PART 2 | CREATING A SCREEN COVER FOR YOUR RAISED GARDEN BED

After I created my raised garden bed, I knew that I was going to need a cover to keep bugs and animals out of my crop. I wanted something simple and cost effective. I elected to use screen instead of bird netting in order to keep some of the smaller bugs out. Note that this will also keep pollinators out of your garden, so it is best to use only if you are planting self pollinating plants.

Materials:
6 - 1x2x8 boards
1 - roll of window screen (not the UV type)
Wood glue
Screws
Cap stapler

1. First I cut two of the boards into 2’ lengths.
2. Create the initial framework by laying four boards into a square shape. Make sure the corners are square before screwing each corner together. I also used some wood glue before screwing together.
3. Repeat step 2 with the additional boards.
4. Using four of the 2’ lengths of board remaining, you will attach each rectangle together at the corners. Secure with wood glue and screws.
5. You should now have a cage made out of the wood boards. Unroll the screen and cover the cage on all sides except for the bottom.
6. Secure the screen using the cap stapler. Trim screen to fit.
7. Optional- I elected to secure the top to my bed by placing a screw on each side of the garden bed. I then ran a rope/bungee across the top and secured to these screws. I also elected to notch out the screen frame where my irrigation went into the bed to limit any gaps.

This is how I created a simple cover for my bed. It can be customized to fit any raised garden bed and is fairly inexpensive. You can even paint or stain the wood to make it last longer!

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