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Square Foot Gardening

Raised Bed - Bowed sides?

marzy_the_gardener

16 years ago

My husband and I are building 4'x8' 12" high raised beds out of 2x6 cedar boards. A big point of debate has been whether the 8' sides will bow without additional support. I've searched the forum but haven't found an answer which pertains to 2x6 boards or cedar. Any of you have 4x8 cedar beds...and have you experienced any issues with bowed wood?

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Comments (4)

ribbit32004
16 years ago
My longest bed is 9 feet. No bowing for me.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
16 years ago
I would count on them bowing and stake the middle or put a spacer on the inside. Hard to fix when bowed. Better safe than sorry.

Dan
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engineeredgarden
16 years ago
I have a 4ft x 25ft bed made from cedar, which has 4x4 posts every 7-9 ft. Even in the part with the 9ft span, there is no bowing....

EG
natschultz
16 years ago
Since you are stacking the boards I would reinforce them together at the centers with vertical 2x6's. I have 8 foot long beds, but they are only 2x10, not stacked; they have not bowed, but only time will tell.

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