Southern California has experienced record-breaking rainfalls this winter, which has become visually apparent as everything starts to come alive with blooms. Why not add some of this beauty right at home? Soon the days will become longer and warmer, making it an ideal time to create your own backyard garden.
With ever-increasing grocery prices, building a raised garden bed is a budget-friendly way to add functional decor to your outdoor space. You can grow and harvest your favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers year-round. If you’re ready to take on your next DIY project, starting a garden is easier than you might think.
Choosing Materials and Dimensions
For most raised garden beds, 2×6 or 2X12 redwood can be stacked based on the height you want to achieve and used alongside 4×4 redwood boards for the corners. Redwood is a renewable resource and beautiful to use for any outdoor project. And, for over 60 years, J&W Lumber has served as a SoCal’s redwood specialist, with several grades and sizes always in stock.
Another popular, budget-friendly lumber option is 5/4 Western Red Cedar. Due to its thinner size you can cut material costs, while still maintaining a quality look for your garden project. It’s also a sustainable and versatile wood to work with and known for its natural beauty. Regardless of the type of wood you choose, make sure to steer clear of pressure-treated lumber for edible gardens so chemicals don’t leach into the soil and contaminate your plants.
The typical dimension for raised garden beds is four feet wide by eight or twelve feet in length to create a rectangular shape. However, sizes can be customized based on your space needs and garden setup. Meanwhile, the depth of the box(es) varies depending on what’s being planted. For instance, tomatoes require more box depth (approximately 18” – 24”) versus what’s needed for flowers.
Making the Process Fast and User-Friendly
At J&W Lumber, we can cut the wood to size, making all boards uniform lengths, which means no at-home sawing necessary. Once you have the lumber, simply drill the pieces together with screws and finish with a mildew- and UV-resistant stain to preserve the wood and appearance of your raised garden bed.
Our stores also carry weed fabric barriers to protect the inside of the garden box and allow for proper water drainage. Hardware cloth is also available, which is a steel barrier that reduces rabbits, gophers, or other burrowing critters from destroying your garden. You can also maximize the growing space by attaching vertical lattice panels and wire to secure vines into place. Though this decorative feature comes with an additional expense, it can help keep your garden organized and thriving season after season.
Building a raised garden bed is a fast and easy project that can sit inside any patio or yard. It’s even accessible for those who want to grow their own spices or a smaller version to place in a window sill or on an apartment balcony. When you want to add some freshness to your space, it takes minimal effort at an affordable cost to create something homemade.
At J&W Lumber, our specialists are here to help you get the materials you need to start growing. The chilly, rainy weather of winter will soon subside and what better way to usher in spring than with a new garden. Stop by your local J&W Lumber store today.