DIY raised planters – a guide
I’m so excited about these DIY raised planters and the veggies that I’m growing in them as it feels like such a positive thing to do and has the added benefits of being confident about what I’m feeding my family and saving money too (organic veg in the supermarket is really expensive!).
As well as your family’s health, this is the perfect way to take control of your soil health, & it’s also a lovely little project that adds character and structure to your outdoor space. If you’re looking for DIY planter ideas to start your own kitchen garden revival, here’s exactly how I built my wooden DIY raised planters—without spending a fortune.
Where did I get the wood for the DIY raised planters from?
Possibly the most-asked question about this little project! The best materials for garden bed planters don’t have to break the bank. I sourced my timber locally from Mid-Sussex Timber. They were so helpful, and because I shopped local, I avoided the markup you’d find at bigger chains and even got free delivery. I also bought all the battens from them for my DIY slat panel fences and decking revamp planters.
I used rot-resistant wood, which is essential for outdoor durability, especially if you want your vegetable beds to last a couple of years or more. However, you must check that the wood you choose is suitable for growing vegetables in as some treated timber isn’t.
Mine clearly stated in the description that it was suitable and to be extra safe, I lined the inside with compost bags turned inside out to provide an extra layer and also keep the wood from ever getting wet to help it last even longer. Bonus points if you can use scrap wood or offcuts to save even more, like I did with my DIY olive planters last year!
My DIY raised planter design: dimensions & details
Each raised planter box I made is:
- 150cm long (the long sides)
- 90cm wide (the short sides)
- 5 slats tall, with each slat at 10cm height = 50cm total height
This bed size gives around 14 square feet of planting space—plenty of room for a salad garden, root crops, or even taller plants like tomatoes or kale (as long as you pick a sunny spot!). The maximum width is still manageable for weeding and planting from either side, without stepping into the bed and compacting the soil.
Step-by-Step Directions
Here’s how I built mine—DIY-style but with plenty of love:
1. Cut Your Timber
You’ll need:
- 10 x 150cm slats for the long boards
- 10 x 90cm slats for the short sides
- 4 x corner posts, each 50cm tall (plus an extra 15–20cm cut into a point for staking)
The posts are the magic trick: I sharpened the ends to act as stakes so I could drive them into the ground, which gives maximum help with stability—especially useful if your garden space gets much sun or heavy rainfall.
2. Drill Pilot Holes & Assemble
Using a power drill, I drilled pilot holes to prevent splitting and screwed the slats into the posts one by one. Start with the side slats (your short sides) and then secure the long boards.
I found it really helped to get a helper to hold the end of the slats while you were screwing the other end in so grab a second pair of hands if you can.
A nice detail I added: leveling the bottom slats so they just brush the soil surface, which makes everything look tidy while reducing strain on the timber. Although where the ground underneath was uneven I ended up filling some of the gaps with bricks – more on that in a minute.
3. Position & Stake
I drove the sharpened posts into the soil to anchor the bed in place. It’s a great way to avoid shifting over time, especially if your soil is a bit loose or you’re working on a slope as we are.
4. Prepare the Bottom of the Beds
The spot I used for the DIY vegetable raised planters was part of our lawn so before I started I dug the top layer off and flipped it over so the grass would rot down under the planter rather than grow up through it. As the level was really uneven I also dug down a bit further and piled up the soil where the planters were going to go to help fill them as compost is so expensive and I was worried it would cost a fortune otherwise.
Where the soil was in a mound, I laid spare bricks that I had lots of around the edges of the planters where there were gaps and this also helped secure the planter as I squashed them hard against the base of the bottom slats.
Next, lay down a layer of cardboard or black plastic as a weed barrier—this suppresses unwanted growth and helps retain moisture. I used shredded cardboard and was careful to remove any staples or tape and also made sure it was plain unprinted cardboard. I soaked the cardboard to help it rot down.
Then it’s time to fill!
The next layer in my DIY wooden vegetable planters was dried up garden waste, ie old twigs, leaves and cuttings from hedges and beds that I’d piled up in a big heap to dry out and start rotting down. I cut it up a bit and shredded the larger branches and sticks before spreading in the planters.
Use a soil calculator to determine how much soil you need. I bought large 50 litre bags of mulit-purpose compost from B&Q as they were on offer so saved a few pounds this way.
Final Touches & Planting Tips
Once your bed garden is ready, you can plan out your vegetable garden!
This could be anything from shorter beds of herbs to additional beds for sprawling plants like squash or climbing beans.
A few tips:
- Taller plants to the north (in the northern hemisphere)
- Choose edible plants suited to your sun/shade conditions
- Rotate crops every couple of years to help soil condition.
- Install a simple irrigation system if you have multiple beds – this is something I’m looking into but currently just stand on the decking above every couple of evenings and spray the hose over the planters!
The Upfront Cost (and Why It’s Worth It)
While there’s some upfront cost in building your own wooden beds, it’s an investment in both your garden space and your wellbeing. Buying raised garden beds pre-made can be pricey and often limits your bed size and shape. Doing it yourself gives you complete freedom, and it’s a perfect way to reclaim your space from compacted soil and make it productive. I’ve noticed fruit and veg getting more expensive in the supermarkets and unless you buy organics (even more expensive!) you never really know if it’s actually good for you as could’ve been grown in loads of chemicals so this is giving me peace of mind as well as it be really fun to watch them grow.
Whether you’re new to growing or a seasoned green thumb, these garden beds have totally transformed how I grow. They’re sturdy, affordable, and so satisfying to build. If you’ve been dreaming of your own kitchen garden, don’t wait—this could be your next step toward fresh, homegrown veg!
Thanks for reading – be sure to keep up with all my garden projects over on my Instagram.
