How to Build a Planter Bed

Measure a rectangular area where the sun shines for at least six hours each day. A good size is 4 feet wide by 8 feet long. Mark the borders by sprinkling white flour on the ground. If the area contains large plants or rocks, remove them. Small plants such as lawn and weeds can remain.

Lay flattened cardboard between your flour border markings. Overlap the pieces to prevent any weeds from popping through.

Cover the cardboard with organic growing materials such as organic compost, topsoil, peat moss, wood ashes, sawdust, chopped up plant parts, fallen leaves, grass clippings and anything else you have on hand.

Rake the bed to make it level. If you wish, pile rocks or bricks around the border to help keep the soil contained. However, with this method of planter bed preparation, the soil and other materials will remain in place without a supporting border. Water your planter bed well by running a sprinkler over the area for about 20 minutes.

Plant flowers, vegetables, herbs or ornamentals as soon as you want. This type of bed is very fertile, so plant more closely than you would in a flat bed that contains only topsoil.