How to Make a Brick Raised Bed

Choose a spot for the bed and decide on the size. Ideal conditions for many plants call for a minimum of 8 hours of sunlight. Sink wooden stakes into the four corners, and wrap a string around each to define the boundaries of the bed.

Remove turf and root systems from the area within the stakes using a square shovel or spade.

Measure 10 inches outward from the wooden stakes on each side. Create a second perimeter 10 inches out from the first stakes. Use additional stakes and string to outline this second perimeter. Dig a trench 10 inches wide by 6 inches deep between the inner and outer stringed outline, framing what will be the raised bed site. Tamp the ground with a hand tamping tool.

Mix concrete with premade concrete mix and enough water for a thick, batter-like consistency. Pour a 3-inch layer of concrete in the trench and shift it around with a shovel until even. Wait two days.

Mix mortar with a bag of mortar mix and a small dose of water to make it stiff. With a trowel, smooth 1 inch of mortar over enough of the concrete to set four bricks. Smooth 1/4 inch of mortar on the sides of each brick. Push bricks into the mortar side-by-side leaving as narrow a space as possible between the bricks. Continue setting the bricks in mortar four at a time until the entire first layer is set on all four sides.

Spread 1/2 inch of mortar over the first layer of bricks, also known as a course. Stagger each added layer of bricks so the joint lines do not line up. Begin every other row with a half brick. Remove excess mortar with the side of the trowel. Check that the bricks are even with a bubble level, and press them deeper into the mortar as necessary.

Continue laying the bricks one full layer at a time. Standard bricks are 8 inches long by 4 inches wide. After three layers, the bed will be about 12 inches tall. Wait four days for the bed to set before filling it with top soil.