DIY Pallet Raised Garden Bed (4' × 20')
- Kristina Arias
- Jul 13
- 3 min read
How We Built an Affordable Raised Bed Using Free Pallets
Published by Wild Moon Acres
There's Something Special About Growing Food You Built Yourself
One of the biggest misconceptions about gardening is that you need expensive cedar beds or a large budget before you can grow your own food.
The truth is, some of the most productive gardens are built with reclaimed materials, a little creativity, and a willingness to get your hands dirty.
When we began planning our garden at Wild Moon Acres, we wanted beds that were:
Affordable
Easy to build
Large enough for serious harvests
Expandable as our farm grows
Using free hardwood pallets, we built a simple 4-foot by 20-foot raised bed that allows us to grow dozens of tomato plants while keeping everything organized and easy to maintain.
If you're dreaming of growing your own food without spending hundreds of dollars on lumber, this project is a great place to start.
Why We Chose Pallets
One of the easiest ways to save money when starting a garden is to repurpose materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
Many businesses give away hardwood pallets for free, making them an excellent resource for beginning gardeners.
Benefits include:
Low cost (often free)
Easy to find locally
Strong hardwood construction
Rustic farmhouse appearance
Expandable over time
Always look for pallets stamped HT, which means they were heat-treated rather than chemically treated.
Avoid pallets marked MB, as these were treated with methyl bromide and should not be used in food gardens.
Materials You'll Need
For one 4' × 20' bed:
6–8 hardwood pallets (HT)
Exterior-grade screws (2½–3")
Four corner posts (2×2 or 2×4, 12–18 inches long)
Landscape cardboard
Compost
Topsoil (if needed)
Mulch
Measuring tape
Drill
Circular saw or pry bar
Safety glasses and gloves
Suggested Plant Layout
Our favorite layout for this bed includes:
10 tomato plants (5 on each side of the trellis)
Basil planted around each tomato
Marigolds spaced throughout the bed
A few nasturtiums at the ends to attract pollinators
This combination creates a productive, beautiful, and beneficial planting system.
Estimated Cost
Depending on what materials you already have, a bed like this can often be built for well under the cost of purchasing a comparable raised bed kit.
Approximate expenses:
Item | Estimated Cost |
Free pallets | $0 |
Screws | $15–25 |
Corner posts | $10–20 |
Cardboard | Free |
Compost & soil | Varies by local source |
Mulch | $10–30 |
Many gardeners already have several of these materials on hand, making pallet beds an accessible option for getting started.
Tips We've Learned
Build beds as long as your space allows.
Leave at least 3-foot paths between beds for comfortable access.
Add compost every season to improve soil health.
Mulch generously to reduce watering.
Install irrigation early if you plan to expand.
Keep a garden journal to record what works best each year.
Looking Ahead
This raised bed is just the beginning of our kitchen garden at Wild Moon Acres.
As we continue building our homestead, we'll be adding more raised beds, fruit trees, flowers, herbs, chickens, and eventually expanding into the farm we've dreamed about for years.
If you're building your own garden, we hope this project inspires you to start with what you have and grow from there.
Every harvest begins with a single bed.
Save This Project
📌 Save this guide to your Gardening or Raised Bed Ideas board so you can come back to it when you're ready to build.
Coming Soon from Wild Moon Acres
If you enjoyed this project, keep an eye out for our upcoming books and resources, including:
The Kitchen Garden
Raised Bed Gardening
Building Chicken Coops
Garden Planner
Homestead Planner
Each one is designed to help you build a productive, beautiful homestead one project at a time.
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