Build Your First Raised Bed in a Weekend

By Margaret Ellis

Lead Garden Writer — Hortiena Editorial Team

Raised beds are the single best upgrade you can make to a Florida garden. They let you bypass the sandy, nutrient-poor native soil entirely and create the perfect growing environment.

Why Raised Beds Are Perfect for Florida

Florida's native soil is mostly sand — fast-draining, low in nutrients and poor at supporting vegetable crops. Raised beds let you fill with a custom soil mix. They also warm up faster in winter and drain better during heavy summer rains.

Materials You'll Need

Best wood options: Cedar is the gold standard — naturally rot-resistant and long-lasting (10+ years). Cypress is another excellent Florida choice. Avoid treated lumber for edible gardens.

For a standard 4x8 foot bed: two 8-foot boards, two 4-foot boards, corner brackets, exterior screws and your soil mix.

Step-by-Step Build

Step 1: Choose a location with 6–8 hours of direct sunlight. Afternoon shade is beneficial in Florida's intense summer.

Step 2: Lay cardboard over the ground inside the bed footprint to smother grass and weeds.

Step 3: Assemble frame — screw boards together at corners.

Step 4: Fill with 60% topsoil, 30% compost, 10% perlite — this mix drains well and provides excellent nutrition.

Step 5: Mulch with 2–3 inches of straw to reduce watering frequency and keep roots cool.