds, which are enough to grow a lot of stuff! You can choose to dedicate one to each crop. This is because growing different crops in the same garden bed may cause some problems. yankeehome

6. 3×5 Raised Garden Bed

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A garden bed like this will make your life a lot easier as you will have to put little to no effort into maintaining your crops. Metal snips, paintbrush, stain, brackets, screws, screwdriver, and a few other tools and materials will be required for you to nail this project successfully. bhg

7. Self-Watering Raised Bed

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When crops are grown on a raised bed, there is little to no maintenance needed. However, one thing you still have to do is to water the plants. If you don’t want to do any work at all, a self-watering bed would be perfect for that! Watch your plants grow without any hard work. diy dunnlumber

8. Raised Planting Bed

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How beautiful is this bed? You don’t need much to make this project a success – a few basic tools which can be borrowed from a friend if you’re a beginner and some patience. The final product is absolutely stunning, and it will look amazing in your backyard! familyhandyman

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If aesthetics is your main focus, then using roofing metal is the best option! Your backyard will look beautiful with this bed, and you can grow some pretty flowers in it. Using metal will save you a lot of hard work as you don’t have to be precise with the cutting. instructables

Waist High Raised Garden Bed Plans

DIY raised garden beds are a great way to create a gardening space that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. And while there are many raised garden bed kits available for purchase, it is also possible to build your own raised garden bed. With a few tools and some basic carpentry skills, you can easily construct a raised garden bed that is waist-high, making it easy to tend to your plants without having to bend over.

Best of all, by building your own raised garden bed, you can customize it to fit your exact needs and preferences. So whether you’re looking for a raised garden bed that is raised high off the ground or one that is lower to the ground, you can easily build it yourself. And with a little creativity, you can even add features like trellises or irrigation systems to make your raised garden bed even more functional.

So if you’re thinking about adding a raised garden bed to your home, don’t be discouraged by the thought of having to purchase a kit. With a little time and effort, you can easily build your own raised garden bed that will provide you with years of enjoyment.

10. Two Tier Raised Garden Bed

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If you don’t have enough space to place two beds on the floor, this type of design will work amazingly for you to grow more crops in less space. Corner plates, miter saw, wide corner braces, power drill, staple gun, and a few other supplies will be needed. anikasdiylife

11. Pallet Raised Garden Bed

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There are so many shades of wood in this amazing bed! You can use this technique to make something very unique and beautiful! The final results are very pretty; however, this project may be a little hard for beginners to complete. blackanddecker

12. Raised Garden Bed on Wheels

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Isn’t this just so cool? The beautiful coloring gives it a very clean and beautiful look. It looks very modern, so it will work very well with that type of aesthetic in apartments or modern houses. However, the size is very small, so it will work well for decorating reasons only. bhg

13. Raised Garden Bed Using Cedar Wood

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Raised beds like these can help you solve a lot of problems and avoid backaches, as well! It can be really hard to bend down and work with your crops, so this is amazing. Shovel, gloves, electric drill, hammer, circular saw, and a few other tools and materials will be needed. frysauceandgrits

14. Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed

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Cinder blocks work very well when you are making a raised bed, and they will be perfect for making everything look even more beautiful. This is because you can grow little flowers in them, which turns out to look absolutely stunning when the whole project is completed. sunshineandrain

15. Raised Garden Bed with Trellis

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In comparison to the other raised garden bed plans, this one comes with a trellis attached! That is very helpful and also looks very pretty. The bed has a pretty average size that most people like and tend to for! It will fit any sized house, perfectly. emilyaclark

16. Movable Raised Garden Bed

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Are you looking for something more minimalistic? Well, here’s something amazing for you, which will definitely look beautiful in your backyard. It is simple, white, and plain. Miter saw leveler, tape measure, drill, shovel, and a few other supplies will be required. diynetwork

17. How to Build Raised Garden Bed

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Here’s a very basic plan for a raised garden bed. It is nothing special, but it gets the work done. If you don’t want to put too much effort into the aesthetics, this will work out perfectly for you as it is a great size and will let you grow many different plants. lilblueboo

18. Raised Vegetable Garden Bed

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In comparison to the other raised garden bed plans, this one is very huge and will cover a ton of space. You can always change the sizings and customize it according to your likings. However, a huge bed like this one is very helpful to grow a ton of different plans in one place. rogueengineer

19. Homemade Raised Garden Bed

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If you just want something simple and easy that doesn’t take a ton of time to complete, follow this plan! It won’t take more time than a whole free weekend. Planks of untreated wood, exterior screws, and a few other materials will be needed for you to nail this project. whatsurhome

20. Dynamic Raised Garden Bed

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When trying to grow crops that have long roots and tend to grow deep into the soil, choosing a highly raised platform like this one would be perfect. Your crops will turn out to look more healthy and have very good quality. ana white

21. Raised Bed Using Building Blocks

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Who knew that you could do something like this using a few building blocks? You may have them saved somewhere in the storeroom from your childhood. 3-inch screws, drill set, seedlings, potting mix, irrigation tubing, and a few other tools and materials will be required for you to nail this project. diynetwork

22. Elevated Planter Raised Bed

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These raised garden bed plans are just the perfect way to make your backyard look super stunning! For example, this bed can help add a modern look to it, which takes away the plainness which was there before. Grow your favorite flowers in it! instructables

Creating an elevated garden bed is a great way to add interest and variety to your landscape. Not only do elevated garden beds provide visual interest, but they also offer a number of benefits for your plants. For example, elevated garden beds can offer better drainage and aeration for your plants, as well as protection from pests and weeds.

If you’re looking for elevated garden bed plans, there are a number of different elevated garden beds available here. You can find plans for both simple and complex designs, so you can choose the option that best suits your needs. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can easily create an elevated garden bed that will add beauty and function to your space.

23. Build a Raised Garden Bed

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If you want to make sure that you don’t mix up the plants once they grow, adding separations like the one shown in the guide is just perfect. Cedar boards, galvanized wood screws, staple gun, drill, chicken wire, and a few other tools and materials will be required. abeautifulmess

24. Raised Garden Bed Plans

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If you don’t have good enough soil to make a raised bed out of it, or maybe you just don’t want to dig into the soil. This is a great way to make an elevated bed, which will provide the same effect. You can keep this in any corner where the sunlight hits a day long. remodelaholic

25. Round Raised Garden Bed

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You may have seen square or rectangular beds until now. Well, now is the time to look at something unique! Here’s a round raised bed that will work perfectly for aesthetics as it is very pretty and has a light and white color to it. You can grow any of your favorite crops in it. oleanderandpalm

26. $15 Raised Garden Bed

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Installing a raised garden bed can be quite expensive, especially if you’re trying to go for good quality. However, not everyone wants to spend a bunch of money on it. Here’s a plan for how you can install it for just around $15. The quality is pretty good, as well. farmhouseon

27. U Shaped Raised Garden Bed

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If you’re tired of seeing the rectangle and square shapes everywhere, then here’s a very cool shape for you, which is U-shaped! Isn’t that just so cool? It’s very different from other plans, and you will love it will turn out. Only a few basic tools and materials will be required. brittanystager

28. DIY Raised Bed and Trellis

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Trying to have more control over what you’re farming? A raised bed would be perfect for that. This one also comes with a trellis attached! Cable clips, speed square, level, drill, hammer, nail gun, bolt cutters, lag screws, cedar boards, and a few other supplies will be required. hgtv

29. L-shaped Raised Garden Bed

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How great is this plan? You don’t need too many supplies for this, however, what you do need is patience. This is because getting the perfect L-shape will take a little time and planning. The end results are absolutely stunning and totally worth the hard work. uglyduckling

30. Raised Garden Bed with Benches

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Some people love nature and spend many hours of their day sitting beside it. If you’re one of those people, then you should definitely think of investing your time in making this raised bed with a bench attached! You will how it will turn out. quartoknows

Related DIY Garden Ideas:

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DIY Garden Ideas To Make Your Outdoor Space Beautiful

Looking for ways to make your garden look beautiful? Check out these DIY garden ideas! From adding plants and flowers to decorating with accessories, there are plenty of ways to make your outdoor space look great.

DIY Vertical Garden Ideas (Outdoor & Indoor)

Vertical gardens are a great way to add some life to a wall or space that is otherwise unused. They can also be a fun project for the whole family to work on together. There are many different ways to make a vertical garden, so choose the one that best suits your needs.

If you are looking for an easy and affordable way to create a vertical garden, then consider using recycled materials. You can use old tyres, crates, or even buckets to create your garden. All you need is some soil, plants, and a way to hang them up.

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Conclusion

Are you ready to try some amazing raised garden bed plans? If yes, then now is the chance to get started! If you live in a place that tends to get very hot in the summer, it is recommended not to get started now. A little research is required. You need to decide the crop you want to plant first. Once it’s decided, search for details about how you can grow it and what temperatures are needed. All of these details will guarantee a great final project!

30 Free DIY Raised Garden Bed Plans (PDF Instructions) (2024)

FAQs

What do you put in the bottom of a raised garden bed? ›

Soil is the foundation of your garden, and you want it to be healthy so you can set your plants up for success! We recommend buying high-quality, nutrient-rich soil in bulk. Or, you can make a soil mix with equal parts topsoil, organic materials (leaves, composted manure, ground bark), and coarse sand.

Is it cheaper to buy or build raised garden beds? ›

On average, a DIY raised bed constructed from wood will cost $25 to $50 per square foot. To have a wooden raised bed constructed and installed for you, budget for at least $100 per square foot. (Find a kitchen garden company in your area.)

How to build a raised garden bed cheap on a budget? ›

Here are a few items you could use, round up or find in your yard to create a raised bed on a small budget.
  1. Bricks.
  2. Stones.
  3. Wood or barn wood (make sure it's chemical free)
  4. Fence pickets.
  5. Cinder blocks.
  6. Galvanized tubs.
May 3, 2024

How deep should a raised garden bed on legs be? ›

A raised bed does not always require a significant depth for it to be effective. They should have at least 8 inches of soil depth to accommodate the root systems of plants, because the majority of plant roots require 6 – 8 inches of soil for healthy root growth.

What are three mistakes to avoid when gardening with raised beds? ›

What Are 3 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Gardening with Raised Beds?
  • Overcrowding Plants. One of the most common mistakes made when gardening with raised beds is overcrowding plants. ...
  • Using Poor Quality Soil. Another common mistake when gardening with raised beds is using poor quality soil. ...
  • Neglecting Watering and Drainage.
Mar 11, 2023

What are the two cons of raised beds? ›

The cons of raised beds

The main downside of raised beds is the work and expense of creating them in the first place. You don't have to use borders (soil can be raked into raised beds each season), but if you do, you'll have to acquire the wood, blocks, or stone.

How many years do raised beds last? ›

Regular pine board can be used as well. Pine will last an average of 5 years as a raised garden bed, and redwood will last more like 10 years. Landscaping block and brick can make for a good raised bed as well.

How high should a raised garden bed be? ›

Among the various factors to consider when building a raised garden bed, height plays a pivotal role. While there are various options available, a height of 24 inches stands out as the best height for a raised garden bed.

How to make a simple raised bed? ›

A step-by-step guide to making a timber-framed raised bed
  1. Dig out a shallow trench. ...
  2. Position the first layer of timbers. ...
  3. Screw the timbers together. ...
  4. Add the second layer. ...
  5. Prepare the base of the bed. ...
  6. Fill up the bed. ...
  7. Leave the bed to settle.

What soil should I put in a raised bed? ›

While potting mix alone is too light for use in raised beds, creating a 50:50 blend of potting mix and Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil will give just the right balance.

What is the cheapest material to use for raised garden beds? ›

Wood Is Often the Cheapest Raised Bed Material. Wood is the least expensive and most popular option for constructing your raised garden bed.

How many bags of soil do I need for a 4x8 raised bed? ›

For a 4x8-foot raised bed with a 6” height, using Mel's Mix: about 5 cubic feet each of compost, peat moss, and vermiculite is needed. It usually takes about two to three bags of purchased fertile mix (1.5 cubic feet each) to cover the bed surface to a depth of 2 inches.

How deep does a raised garden bed need to be for tomatoes? ›

Tomatoes should ideally be grown in a raised bed that's at least 15 to 18 inches deep. Many of my clients in Houston are successfully growing tomatoes in 12-inch deep raised garden beds, but their plants tend to be a little stunted compared to plants in deeper beds.

What goes on the bottom of a raised garden bed? ›

Start with a layer of landscape fabric to prevent soil from washing out. Above this, a layer of gravel or small stones can aid in drainage. Then, fill the bed with a mix of topsoil, compost, and other organic matter. This layered approach ensures good drainage while providing a nutrient-rich environment for plants.

What is the best base layer for a raised garden bed? ›

Cardboard and Wood Chips: Layering cardboard at the bottom of your raised bed is an effective, cost-efficient way to suppress weeds. It eventually breaks down, enriching the soil with carbon. Wood chips can be added on top of the cardboard as an additional layer for weed control and moisture retention.

Do you need to put anything under a raised garden bed? ›

'f your garden bed is less than six inches in depth, then it is okay to not use a barrier to provide plant roots with adequate space to grow downwards. Any beds deeper than six inches should, ideally, have a layer of protection between the raised bed soil and the ground. '

What should you fill a raised garden bed with? ›

Compost, seed-free plant debris, kitchen scraps, grass clippings, used coffee grounds, newspaper, weed-free straw, and other organic materials can be added to raised beds to fill space and reduce soil usage.

Should raised garden beds have bottoms? ›

You don't really need a bottom unless your raised bed will sit on a surface you'd like to protect such as a wooden patio deck, a balcony, a porch, a concrete walkway, etc. Standing planters also, obviously, have bottoms so that they can hold the contents of the garden several feet above the ground.

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