Mulch Calculator
Bags or bulk yards for garden beds.
Beginner~4 hours$60–$140 materials
Build a Raised Garden Bed (4×8 ft)
A weekend-morning build: one 4×8 ft cedar raised bed, level and square, filled with a soil mix that grows vegetables for a decade.
Patchy lawn corner
Before
Level cedar bed with planting mix
After
- 1
Pick and prep the spot
6–8 h sun, near a water source. Strip grass, skim-level the ground.
- 2
Build the long sides
Butt-joint corners with screws every 8 in. Predrill near ends to avoid splits.
- 3
Square the frame
Diagonal measurements equal = square. Stake or screw a center brace on 8 ft runs so they don’t bow.
- 4
Set and level
Level both directions — water pools at the low end otherwise. Backfill outside edge gaps.
- 5
Line and fill
Cardboard over grass, fill with mix to 2 in below rim, water deeply, let settle a day, top off.
Calculators for this project
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pressure-treated wood for vegetables — use cedar or untreated.
- Skipping the level — water runs to one corner all season.
- Overfilling above 2 in from rim — every watering washes soil out.
Keeping it good
- Top up mix each spring with 1–2 in compost.
- Check corner screws annually; reseal or replace bowed boards.