How to Build a Raised Garden Bed with Two Top Shelves
A DIY Garden Bed That’s Raising the Bar… Literally
If your garden dreams include more growing space, rustic charm, and a project that makes you feel like a backyard carpenter wizard, then this build is about to become your new soil mate.
This raised garden bed with two upper planter shelves is perfect for gardeners who want a little extra vertical growing space without taking up extra ground room. It’s ideal for herbs up top, veggies down below, and major “wow, you built that?!” energy all around.
Whether you’re planting lettuce, strawberries, flowers, or enough basil to emotionally recover from winter, this project is a total bed-time success.
Why You’ll Love This Garden Bed
This design gives you:
- A deep lower raised bed for veggies, flowers, or companion planting
- Two top shelf planters for herbs, trailing flowers, or strawberries
- A compact vertical layout that works well in small spaces
- A charming rustic style that says,
“Yes, I garden… and yes, I own a drill.”
It’s basically the garden version of a bunk bed, and honestly? The plants love it.
Approximate Finished Size
You can adjust the size to suit your space, but the bed in the photo appears to be roughly:
Length: 4 feet
Depth: 2 feet
Height to top shelf: about 5 feet
Lower bed depth: 12–16 inches
Top planter shelf depth: 5–7 inches
This is a great size for patios, fence lines, greenhouses, or a sunny little corner that’s begging for a glow-up.
What You’ll Need
Materials
- 2x4 lumber for supports and framing
- 1x6 or 1x8 boards for planter walls and shelves
- Deck screws (2.5" and 1.25")
- Landscape fabric (optional but helpful)
- Wood sealer or outdoor-safe stain (optional)
- Gravel or small rocks for drainage (optional)
- Potting soil / garden soil mix
Tools
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Circular saw or miter saw
- Drill/driver
- Clamps (helpful, but not required)
- Level
- Sander or sanding block
Optional but recommended:
- Safety glasses
- Gloves
- A snack break and a playlist that makes you feel like Bob the Builder’s cooler cousin
Cut List (Approximate)
For the Lower Raised Bed
- 2 long side boards: 48"
- 2 short end boards: 24"
- 4 corner legs/posts: 16–18"
- 5–6 slat boards for bottom support or interior shelf spacing
For the Upright Shelf Frame
- 4 vertical support posts: 48–54"
- 2 long back horizontal rails: 48"
- 2 long front horizontal rails: 48"
- 4–6 shorter shelf support pieces depending on your layout
For the Two Upper Planter Shelves
- 4 long shelf side boards: 48"
- 4 short end boards: 5–7" deep
- 2–4 bottom support boards per shelf
Tip: If you’re using reclaimed wood or pallets, your exact cuts may vary — and honestly, rustic charm covers a multitude of measuring sins.
Step 1: Build the Bottom Raised Bed
The root of all greatness
Start by building the lower rectangular planter box.
How to do it:
- Lay out your two long boards and two short boards into a rectangle.
- Screw them into your corner support posts.
- Stack another row of boards if you want more depth.
- Check for square before tightening everything up.
You’re essentially building a strong, simple wooden box — the kind your tomatoes will someday write poems about.
Pro Tip:
Aim for at least 12 inches of soil depth if you’re growing:
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Herbs
- Radishes
- Strawberries
For deeper-rooted crops like carrots or larger peppers, 14–16 inches is even better.
Step 2: Add the Base Slats or Floor Support
Because every great bed needs support
Inside the lower bed, install a few evenly spaced slats across the bottom.
This helps:
- support the structure
- improve airflow underneath
- create a cleaner, more finished look
If your bed will sit directly on soil, you can leave the bottom more open.
If it’s going on a patio or stone surface like the one in the photo, slats help keep things tidy and sturdy.
Optional Add-On:
Line the inside with landscape fabric to help hold soil in place while still allowing drainage.
Because soggy roots are a real drain on the relationship.
Step 3: Install the Tall Back Posts
Now we rise
This is where your raised bed becomes a raised-bed-with-main-character-energy.
- Attach your tall vertical support posts to the back corners of the lower bed.
- Then add additional vertical supports toward the center/front if you want extra strength like the one shown in the photo.
These posts will hold your two upper shelves.
Important:
Use a level here.
Crooked shelves may be “quirky,” but your basil deserves stability.
Step 4: Build the Lower Upper Shelf
Shelf one: the herb penthouse
Attach a horizontal frame across the supports to create the first upper shelf.
This shelf should sit roughly:
8–12 inches above the main bed
This gives you enough room below for planting and enough height above for easy access.
Build it like a mini planter box:
- Front board
- Back board
- Side/end pieces
- Bottom slats or base support
This shelf is ideal for:
- Basil
- Parsley
- Chives
- Thyme
- Mint (but only if you enjoy chaos and poor life choices)
Step 5: Build the Top Shelf
Because one shelf is nice, but two is shelf-care
Now attach the second shelf near the top of the vertical frame.
This shelf should sit roughly:
- 10–14 inches above the first shelf
- Again, build it like a shallow planter box.
The top shelf is perfect for:
- Trailing flowers
- Strawberries
- Lettuce
- Small herbs
- Decorative annuals
- Anything that deserves the VIP (Very Important Plant) section
Bonus Tip:
If you plant trailing flowers or nasturtiums on the top shelf, they’ll spill beautifully over the edge and make your whole planter look like it belongs in a gardening magazine you definitely subscribe to “just for inspiration.”
Step 6: Sand, Seal, and Make It Pretty
Because splinters are not part of the aesthetic
Once everything is assembled:
- Sand rough edges
- Round off sharp corners if needed
- Wipe off dust
- Apply an outdoor-safe stain or sealer if you want longer life
If you want that lovely rustic look from the photo, choose a stain in:
- Weathered oak
- Driftwood
- Cedar brown
“I definitely meant for it to look this Pinterest-worthy”
If you’re growing edibles, always use a garden-safe exterior finish or leave the interior untreated.
Step 7: Add Drainage
Let’s not drown the dream
Before filling your planters, make sure each section has proper drainage.
For the top shelves:
- Drill several small drainage holes along the bottom.
For the lower bed:
- If it sits on a patio or stone surface, drill drainage holes or leave slight spacing between bottom boards.
You can also add:
- a thin layer of gravel
- coarse wood chips
- or sticks in the bottom for improved drainage and filler
Because plants like a drink… not a swimming lesson.
Step 8: Fill It Up with Soil
Time to make dirt exciting
For the main lower bed, use a nutrient-rich blend like:
Great raised bed mix:
- 40% topsoil
- 40% compost
- 20% peat moss or coco coir
Optional add-ins:
- worm castings
- perlite
- aged manure
- slow-release organic fertilizer
For the top shelves, use a lighter potting mix since they’re shallower and will dry out faster.
Think of it like this:
- Bottom bed = buffet
- Top shelves = tapas
Both delicious. Different serving style.
Best Things to Plant in This Garden Bed
Who gets the penthouse and who gets the basement?
Top Shelves
These shallow planter shelves are best for:
- Herbs
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Strawberries
- Green onions
- Nasturtiums
- Petunias
- Alyssum
- Bottom Bed
This deeper lower bed is great for:
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Bush beans
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Carrots
- Beets
- Marigolds
- Zucchini (if you only plant one and give it room)
Fun Combo Idea
Try this layout:
Top Shelf 1: Basil, thyme, parsley
Top Shelf 2: Strawberries and alyssum
Bottom Bed: Tomatoes, peppers, marigolds
Boom.
You’ve just built a pizza-and-salad garden with bonus dessert.
How Much Sun Does It Need?
A shelf in the sun is a happy one
Place your garden bed where it gets:
- 6–8 hours of sunlight daily for veggies and herbs
- At least 4–6 hours for leafy greens and flowers
Best placement:
- South-facing fence
- Patio edge
- Along a greenhouse wall
- In a bright sunny corner of your yard
If your top shelf shades the bottom bed slightly, that can actually help cool more delicate greens during hot weather.
Your lettuce will thank you by not becoming dramatic and bolting at the first sign of commitment.
Watering Tips
Hydration station
Because the top shelves are shallower, they’ll dry out faster than the lower bed.
Watering Rule of Thumb:
Top shelves: check daily in warm weather
Lower bed: water deeply 2–4 times a week depending on heat and rainfall
Mulch helps a lot, especially in the lower bed.
Try:
- straw
- shredded leaves
- untreated grass clippings
- bark mulch around non-edibles
Mulch is basically a tiny blanket for your soil, and frankly, we all deserve one.
Why This Bed Is So Handy
Besides being cute enough to make your neighbours suspiciously complimentary.
This design is great because it:
- maximizes vertical space
- keeps herbs easy to reach
- creates visual height in your garden
- works beautifully on patios and hard surfaces
- gives you multiple growing zones in one footprint
Translation:
It’s functional, fabulous, and just a little extra.
As it should be.
Final Thoughts
Shelf made and garden approved
If you’re looking for a DIY garden project that’s practical, beautiful, and just the right amount of rustic, this raised garden bed with two upper shelves is a total winner.
It gives you room to grow up, out, and a little bit smug every time someone asks where you bought it.
And the best part?
You get to say:
“Oh this? I built it.”
No big dill. 🥒
Quick Summary
This planter is perfect for:
- Small-space gardening
- Herb lovers
- Patio growers
- Vertical garden fans
- People who enjoy plants and power tools
Best planted with:
- Herbs on top
- Veggies below
- Confidence everywhere