Standard productive fill
Best for most beds from 8–18 inches deep. Use a loamy soil base blended with finished compost, then mulch the surface after planting.
- Strong first-season performance
- Lowest settling risk
- Best default for root crops
Harvest IQGarden Intelligence
Design My Bed
RAISED BED BUILD IQ
Design the bed.Calculate the supplies. Know what to plant.
Build IQ turns your available space, bed dimensions, crops, budget, and available materials into a practical raised-bed plan—with safer fill guidance, soil quantities, weed-control options, and a clear path into your Garden Plan.
Materials IQKnow what to buy or source
Fill IQProtect the active root zone
Camera IQDocument and confirm your space
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ACTIVE ROOT ZONEQuality soil + finished compost
TRANSITION LAYERAged organic material where appropriate
BASE / EXISTING GROUNDDrainage and weed strategy depend on site
Science before shortcutsBed depth and crop roots determine the fill plan.
01Measure the spaceConfirm dimensions before purchasing.
02Choose the structureWood, metal, elevated, or existing bed.
03Build the fill recipeRoot-zone-first, budget-aware guidance.
04Create the crop planMatch capacity, spacing, and season.
INTERACTIVE BUILD CALCULATOR
Start with the bed you actually want to build.
These calculations are planning estimates. Confirm final dimensions, bag sizes, lumber cuts, drainage, and local material guidance before purchase or construction.
YOUR BUILD IQ RESULT4 × 8 × 18-inch raised bed
Planning estimateTOTAL VOLUME48 cu. ft.
CUBIC YARDS1.78 yd³
EST. BAGS24
ROOT ZONE12 in.
FILL IQ
There is no single correct recipe for every raised bed.
Build IQ protects the productive root zone first, then evaluates cost-saving filler based on depth, crop type, drainage, and available materials.
Budget deep-bed fill
For genuinely deep beds, coarse untreated woody material can reduce purchased soil below a substantial finished root zone.
- Expect decomposition and settling
- Top off in later seasons
- Do not fill a shallow root zone with chips
Clean-soil isolation
Use clean imported growing media when native soil is questionable. Avoid mixing clean fill with potentially contaminated soil.
- Consider soil testing
- Use a suitable separation layer
- Confirm edible-garden safety locally
Elevated planter mix
A solid-bottom or elevated planter behaves like a container and needs reliable drainage plus a lighter, container-appropriate growing mix.
- Drainage holes are essential
- Avoid dense native soil alone
- Expect more frequent moisture checks
WEED & DRAINAGE IQ
Handle what is under the bed before filling it.
For ordinary lawn and annual weeds, plain brown cardboard can provide temporary suppression while remaining permeable. Persistent weeds may require removal or a more deliberate barrier strategy.
- ✓ Remove seed heads and aggressive perennial roots
- ✓ Loosen compacted clean soil below open beds
- ✓ Keep drainage paths open
- ✓ Avoid solid plastic beneath open-bottom beds
- ✓ Manage paths and mulch for long-term control
BUILD IQ SAFETY CHECK
Materials that deserve caution
Do not recommend automaticallyRailroad ties, creosote-treated wood, unknown painted lumber, contaminated fill, fresh manure in the active root zone, or unidentified industrial materials.
Do not confuse filler with soilFresh wood chips are not finished compost and should not replace the crop’s usable root zone.
Do not promise perfect drainageGravel or debris at the bottom does not automatically fix a poorly drained site.
CAMERA IQ
Photograph the space. Confirm the measurements. Track the build.
Use Camera IQ to document your site, compare possible bed placement, and preserve a visual record from ground preparation through planting. Photo-based dimensions remain estimates until you confirm them.
Space photoFrame builtBottom layerFill completePlants added
FROM BUILD TO HARVEST
Continue to Garden Plan
Turn the finished bed into a living Garden Plan.
Carry your dimensions, crops, and setup into planting windows, care priorities, Camera IQ progress checks, and harvest tracking.