Raised Garden Bed, Metal 32" High 96"x24"

Follow these steps to assemble, fill, and plant your 32"×96"×24" raised bed efficiently and correctly.

Step 1 — Choose Your Location
Select a site with at least 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day. The 96"×24" footprint runs naturally along a fence line, deck border, or garden perimeter. At 32" tall, this bed also works as a bold, freestanding focal point in an open yard. Ensure the ground is reasonably level — a gentle slope of up to 1–2 inches across the bed length is acceptable, as the built-in drainage system handles excess water efficiently. Consider permanent access: leave at least 24 inches of clearance on both long sides for comfortable working space at standing height.

Step 2 — Assemble the Panels (No Special Tools Needed)
Connect the pre-drilled side and end panels using the included food-grade stainless steel bolts, nuts, and washers. The panel system is engineered for straightforward alignment — most gardeners complete full assembly in under one hour without any tools beyond what is provided in the kit. See the assembly instruction PDF linked below for detailed step-by-step diagrams.

Step 3 — Line the Base (Optional)
Placing cardboard or a weed barrier layer inside the base before filling will suppress any grass or weeds below without impeding drainage. Cardboard breaks down naturally within one to two seasons, adding organic matter to the lower soil column. For beds placed on paved surfaces such as patios or decks, this step can be skipped.

Step 4 — Fill with Quality Soil
At approximately 38 cubic feet, this is the highest-volume bed in the GardenBee lineup. A quality growing mix of topsoil, compost, and perlite (60% / 30% / 10% is a reliable starting ratio) will support most vegetable and flower crops excellently. To reduce filling cost while improving drainage in the lower section, the bottom 10–14 inches can be filled with wood chips, straw, cardboard, or other organic material using the Hugelkultur method — which will slowly decompose into rich compost over time — before topping with your growing mix. Fill to 1–2 inches below the rim.

Step 5 — Install Drip Irrigation
The 96-inch length is perfectly suited for a single drip line run down the center of the bed, with individual emitters spaced to match your planting layout. A DripWorks Garden Bed Irrigation Kit provides everything needed to set up precise, low-volume watering directly at root level — maximizing water efficiency and keeping foliage dry to reduce disease pressure. At 32" height, drip irrigation is especially practical since overhead hand-watering across the full 8-foot length becomes physically demanding over time.

Step 6 — Plant & Prepare with GardenBee Tools
Use the GardenBee Stainless Steel Rake to level and smooth the soil surface before planting — now effortlessly at counter height across the full 8-foot length. The GardenBee Stainless Steel Dibbler then makes it fast and precise to mark out uniform planting holes at the correct depth and spacing from end to end.