Quick Take: You can buy cedar raised beds from Gardenary as easy-to-assemble kits that ship right to your door. They're made from premium untreated, kiln-dried Red Inland Cedar grown in Montana, use a tool-free slide-and-lock system that assembles in under an hour, and are designed to last a decade or more in the garden.

Our Easy-to-Assemble Cedar Raised Bed Kit

For years, I've only been able to create raised beds in the town where I'm living and working. But at last, we've found the perfect partner to make raised bed kits just for you. Gardenary Cedar Raised Beds are ready to ship to a backyard near you! For the full picture, from size to soil, see my complete guide to raised garden beds.

This means you can get the really nice finish that you see on all the Gardenary-style raised beds, without all that sawing, measuring, and hammering. Our kits are easily assembled by sliding boards into the corner pieces.

Where to Buy Cedar Raised Beds

When you're shopping for cedar raised beds, you have three main options.

• A ready-made cedar kit: The fastest way to a beautiful bed. Pre-cut boards ship to your door and go together in an afternoon.
• Build your own from lumber: The most hands-on option. You source quality cedar boards, cut them to size, and assemble them yourself. Here's whether it's cheaper to build or buy a raised bed.
• A custom build: Great for unusual spaces, but it usually takes longer and costs more.

For most gardeners, a quality kit is the sweet spot. That's why we created Gardenary's cedar raised beds. They give you the polished look of a custom bed without the sawing, measuring, and hammering. Compare your options in the table below.

This is the 4ft x 8ft x 2ft raised bed I got for myself. A bed of this size gives you 32 square feet of growing space, which is more than enough to grow your favorite herbs, flowers, root crops, and fruiting plants.

This bed took me about 35 minutes to assemble from the box.

What Makes Gardenary's Cedar Different From Other Raised Beds

Each raised bed is made with premium untreated kiln-dried Red Inland Cedar, which is the best quality cedar available. The cedar is grown right here in the US, in Montana, to be exact. Cedar from cold climates like Montana develops a much tighter grain, which improves the durability of each board.

Gardenary Cedar Raised Beds use a slide-in key/lock system that mostly goes together without tools. A hand drill is needed for the final step of adding the trim pieces only.

Also, the boards that are used to form the sides of the raised bed are 1" thick for longevity and durability.

Why Gardenary Cedar Raised Beds?

• Handmade in the USA using premium cedar
• No cutting, measuring, or complex tools required
• Designed for long-term durability and productivity
• 39 size options to fit any garden layout
• Trim included for a clean aesthetic

What to Look for When You Buy Cedar Raised Beds

Not all cedar raised beds are created equal. Whether you buy a kit or build your own, here's what I'd check first.

WHAT TO CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY:

• Untreated wood: Choose cedar with no chemical treatments, so nothing leaches into the soil where you grow food.
• Quality, tight-grain cedar: Tighter grain means a stronger, longer-lasting board.
• Thick boards: Sturdy sides hold soil without bowing or warping.
• Strong corners: Good joinery keeps the bed square for years.
• Easy assembly: A kit that goes together without power tools saves you time.
• The right size for your space: Measure first, then choose a bed you can reach across easily.

For a deeper look, here are 5 things to check when you buy a raised garden bed and the best type of wood to use for a raised garden bed.

Cedar Raised Garden Bed Kit Sizes

Our raised beds are offered in a variety of sizes to work with your garden space.

We currently offer 39 sizes to fit almost any yard or layout.

You'll be amazed at how much you can grow in 16 to 32 square feet of gardening space. You can, for example, grow about 300 lettuce plants in a 4ft x 8ft raised bed, if salads are really your thing. If you're looking to grow a greater variety of plants, you can plant several large plants in the middle and then fill in the space with so many more flowers, root crops, and leafy greens.

This is the 4ft x 4ft x 2ft raised bed that I put together for my neighbor. With 16 square feet of gardening space, this is a great size for a starter bed.

What's Included in Each Cedar Raised Bed Kit?

Each kit includes pre-cut cedar boards that are designed to dovetail using our key/lock system (see pictures below). The top trim pieces and center support have pre-drilled holes for the included screws that will be used to attach them.

While no tools are needed to assemble the body of the raised bed, you'll need a hand drill to attach the top trim pieces and the center support.

You'll also find a small amount of beeswax in your kit. The boards have already been treated with a natural beeswax and olive oil mixture to help seal and lubricate the interlocking areas for easier assembly. I recommend applying more beeswax to the interior corners of the raised bed to make assembly even easier. (I'll tell you how in step one.)

Step One to Assemble Cedar Raised Bed

Unpack all parts of the raised bed kit and sort them. You'll notice that each board and each corner piece has a hand-marked letter. The corner pieces will be marked A, B, C, D, etc. The boards that make up the sides of your raised bed are labeled by which corner posts they will slot into.

Trim pieces (boards with pre-drilled holes) are packed separately to protect them.

Sort each type into its own pile to make assembly easier.

If you'd like to use the beeswax, do so now. Heat 2 oz. of beeswax on low heat with 8 oz of a neutral oil. Use a paintbrush to apply it to the interior of the bed.

Step Two to Assemble Cedar Raised Bed

Once your parts are sorted, begin assembling the bed by grabbing the corner pieces labeled A and B. Stand them upright and space them apart the length of the boards labeled AB.

Insert each board into the corner locks. Line up the board with each corner and then use your hands to control the boards as they slide down so that the board stays level. Go slowly and don't force the boards. If one edge falls faster than the other, the board can become wedged. Use your hands to knock on the top or bottom of a wedged board to make it even again.

Note that the wider boards go in first. Narrower boards will go last, closest to the top.

Double check that there are no markings on the outsides of the boards so that you don't have to undo sides later.

Step Three to Assemble Cedar Raised Bed

Repeat step two for each of the center pieces and corners.

Step Four to Assemble Cedar Raised Bed

Attach the trim pieces using the supplied screws and a drill or a screwdriver. For beds with longer sides, the trim pieces will use the same locking system to connect them at the halfway point.

The screw holes are pre-drilled. When tightening the screws, just tighten until they're snug; over tightening will risk cracking a board or stripping out the screw threads in the pre-drilled holes. Periodic tightening may be necessary but not likely, as the wood should swell a little. 

Step Five to Assemble Cedar Raised Bed

Attach the interior support boards horizontally to the vertical center boards using the supplied screws and a hand drill.

Helpful Tips to Ensure Longevity of Your Wood Raised Bed

Wood does darken and weather over time. We recommend using an eco-friendly wood protector or sealer on the interior of the bed to increase longevity and durability.

Drip irrigation (pictured below) is ideal for raised vegetable gardens to minimize excessive watering on the raised bed.

Set your raised bed on a material like gravel so that water drains quickly and wood pieces aren't pressed against wet grass or mulch for long periods after rain.

Here's my raised bed assembled and installed in my kitchen garden.

Here's my neighbor's raised bed filled with soil and our Wide Pillar Obelisk Trellis. Watch an update on this garden filled with plants.

Add These Cedar Raised Beds to Your Garden Space

You'll be able to enjoy these beds for at least a decade of planting, tending, and harvesting in your kitchen garden space. If you have any questions about the kits, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Thanks so much for making the garden an ordinary part of your life alongside those of us here at Gardenary!