Garden tools
Useful tools for real gardens.
Practical, free tools that answer the questions every new raised-bed gardener asks.
Tool
Open the planner Build Your Raised Bed Garden
Create a simple beginner planting plan with an overhead layout.
Tool
Raised Bed Soil Calculator
Enter your bed's measurements to estimate how much soil to buy.
How is this calculated?
Length × width × (depth ÷ 12) gives cubic feet. Dividing by 27 converts to cubic yards, since one cubic yard is 3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft. Bag counts assume common 1.5 cu ft bags — check the size on the bags you buy, and add about 10% for settling.
You'll need about
32.0cu ft
1.19
cubic yards
22
1.5 cu ft bags
Tool
Planting Calendar
What can generally be planted in each part of the season.
Cool soil, light frosts still possible.
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Peas
- Radishes
- Kale
- Onion sets
- Parsley
Planting recommendations are general guidelines. Growing seasons and planting times vary by climate, location and USDA growing zone.