There is nothing better than the taste of a juicy homegrown tomato with fresh herbs from the garden. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been daydreaming about warm summer days in the garden; you might even have your seeds!
This year, I expanded my garden with a raised bed to improve drainage and soil quality. But choosing the right building material was tricky. The materials need to be safe for the garden, resistant to rot and decay over time, aesthetically pleasing, and of course, budget friendly! After much research and budgeting, I decided to try building my bed using TimberTech® composite fascia boards. Although this is an unconventional material for a garden bed, I was intrigued by the product benefits and wanted to give it a try.
Just like TimberTech decking, the composite fascia boards won’t rot or decay, it won’t attract insects, and it won’t require any maintenance over time! There are many colors to choose from, so you can find any color to meet your aesthetic. Best of all, I was able to complete this project for under $120! Keep reading below to see how it turned out!
Building Material List
Materials List:
- 2 x TimberTech Composite Fascia Boards
($70 total)- I used TimberTech Edge Premier fascia boards in Beachwood Gray from Warehouse ’71.
- You can use any composite or PVC fascia boards, as long as they are capped.
- 1 x 10 ft. Treated Lumber 4×4
($25) - 1 x 62 ct. Deck-Plus Color Match Composite Fasteners
($11) - 1 x 2 ct. DeWalt Bit Pack
($5) – Extra bits, just in case!
Power Tools:
- Drill for drilling pilot holes and installing fasteners, with drill bits
- Jigsaw for cutting fascia boards down to size
- Table saw to cut 4×4’s down to size
- Shovel for installing garden bed footers
Cut List:
Use the cut list below to make a 4 ft. x 8 ft. bed.
- Fascia boards cut into 2 – 4 ft. and 2 – 8 ft.
- 4×4 post cut into 6 – 18 in. sections
This is a simple design and very easy to put together. With only 10 cuts and 2.5 hours on a Saturday morning, I completed this project from start to installation! An extra hand would have been helpful, but I was able to make all of the cuts and do the installation without any help.
If I can do it, so can you!
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Steps for Garden Bed Construction from Deck Boards
1. Measure boards
According to the cut list above, measure the fascia boards and 4×4, marking the cut lines with a sharpie.
The fascia boards are ½ in. thick, 11¾ in. wide and just over 12 ft. long, so you will have a few inches of extra board after making the cuts.
After measuring the 4×4, you’ll have 1 ft. left over. The post sections will have an additional 6 in. for footers that will be buried in the ground. These footers help with stability of the bed and reduce board flexion for the length of the bed.
2. Cut the Boards to Size
Don’t forget your safety goggles!
Using the jigsaw, cut the fascia boards along your cut line. I found it helpful to have something to brace the board against while cutting. Using your table saw, cut the 4×4 post down into segments.
3. Drill Pilot Holes
Some fasteners are self-drilling, but I recommend drilling pilot holes. It may feel like an extra step, but it saves time later, allows for consistent fastener depth, and ensures the fasteners are evenly spaced at each joint.
Measure and mark where your fasteners will be installed on the fascia board. I used three fasteners for each joint 2 inches from the edge. Once you’ve measured where each fastener will go, drill a pilot hole using a small drill bit.
4. Assemble Sides
Here is where you’ll fasten the post segments to the fascia boards.
I started with the short ends first. Place one 4 ft. section of fascia on two post segments. Make sure to square the edges and ensure the top of the fascia board is level with the top of the post segments. Drill in a fastener at each pilot hole. Repeat this step for the other 4 ft. fascia board.
Next assemble the 8 ft. side. Measure the 8 ft. section to find the mid-line. Slide a post segment under the 8 ft. fascia board and install using three fasteners. Make sure the top of the fascia board is flush with the post segment. Repeat with the second 8 ft. section.
5. Install!
Now that your components are assembled, it’s time to install your garden bed! Carry the components to where you want the bed. (Make sure it’s a sunny spot!) We don’t get as much sun in our backyard as we thought, so I actually moved the bed after filming this blog (always learning, right?).
To assemble, fasten the ends of the 8 ft. sections to the open post segments on 4 ft. sections. Here is where an extra hand would help, but I was able to do this all myself.
Once the bed is fully assembled, dig 8 in. deep holes very close to the footers. Place the footers in the holes and refill with soil.
There you have it! Now you have raised bed, ready for soil, seedlings, and years of fruitful gardening!
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