Beautiful Beds

Raised beds are an attractive and practical solution for small yards. They tame a rampant vegetable garden by creating neat compartments that are easy to weed, water, and mulch.

Choose pressure-treated cedar, or redwood 2x10s. (If you choose pressure-treated lumber, be sure to wear a dust mask and eye protection while sawing.) Roughly grade the area for the garden so it is level. Use stakes and string to lay out each raised bed, making sure that the strings are 12 inches above the ground. Comfortable paths are at least 24 inches wide. (If you plan to have grass paths, set beds to make a path at least 3 inches wider than your lawn mower.) In addition to basic carpentry tools, you'll need a baby sledge, a rachet and sockets, and large C-clamps.

• Construction-grade 2x10s
• 3x24-inch PVC pipe sections
• 3-inch galvanized deck screws
• 1/4 x 5-1/2-inch carriage bolts
• 1/4-inch nuts, washers
• Gravel
• Mortar mix