National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
3.8
7.5
Cost:
$ 320
$ 195
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 78% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Build a Raised Garden Bed noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
How much is a raised garden? A raised garden bed that sits above the ground makes gardening easy. You can build one yourself for $195 or pay $320 to have one built.
Elevate your garden bed and enjoy gardening more. Longtime gardeners are discovering that raised beds make it easier by bringing plants to a higher level so you don’t have to bend down and work on your knees.
You can grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables and work the soil while sitting on a ledge – a major plus for anyone with a bad back or not-so-bendable knees. And you can design and locate the raised garden bed where the growing conditions are best.
You’ll find a variety of raised bed systems sold at lawn and garden centers, in gardening catalogs and online, where we found several at eartheasy.com. They offer raised garden beds made of cedar, recycled plastic or composite material with a system of timbers that connect with anchor joints and screws.
To install the bed, first find a level surface. Slide the timbers into the joints and use the zinc-plated steel screws to secure them. The anchor joints are pressed into stacker joints in the ground. To help drive the screws, it’s handy to have a power drill.
A 2-foot-high, 4-foot-by-4-foot raised bed Kit made of recycled material costs $195. The shipping cost is additional and varies depending on where you live (as do the costs of the soil, fertilizer and plants). To have a landscape service assemble it, fill it with soil, amend the soil and plant it, figure an additional $125 or more.
Take a look at the Organic Post’s suggestions for inspiring ideas and plans for raised gardens 10 Inspiring DIY Raised Garden Beds.
The bottom line: compare the price of a contractor’s bid to build a raised garden bed with what it costs to do it yourself and make your decision.
For more projects, click on the links below:
