How to Use Cherry Timbers in Vegetable Beds

Build raised beds using flat cherry board sides such as 1x6 or 1x12 pieces. Drive a 24-inch 1x1 wooden stake 12 inches into the ground at the four corners of the garden to serve as the corner posts. Lay the cherry boards alongside the ground with the narrow side down. Screw or nail the boards to the posts, creating a simple rectangular box that can be filled with a mixture of topsoil and compost.

Create walkways throughout the garden by laying two 1x12 cherry boards side by side between the plants. This reduces the weeds and protects the soil from compaction caused by foot traffic.

Cut a 6-foot 2x6-inch cherry board into three equal pieces lengthwise. Stand the pieces on an imaginary equilateral triangle with 3-foot sides, one piece to a triangle point. Lean the cherry pieces toward one another and tie them off at the top with a rope or other fastener to form a tepee shape. Plant climbing plants such as beans, peas, squash or even tomatoes under the structure and encourage them to climb the wood slats.