Project of the Week – Raised Garden Bed

See How DIY Superstar April Wilkerson Built this Stunning Back-Friendly Planter Box

Gardening is something that Texan DIYer, April Wilkerson, has always wanted to do. But like so many aspiring green thumbs, she didn’t exactly relish the idea of killing her back and knees as she tended to her veggies and herbs. So, she designed a beautiful raised garden bed on wheels, so no awkward kneeling necessary! She also added wheels, so she can roll it out to the sun or shade, according to the needs of her plants.

Since this is an outdoor project, she needed a top-performing building material that can stand up to the elements. She’s chose beautiful, long-lasting Western Red Cedar. As a professional builder, she knows that cedar is naturally resistant to rot, decay and insects, making it ideal for all outdoor projects. Plus, nothing looks, feels or smells quite like Western Red Cedar.

“I absolutely love working with Western Red Cedar because of how lovely it is,” says Wilkerson.

Not only is Western Red Cedar a great appearance product, it’s also environmentally friendly. In fact, woods such as Western Red Cedar leave the smallest carbon footprint than any other building material. So, it’s a choice that homeowners and builders like Wilkerson can feel good about. Get more green building facts and see for yourself.

And as Wilkerson will attest, cedar’s natural characteristics make it a pleasure to with. It’s durable, yet surprisingly lightweight, which means it’s easy to lug around the worksite. It’s lays straight, doesn’t cup and it’s easy on the tools. It’s also very versatile, which really freed Wilkerson up to get creative with her design. She added storage drawers as well as submergible self-watering irrigation system.

Because the overall shape is a basic block, Wilkerson opted for a beautiful knotty grade of Western Red Cedar, which is really going to add a lot of warmth and texture to the project – plus it’s a cost-effective choice.

For this project, Wilkerson opted to stain the cedar. And when it came to choosing a finish, she was spoiled for choice because Western Red Cedar is pitch and resin free, which means it accepts and holds a wide range of finishes easily. But it’s important to note, for the lowest maintenance option, you can just let your cedar weather naturally, eventually turning a beautiful silvery grey patina.

Watch the video for a breakdown of her steps. For more detailed instructions, including cut-list and material list, you can purchase her plans directly from her site. Or for a variation of this design, you can visit the Real Cedar DIY Centre for FREE downloadable building plans.