How to Build a Raised Garden Bed (Food-Safe Screws & Brackets)
Choose cedar or untreated pine for food beds — pressure-treated is fine structurally but keep it out of vegetable soil.
Cut two long and two short sides (a 4x8 ft bed from 2x10s is the classic) and pre-drill every screw location to stop splitting.
Fasten corners with #9 or #10 x 3 in 304 stainless deck screws, 2-3 per corner — stainless never leaches coating chemicals into soil.
Add galvanized or powder-coated corner brackets on beds over 12 in tall so soil pressure cannot bow the walls.
Level the frame on the ground, staple 1/2 in hardware cloth underneath to stop burrowing pests, then fill with soil mix.
Within 3 miles of the coast step up to 316 stainless — salt air eats 304 and all coated screws within a few seasons.
