The Fastest Way to Set Up New Raised Garden Beds

Raised beds don’t need to be complicated or expensive. If you are lacking tools or construction skills, this simple 3-Minute Raised Bed could revolutionize your garden with minimal effort. Garden expert Logan Hailey explains the fastest steps to set up this all-in-one kit without any tools or previous experience!

Written by Logan Hailey Horticulture review by Sarah Jay Last updated: October 7, 2024 | 4 min read

A wooden planter box filled with various leafy green plants, their broad leaves extending outwards. The wood has a rich, dark brown hue, weathered by outdoor conditions, and contrasts against the lush green vegetation. In the background, more plants and bright sunlight highlight the freshness of the setting.

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Raised bed gardening is one of the fastest and easiest ways to start growing in any landscape. But many new gardeners don’t have the time, tools, or construction experience to build their own beds from scratch.

Fortunately, you can now assemble your own gorgeous cedar raised beds in just three minutes with no tools! This new kit from Epic Gardening has everything you need to start growing your own food right away. No drills, saws, measuring, or nails are necessary!

Here’s how to unbox and set it up!

3-Minute Raised Bed and Extension Kit

The 3-Minute Raised Bed assembles tool-free in minutes with easy-to-follow instructions creating a stress free start to your new gardening space! The lightweight, slim package is a breeze to move, and the box even doubles as sheet mulch for a no-fuss setup. These beds are perfect for small spaces, making any area one you can garden in!

Buy at Epic Gardening

What is the Fastest Way to Set Up Raised Garden Beds?

A rectangular wooden structure sits on a light stone patio. The frame is composed of thick wooden beams, with some beams showing a natural brown color and others slightly darker from wear or stain. A hammer and nails lie beside the structure, suggesting recent or ongoing construction. — The stress-free design allows you to assemble simple dovetailed sideboards and corners that slide right into each other.

Premade raised bed kits offer the fastest way to set up a new garden. If you don’t have the time, tools, or expertise to build your own beds, choose an all-in-one cedar raised bed kit with tool-free setup. The stress-free design allows you to assemble simple dovetailed sideboards and corners that slide right into each other. One bed takes just three minutes to put together!

You can add extension kits and additional beds to set up an entire backyard garden in less than an hour. Once the cedar boards are in place, all you need to do is fill the beds with six cubic feet of soil, compost, or other organic matter. Then, you are ready to plant!

What is the 3-Minute Garden Bed?

A long wooden box with light-colored timber contains a variety of flowering plants, some with small blooms in red, pink, and white hues. The ground around it is covered in bark mulch, and the surrounding area features a natural landscape with trees and shrubs in the distance. — It is a 36” x 36” bed with 10.5” depth for plant roots.

The 3-Minute Bed is the fastest, simplest, and most aesthetically-pleasing cedar raised bed for a new gardener. It is a 36” x 36” bed with 10.5” depth for plant roots. You don’t need any tools or building experience to set up this innovative all-in-one, fast-setup raised bed kit from Epic Gardening. The kit arrives with pre-cut boards and corners that slide right into each other, allowing you to set up the bed, fill it with soil, and start growing ASAP.

How to Set it Up

Several large wooden planters, with light and weathered wood, hold a mix of soil and plants. Some planters have newly planted greenery, while others are still barren, with rich, dark soil visible. The planters are arranged in a spacious outdoor area, with bark mulch covering the ground between them. — The pieces effortlessly fit together, yet they look professionally built.

When your 3-Minute Garden Bed arrives, you might be shocked by the lightweight and minimalist packaging. The pre-cut cedar boards and compostable cardboard box ensure zero waste and no headaches. You don’t even need hardware or a drill to put this together!

Imagine this bed as a lifesize Lego kit. The pieces effortlessly fit together, yet they look professionally built. Many of our community members report that their children can assemble it on their own! Here’s how:

Choose the Right Location

A group of wooden planters is arranged on a bright green lawn, each containing dark soil and some with small plants starting to sprout. The surrounding lawn is well-maintained, with a mix of colorful flowering plants in the background and sunlight bathing the entire area. — Avoid constructing it on a slope or in a shady area.

Begin by finding a flat area with full sun exposure. Avoid constructing it on a slope or in a shady area. Most vegetables and fruits require 6-8 hours of direct sunlight to grow properly, so you want to ensure that your raised garden won’t get shaded out by trees, shrubs, or buildings.

You may need to prepare the ground for raised beds with a fast flattening method. For example, you can flatten it with a shovel or excavator. Or, you can build it on a patio or concrete pavers, but it will perform best on grass or soil where plant roots and soil can eventually reach the ground below.

If you have aggressive weeds, consider mulching with cardboard, leaves, or wood chips underneath. You can also use builder’s plastic, bed liners, or landscape fabric to protect decks and patios below from stains or moisture.

Familiarize Yourself With the Kit

A person sits cross-legged on a wooden floor, facing a light wood structure being assembled. A variety of tools, including a saw, hammer, and measuring tape, are neatly arranged in front of the structure, which is yet to be completed. A window with light streaming through illuminates the simple, peaceful room. — There are no complicated instructions, hardware, or unnecessary plastic packaging.

Opening the kit is a refreshing experience. There are no complicated instructions, hardware, or unnecessary plastic packaging. Instead, you will find the sleek, finished cedar boards lined up and ready to put together.

The inside of the box includes simple photos to guide you through the process. If you are a visual learner, copy the photos. Otherwise, follow along with the next few steps.

Place the Corners

A wooden planter with smooth light-colored wood is lined with black plastic and filled with a layer of pale sand. The box sits on gravelly ground near a pile of large stones, and the surrounding area has an earthy, natural feel with rocks and dry grass visible. — All boards are pre-cut to ensure you can’t mess up the spacing or sizing.

It’s easiest to assemble this structure upside down. Begin by placing the four corner pieces in a square. The open slots of the corner blocks should face inward. Keep the exposed slot facing upwards so it is easy to slide the sideboards into place. All boards are pre-cut to ensure you can’t mess up the spacing or sizing.

Slide in the Sideboards

A man in a blue hoodie uses tools to assemble a large wooden structure outdoors. The wood is thick and dark, with the partially completed frame resting on red earth. The surrounding area is full of tall trees, with the outdoor setting hinting at a rural or wooded location. — Once the primary structure is in place, it is very easy to slide in the remaining boards.

Next, grab one of the twelve sideboards. Gently slide the first one in between two corner pieces. The edges should fit perfectly in the slots.

Repeat this process until you have a single-layer square. Once the primary structure is in place, it is very easy to slide in the remaining boards. It helps to stack one size to its full height first, then repeat on the other sides. The finished bed will have three horizontal cedar slats for a sleek, attractive look.

Flip it Over

A rectangular structure made of pale, unfinished wood sits directly on a grassy lawn. The inside is lined with a smooth, reflective material, and the joints are reinforced with small wooden blocks. The surrounding grass is green and freshly cut, with an earthy patch of soil nearby. — Grab the bed from opposite sides and gently flip it over into its final resting place.

The final step may require two people. First, push down on each sideboard to ensure it is secure. Then, grab the bed from opposite sides and gently flip it over into its final resting place. This will flip the corner blocks over to hold all the sides in place and add a nice finished aesthetic to the corners of the raised bed.

Double the Space With an Extension

A robust wooden planter box filled with leafy green vegetables, some with large, crisp leaves and others with red-tinted stems. The box's light wood contrasts with the vibrant greenery. The ground around the planter is covered in small pebbles, creating a neat and organized appearance. — The expanded pieces will lengthen three feet in one direction.

If you prefer a larger raised garden bed, you can add an extension kit to double the space fast. The expanded pieces will lengthen three feet in one direction. It also includes a middle divider to prevent bowing or warping over time.

When installing the extension kit, you can skip one side of the original box. Instead, take those slats and insert them to the right side of a corner block. This will expand the growing space laterally into a rectangle. The middle pillar includes an inward-facing slot to add in a divider board that will be hidden under the soil. This board is important to maintain the structural integrity of the rectangular bed over time.

Fill With Soil

A simple wooden planter with light wood filled with freshly turned dark brown soil. The surrounding ground is made of compacted gravel, and the wooden structure appears new, with sharp, clean edges. The empty planter awaits planting, contrasting the lively greenery seen in the background. — First, fill the bottom few inches with a rougher organic material like straw, leaves, or twigs.

The fast way to fill your raised garden bed is to buy a premade soil blend! This planter requires six cubic feet of soil. If you want to save money, first fill the bottom few inches with a rougher organic material like straw, leaves, or twigs. These materials will decompose over time, adding valuable organic matter and drainage to the soil.

Next, add compost or bagged raised bed soil on top. This video details the best materials and soil products for the job:

FAQs

Western red cedar is naturally rot-resistant and beautiful. While not necessary, an oil finish is optional, but it will enhance the overall appearance and longevity. Be sure to choose a food-grade, non-toxic wood finish oil such as tung. If you don’t oil the bed, the cedar will turn more grayish as it is exposed to UV rays. The color does not affect the longevity or durability of the bed.

The specially-designed dovetail joints of the 3-Minute Bed ensure that no hardware is needed. The sideboards slide perfectly into sturdy corner posts, allowing stress-free attachment without the need for a drill. All you need to do is press everything in place to ensure it is secure.

The Fastest Way to Set Up New Raised Garden Beds

What is the Fastest Way to Set Up Raised Garden Beds?