Mine are roughly 4 x8 and 2 x 8 ft and 4 x 4 --- but none of those are EXACTLY to size. They might be an inch or two off.

However you choose to attach it is fine. I don't think you have to worry about being so precise -- the plants still grow fine.

The important part about the size of the bed is that is not too wide for you to comfortably reach into the center without stepping, kneeling or leaning on the growing soil. My reach is not as long as some so my main beds are only 3' wide. My garden is surrounded by fencing so I also have beds around the inside edge that are only 1 1/2' wide because I only have access from 1 side. The length of your beds can be as long as you have room for and don't mind walking around. The exact measurements are not so important, an inch or so more or less will not make much difference in the size of each planting space.

As far as fasteners are concerned I think it depends on the materials you are using, if I were using cheaper, thinner boards that I did not expect to last more than a few years before I planned to replace them I would just use cheap, easy to install nails, but if I was using more expensive, longer lasting lumber then I would take the time and use longer lasting screws.

Good gardening, Mary

I used 2x10 boards cut to 4 ft lengths. Then staggered the corners and screwed them together with 3 3-in deck screws per corner. Seems plenty strong. Of course the effective inside lengths of each side is less than 4 ft, more like 46 1/2 inches. I just split the difference a bit when I lay out the grids.

Here is a link that might be useful: Luke's SF Victory Garden

I cut the boards 4', 5' or 10' depending which size bed I was building. I used a 2x2 or 2x4 in the corners to screw the boards into because I was working with used lumber and some of the ends weren't in great shape.

Close enough works for me, and like Luke, I try to split the difference in the squares.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

I went wrong early on by having a Home Depot employee cut the lumber for me. At my request he carefully cut each 2x8 exactly in half. I didn't realize that some of the pieces weren't exactly 96" long. So as it worked out, the planters, while square, are different sizes. This made so much more work for me while building the cages, as now each piece had to be custom cut to fit, numbered so I wouldn't lose track of them while staining, etc.

Regarding fasteners, I used four 3.5" exterior screws at each staggered corner. For added rigidity I then added a gussett bracket in each corner, attached with 1" roofing nails. These brackets really helped to stiffen up the frames (not that they really need to be stiff, but I was working alone and they flexed a lot while moving them around). You can find the brackets in the lumber department of Lowes/HD for about $.50 each.

BTW, don't forget to predrill for those long screws.

{{gwi:1272809}}

I too made the mistake of measuring the boards, not the interior dimensions. Now I have squares that aren't quite 12x12. Oh well oops. Next time (read never).

And I just used deck screws. I did tie my three 2x6s together with 2x4s though. Good luck.

Don't worry.The plants won't care. I used lumber that I bought in the "goofs" bin from Home Depot.They weren't exactly 4X4's but they were close enough.I nailed one to the inside and another to the outside to get them to fit better.
I just nailed mine together because I wasn't sure I would want that size next year.They look fine .