2 years ago, Ciji wanted to start a small garden and test her green thumb out. Initially she ordered a couple Earth-boxes and planted tomatoes & corn. Within 2-3 weeks time, she ordered more Earth-boxes to plant a variety of vegetables and herbs. We lined all of the boxes along the side of the screened in porch so they could all be seen and accessed. We quickly realized that we needed a better solution. With the boxes being on the ground, they were killing the grass, blocking access to under our porch, at risk of the kids destroying them while playing and also provided great hiding spots for snakes!
I decided that building a 8x8 platform with the capability to hold several Earth-boxes as well as provide top watering for all plants would be a good project and meet the needs for now & future growth. I started with a 2x4 frame for the base of the project. I leveled it and attached the back of the frame to the fence to provide additional stability. I then plumbed all of the 1/2in PVC pipe in for the watering.
Next, I measured and attached the 2x2 posts that would support the PVC pipe and eventually support the mesh wire. I extended the PVC pipe up the 2x2, attached the 90 degree extension and added the sprinkler head to it. Lastly I cut the dog ears off of fence boards and used them for the floor. I know this doesn't provide as good of support as the 5/16 deck boards but I wanted to save some money here for the time being. I may replace them later down the road. I also attached another 2x4 around the base to try and keep critters from going under even though some still make it.
This setup was sufficient for the next 1 1/2 years until Ciji wanted the plants to start climbing and attaching themselves to the structure. Since I have planned for something like this in the beginning, adding this extra feature wasn't that difficult. We made a trip to Tractor supply and picked up some welded wire fence and wire snips for cutting. I added 10 more 2x2s to the frame, then measure the wire fence in length to go around. Since the wire is 3ft wide, it took 2 sections to go around the outside and 3 to cover the top with extra left in the roll. I used barbed staples to attach the wire to the 2x2s.....this was not an easy task but got the job done.
Ciji enjoys going out daily to check on the garden and water the planters from the bottom when needed....she says this is her therapy. :)
***8/13/2021 Update***
We made a new garden sign as the old one was falling apart. This one is made with 1 inch teak wood and coated with polyurethane.
***5/19/2023 Update***
5 years later after the original build, we replaced the flooring with 5/16 deck boards as the fence boards were deteriorating. This really helped with the stability and aesthetic look of the overall garden.
We started off by clearing all EarthBoxes from the platform and then removed all old fence boards and screws. We were expecting to see signs of animals living under the deck to our surprise, there was nothing there.
Since this spot doesn't get a lot of sun and because of the shape of the yard, water tends to pool in this area. So I drained the water out and added a few bags of sand to help prevent water from settling so easily. Next I added some more bracing from the joists to the ground to reduce the bounciness of the platform. I can see that smile getting bigger as we come closer to completion. :)
Lastly I added 18 deck boards with 1 1/2 deck screws. The garden is 8x8 but the lumber runs slightly longer so I ended up having to cut the end of every board with the miter saw to get a good fit.
The garden is now ready for several more years of planting! Very sturdy and looks a whole lot better. I'm also not sure how I came out dressed exactly the same as I was when I first built this.....lol
Thanks for checking out my blog on how to build a garden platform in your backyard!
How To Build A Garden | DIY Garden
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