Lumber dealers don’t want you to save money on building raised garden beds, but this wood is a lot cheaper.
Raised bed gardening has become increasingly popular over the years due to its many advantages. It is a great option for backyard settings with limited space, as it contains the garden to a small area. It also provides excellent drainage, preventing crops from being washed away during heavy rains. Additionally, raised beds require no tilling of the ground and are easier on the gardener’s back as they don’t have to bend down as far to reach the tops of plants.
However, the current cost of lumber has made it difficult for gardeners to build raised beds using traditional methods. Lumber prices are skyrocketing, and it’s becoming more expensive to purchase the necessary materials. In this article, the author will share a secret tip for building raised beds that will last at least 10 years at a fraction of the cost of traditional lumber.
Key Takeaways
- Raised bed gardening is a popular option for backyard settings due to its many advantages, including excellent drainage and ease of use.
- The current cost of lumber has made it difficult for gardeners to build raised beds using traditional methods, but a secret tip involving landscaping timber can provide a cost-effective solution.
- Using landscaping timber for raised beds can save gardeners up to 75% compared to using standard lumber, and the thicker wood can last even longer.
Advantages of Raised Bed Gardening
Raised bed gardening has become increasingly popular in backyard settings, as it offers a number of distinct advantages over traditional earth beds. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Small space containment: Raised bed gardens are an excellent way to contain your garden to a small space, making them ideal for those with limited space.
- Better drainage: Raised beds provide excellent drainage, which is especially important during heavy rains. This prevents crops from being washed away and ensures better growing conditions.
- No tilling required: Unlike traditional earth beds, raised beds do not require tilling, which can be time-consuming and laborious.
- Easier on the back: Raised beds are easier on the back because they do not require as much bending down to reach the tops of plants and soil line.
- Aesthetically pleasing: Raised beds look good and can add an attractive element to any backyard garden.
In addition to these benefits, raised bed gardening can also provide a constant stream of high-quality food that is often better than what can be found in grocery stores. With the current high cost of lumber, it may seem difficult to build raised beds affordably. However, there are ways to save money, such as using pressure-treated landscaping timber instead of traditional lumber. Not only is this option more affordable, but it is also thicker and more durable, ensuring that your raised beds will last for many years to come.
Traditional Method of Building Raised Beds
In the past, raised bed gardening has been a popular choice for backyard settings due to its many advantages. It contains the garden to a small space, provides excellent drainage, looks good, and is easier on the back because you don’t have to bend down as far to reach the tops of the plants in the soil line. The traditional method of building raised beds involved going to a big box store or lumber yard and picking up three eight-foot two by eights, cutting one of them in half, and making a four-foot by eight-foot raised bed. This method cost around $25 to $30 total, including the cost of lumber and a handful of screws.
However, with the current cost of lumber being out of control, this traditional method is no longer accessible for people to go out and buy lots of lumber to make raised beds. To combat this issue, a secret tip has been discovered. By going just outside the lumber department and moving over to where they have all the outdoor wood stacked at Home Depot, they have big pallets full of landscaping timber. This eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber is sold for $4.78 a board and is really nice stuff for making raised beds. It’s thick, heavy-duty, and will last many years.
To build a raised bed with this landscaping timber, three boards are needed. This means that a raised bed can be built for a lumber cost of under $15. This is cheaper than one single eight-foot two by eight board, which was almost $20 at the store. Using two by eights would have cost around $60 to build the same raised bed. This is a 75% savings roughly versus standard 2×8, and that is what should be focused on, the percentage saved, because that is going to remain true over time while prices will fluctuate and overall increase over time.
Although these pieces of landscaping timber are not as tall as a two by eight, they can be rotated to get a fair amount of coverage, which gets around four and a half inches of coverage. Alternatively, they can be laid down on the wide end and stacked two of them to make a raised bed, which is just about six and three-quarter inches to almost seven inches tall. This is going to get really close to that of a two by eight for roughly half the cost. Even if stacked like this, the raised bed is roughly half the cost of using three two by eights.
Because these pieces of wood are so much thicker than that of a two by eight, they will last a much longer period of time. Pressure-treated two by eights may only last something like eight to twelve years depending on the climate. These landscaping timbers are much thicker than regular lumber, so they are expected to last even longer.
The Problem with Current Lumber Prices
The cost of lumber has been skyrocketing in recent times, making it difficult for people to buy lumber for their gardening needs. In the past, it was easy to make raised beds by simply purchasing three eight-foot two by eights and cutting one of them in half to make a four-foot by eight-foot raised bed. However, due to the current high cost of lumber, this is no longer feasible.
At present, the cost of pressure-treated two by eights is around 19 to 28 cents per board. To make a four-foot by eight-foot raised bed, three such boards are required, which means spending almost $60 on wood alone. Even if untreated wood is used, the cost of 16-foot boards is around $15 per board, and this wood will rot three times faster than the pressure-treated variety.
However, there is a solution to this problem. By going outside the lumber department at Home Depot and looking for eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber, one can find a cheaper alternative. This landscaping timber costs only 4.78 cents per board and is thicker and heavier duty than regular lumber. It will also last longer than untreated wood.
By using landscaping timber, one can build a raised bed for under $15, which is cheaper than a single eight-foot two by eight board that costs almost $20. This represents a 75% saving compared to standard 2×8 lumber. Even if the landscaping timber is not as tall as a two by eight, it can be rotated to get a fair amount of coverage.
Alternatively, two pieces of landscaping timber can be stacked on the wide end to make a raised bed that is almost as tall as a two by eight. Although six pieces of landscaping timber are required to make a single raised bed, the cost is still less than that of three two by eights.
In conclusion, the high cost of lumber has made it difficult for people to build raised beds for their gardening needs. However, by using pressure-treated landscaping timber, one can build a raised bed that is cheaper and more durable than regular lumber.
The Secret Tip: Landscaping Timber
Landscaping timber is a secret lumber that can be used to build raised beds at a fraction of the cost of any other piece of wood in the store. It is a thick and heavy-duty pressure-treated wood that will last for many years.
At Home Depot, these eight-foot landscaping timbers are sold for $4.78 per board. The price may vary based on the area that you live in, but the percentage savings will remain the same. To build a raised bed, three pieces of landscaping timber are needed, which costs under $15. This is cheaper than one single eight-foot two by eight board, which costs almost $20 at the store.
If four and a half inches of coverage does not seem tall enough for a raised bed, the landscaping timbers can be laid down on the wide end and stacked two high to make a raised bed. This will get you really close to that of a two by eight for roughly half the cost.
Using landscaping timber is not only cheaper, but also provides a straighter border and less weed pressure. It is a great solution for those who want to build a raised bed garden without breaking the bank.
Comparing Costs: Landscaping Timber vs. Standard Lumber
The cost of lumber has been on the rise, making it difficult for people to build raised beds for their gardens. However, there is a secret lumber that is not well-known by many people. It is the eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber that is sold just outside the lumber department at Home Depot. This landscaping timber is thick, heavy-duty, and will last many years.
Compared to standard lumber, the landscaping timber is much cheaper. For instance, to build a four-foot by eight-foot raised bed garden out of pressure-treated two by eights, one would need to buy three boards, which will cost almost $60 on wood alone. In contrast, the eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber costs only $4.78 per board, making it possible to build a raised bed garden at a lumber cost of under $15.
Moreover, the landscaping timber is much thicker than standard lumber, making it more durable and long-lasting. While pressure-treated two by eights may last between eight to twelve years, the landscaping timber is expected to last even longer due to its thickness.
One can use the landscaping timber to make raised beds of different heights. By rotating the timber, one can get about four and a half inches of coverage, which is a little over half that of a two by eight. Alternatively, one can lay the timber down on the wide end and stack two of them to make a raised bed. Stacking two of them on the flat end will give a height of almost seven inches, which is close to that of a two by eight.
In conclusion, the eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber is a cost-effective and durable alternative to standard lumber for building raised beds. It is thicker, heavier, and will last much longer than standard lumber. By using the landscaping timber, one can save up to 75% of the cost of using standard lumber.
Building a Raised Bed with Landscaping Timber
Landscaping timber is a secret lumber that is not widely known but can be used to build a raised bed that will last for more than 10 years at a fraction of the cost of any other piece of wood in the store. The cost of lumber has increased significantly, making it difficult for people to buy lots of lumber to make raised beds. However, this should not discourage anyone from starting their raised bed garden. There are solutions, and one of them is using landscaping timber.
Landscaping timber is eight-foot pressure-treated timber that costs 4.78 cents a board. It is thick, heavy-duty, and will last for many years. It is also cheaper than standard lumber, which is more expensive. To build a raised bed, three pieces of landscaping timber are needed, which cost under $15. This is cheaper than one single eight-foot two by eight board, which was almost $20 at the store.
Although landscaping timber is not as tall as a two by eight, it can be rotated to get a fair amount of coverage, which is about four and a half inches. If four and a half inches does not seem tall enough for a raised bed, the timber can be laid down on the wide end and stacked two high to make a raised bed. If stacked on the flat end, they are just about six and three-quarter inches to almost seven inches tall, which is close to that of a two by eight for roughly half the cost.
Landscaping timber is much thicker than a regular piece of lumber, which means that it will last a much longer period of time. Pressure-treated two by eights may only last eight to twelve years, depending on the climate, but landscaping timber can last even longer.
Landscaping timber can also be used to rehabilitate and restructure strawberry beds. Bricks are often used to outline strawberry beds, but they are not tall enough, and grass can grow into the beds. Landscaping timber can provide a straighter border and less weed pressure because they are taller and will better outline the strawberry beds.
In conclusion, landscaping timber is a great alternative to standard lumber for building raised beds. It is cheaper, thicker, and will last longer, making it a cost-effective solution for anyone looking to start a raised bed garden.
Landscaping Timber Longevity
Landscaping timber is an excellent choice for building raised garden beds due to its durability and cost-effectiveness. The timber is pressure-treated, which makes it resistant to rot and decay, ensuring that the raised bed will last for many years.
Compared to traditional lumber, landscaping timber is significantly cheaper. For example, an eight-foot pressure-treated landscaping timber costs only 4.78 cents per board, while an eight-foot two-by-eight costs almost 60 dollars for three boards. This means that using landscaping timber can save gardeners up to 75% of the cost of traditional lumber.
Although landscaping timber is not as tall as a two-by-eight, it can still provide ample coverage for a raised bed. When rotated, the timber can provide up to four and a half inches of coverage, which is more than half of what a two-by-eight provides. Alternatively, gardeners can lay the timber down on the wide end and stack two pieces to create a raised bed that is almost seven inches tall, which is close to the height of a two-by-eight.
Due to its thickness, landscaping timber is expected to last longer than traditional lumber. While pressure-treated two-by-eights may last up to 12 years, landscaping timber can last even longer. This makes it an excellent investment for gardeners who want to build raised beds that will last for many years.
Overall, using landscaping timber to build raised garden beds is a cost-effective and durable solution for gardeners. It provides excellent coverage, is resistant to rot and decay, and can save gardeners up to 75% of the cost of traditional lumber.
Using Landscaping Timber for Existing Beds
Landscaping timber can be a cost-effective alternative to traditional lumber when constructing raised garden beds. These timber pieces are pressure-treated and available at a fraction of the cost of standard lumber. They are also thicker and more heavy-duty than traditional lumber, making them a long-lasting option for garden beds.
To build a raised garden bed using landscaping timber, it is recommended to use three pieces of the eight-foot timber. These pieces can be arranged in a variety of ways to achieve the desired height and width of the bed. If stacked on top of each other, they can provide a height of approximately six and three-quarter inches, which is comparable to a standard two by eight board.
Alternatively, if the desired height is not achieved by stacking the timber, it can be laid flat on the ground and doubled up to create a taller bed. This method will require six pieces of landscaping timber, but it still proves to be a cost-effective alternative to traditional lumber.
Landscaping timber can also be used to rehabilitate and restructure existing garden beds. By replacing traditional borders with landscaping timber, the garden bed will have a longer lifespan and provide a straighter border. This will also reduce weed pressure as the taller timber will better outline the garden bed, preventing grass from growing into it.
Overall, using landscaping timber is a cost-effective and long-lasting option for constructing and rehabilitating garden beds.