Or Why I sympathize With Mr. McGregor
We have herds of rabbits roaming our property, mowing down anything edible. They even eat the plants they are not supposed to like! My husband and son made me several garden boxes last year so I could grow vegetables and are in the process of making me several more. I thought I would show you how they made them. My husband wants me to put a disclaimer stating that he is not a carpenter and improvised with what he had available to him.
The boxes are 4 feet by 8 feet and are made of untreated wood. Instead of making the posts flush with the box he made them either 2′ or 3′ high so that he could more easily attach chicken wire around the boxes. The chicken wire doubles as support for my tomatoes and cucumbers.
My husband used 2 1/2 inch 3/8″ lag bolts with 1 1/2 inch fender washers. He panned out the holes so that he could get more of a bite into the posts. He said that would not be necessary if he had used 3 inch lag bolts, but we had the shorter lag bolts left over from building a horse shelter.
My husband used a staple gun to attach the chicken wire. On the three foot high boxes he created an improvised “door” by attaching one end to a post with hooks instead of stapling it down. This allows me to open an end and walk in rather than lean over the wire. I use the “door” when I am planting in the spring, but usually just lean over the wire to weed and harvest the plants.We have a very short growing season, so if I want to start my plants from seed I have to start them inside. This spring I transplanted my seedling outside a little too soon. The elevated posts on the raised beds allowed me to create my $2.00 Greenhouses and protect my plants from the snow.
Marie says
Do you think this would work for squirrels as well?
Alea Milham says
You need something over the top as well to protect your garden from squirrels.
LarryB says
squirrels climb!!
Alea Milham says
Right, which is why yu need something over the top of the raised beds instead of just along the sides.
The Book Lady Online says
With my rabbit/ deer problems I have been reading your site for ideas to win the war. I like the simplicity of the design on these beds and they are the size I want, but I think I would need taller wire to keep out deer. Maybe I could try something like this and just put wire across the top, too, if the deer become a problem. Hmmm . . I have some thinking to do. 🙂
Sharon Tallmadge says
My problem this year is with rabbits. Love your simple raised bed, just what I need. Something simple and fun is a cattle panel in a hoop over your bed. It will confound the deer and gives you entirely new ideas in trellis gardening. Great for tomatoes, squash, cukes, climbing spinach, peas, beans. Produce is clean, no slugs/snails, bunnies, etc. My first year with the hoop and I love it. My kids and grandkids are so impressed, they are doing this next year. Always something nw in gardening!! Enjoy!
Sharon T.
FrugalinLA says
Thanks for this helpful DIY. I wanted to build my own boxes but did not know how. You have a great site-I live in CA and need ideas dor plants that can survive the heat.