Garden Box Construction

Last year we began constructing our garden boxes. I mapped out our vegetable garden area to include three 4'x8' boxes (6" tall) for standard root and summer vegetables, one 2'x12' box with a frame and netting for vine plants to climb vertically, one 2'x8' box for my raspberries, several 1.5' square boxes for tomatoes and potatoes, and a 3.5' tall angled box to act as a wall, which visually separates the garden from the rest of the yard.

This first close-up picture of the tall box shows how we constructed all the boxes. I used unfinished, 2"-thick cedar boards, which are actually 1.5" thick with the finished cut. Using a jig saw, we cut joints from the ends. (Please leave a comment if you want more detailed instructions on how we measured that.) My dad used his drill press to make a jig from a block of oak, which is a harder wood than cedar. We cut a 3/8" hole and used that jig to keep straight holes when drilling into the cedar. It was helpful to run the drill through the hole a few times to make it just large enough to easily hammer in 3/8" steel rods. I bought the steel rods at a metal retailer and cut them with a saws-all. A hacksaw works too; it just takes longer. The shallow boxes have rods 4" longer than the height of the box. The rods on the tall box go about 12" into the ground.

Constructing these by hand, not everything lined up perfectly. The smaller boxes were relatively easy, but the four levels of boards on the tall box made it difficult to line up exactly right, not to mention cutting for the angled corners. There are small gaps between the boards and in some of the joints. But it's just an outdoor garden box, so no big deal. None of the gaps are so large that the boxes can't hold soil and water.

Tip: In laying a box on the ground, carry it in pieces and not assembled. We put a box together in the garage and attempted to carry it that way to the garden. On the way, a board slipped and split. After laying the box out, squaring the corners, and driving the rods into the ground to hold it all in place, I used a level to ensure a flat grade for the box. To get the boxes level, I had to slip rocks under boards or dig into the ground a bit.


In this last picture, you can see the boxes at varying stages of completion.

The empty frame in the foreground is waiting to be positioned before we drive in the rods. The box on the left was busy growing cool-weather crops. The box with the grid had grown summer crops, which I had cleaned out for the fall (when this photo was taken). The tall box in the upper right of the photo forms a wall for the garden.

For the box with the grid, I attached a 4'-long 2"x4" across the bottom in the middle of the box to prevent the sides from bowing. I did not brace the other boxes because I later decided the boards are thick enough to not bow. I'll let you know if I notice any problem, but so far this season, they are all full of soil and plants and have not bowed.

Container Garden 2

McCoard's Nursery near our home holds classes on Saturdays to teach various gardening topics. I attended one about container gardening two weekends ago. The basic principle to follow for a container is to include something thrilling, something filling, and something spilling. Typically these would be a tall spike or ornamental grass in the center surrounded by flowers that grow vertically, and then trailing petunias or greenery to drape over the side.

I took a different approach following those principles with this container. The thriller is a small fountain that plugs into the only outlet I have outside. The filler is violets that are planted in a section of the fountain bowl. The spiller is Bacopa Sopia Gulliver White Sutera cordata, which I think will also fill in around the fountain. Ht: 2-5: Care: Sun to part shade, prefers good soil; keep evenly moist; trim back as needed. I like how the small, simple flowers keep attention on the water.

My friend, Kelli, did a similar thing with one of her containers. In a large container she placed a small glazed pot on top and filled it all with contrasting colors of pansies. Very pretty.

Container Garden 1

Last fall I picked up four large pots at Wal-Mart when they put all their outdoor things on sale. I got most of them for $3, regulary $20+. In May, my friend Kelli showed me what elements go into a potted container and helped me pick out plants for my first attempt. I am very happy with the result. Here are the plants in this container:

The center "spike" is False Draceana 'Red Sensation' Cordyline australis. Ht: 18-48" Care: Moist, organic soil and sun; best with a monthly balanced fertilizer; will tolerate part shade.

The bright green leaves in the back are Sweet Potato Vine 'Terrace Lime' Ipomoea batatas. Love their color! Ht: 6" Care: Organic soil; allow soil to dry between waterings; fertilize regularly; full sun.

The small, deep pink flowers are Tukana Raspberry Verbena. It is a trailing plant. Ht: "4-8" Care: Normal amount of water, fertilize regularly, full sun; heat tolerant and requires no deadheading.

The pale pink flowers are Ruffle Light Lavender Imp. Trailing Double Petunia. The double petals make this flower very frilly and feminine, and they are quite large. No height is given on the tag, but I expect they will fill in rather high. Care: Partial sun, fertilize every two weeks, high water needs.

The white-edged trailing leaves in front are Mezoo Trailing Red Dorotheanthus. I loved this plant the moment I saw it. The leaves are thick and I love their coloring. I was pleasantly surprised when some small, raspberry-colored flowers peeked out--they kind of look like tiny daisies. (You can see them if you enlarge the picture.) Ht: 6-8" Care: Full sun to full shade; drought and heat tolerant; use slow-release fertilizer in the soil or feed regularly with a liquid fertilizer. This plant will make another appearance in my front shade bed next year!

These plants seem to like the spot by the brick chimney. They get part shade during the day, but the heat of the bricks keeps them warm into the evening. I can't wait to see how it all fills in. This picture shows the container two weeks after planting.


This picture taken at sunset in August shows the container at almost its fullest. It is beautiful! I love the pale pink double petunias and the Mezoo. It's dark pink flowers closed and opened sporadically all summer. I plan to repeat this container arrangement in the future.