I used 4 x 4 square corner posts on the inside of my raised beds, they're attached with three inch screws. The beds have been through 5 Maine winters so far and the corners are just as flush as the day I built them. The cost of the posts are probably cheaper than the brackets, you just need to purchase one 8 foot post and cut to size.

Put a tarp or some plastic over your bed in the winter. Not having water get into your bed will make it last longer.

Great video, thanks! Also, cedar does not last 30-40 years anymore because its only old growth cedar that has the rot resistant properties. Cedar now is new growth and will also rot in10-12 years. There is a non toxic wood treatment now called Internal Wood Stabilizer by Timber Pro Coatings USA that is a clear, colorless, permanent sealer. You have to order it factory direct, but it will triple the life of the wood and is a two coat, one time application. Never need to retreat! Amazing stuff.

I found brick corner stones at Home Depot for $3.50 a piece. You need 4 for a 6" deep bed or 8 for a 12" deep bed. No screws, bolts, brackets needed. You just level them off, space them out the distance you need them, slide the 2X?? into it and you're done. There is a place for you to stake it with a piece of rebar if you choose to. In a few years when a board goes bad, you take out the board and slide a new one in. Bed longevity is indefinite.

Thank you. I never ever would have thought of the freezing and expanding causing blow outs. You rock. I just built 4 new beds and will be adding brackets.

Perfect timing. I just ran across this, and tomorrow I will put together two raised beds. I was thinking about how to reinforce the corners, and voilá! You answered my thought. 🇨🇦❤️👍🇨🇦

Bought a package of 1" metal brick ties many years ago. Easy to bend for corners. I use 2 per corner as needed. Cost was $20ish for 100 ties. Been handy having those on hand when older beds gave out over the years. :)

That corner bracket installed on the side of the bed only has one point of contact on the end piece. Choosing the shorter one to save money would've worked better if you'd have installed the bracket on the inside where it could have the contact points that it's actually designed to have.

I pulled the soil back all the way around the frame about 4 inches and mounded up in the bed. This says prove successful and it doesn’t cost anything to do it. All you need to do in a spring is when you amend your bed spread the soil back out.

Use carpenter glue in the corner cuts just very little and use vegetable oil(linseed oil) for end cut with a brush cheaper and it works.

As a carpenter and to save more money get yourself a length of 2inch by 2inch timber. Screw the timber at each corner of the bed. Both sides.

I would have put those "outside" brackets on the inside to have more support compared to just one screw on one board then 5 on the other board if that makes sense.

Lots of different ways to reinforce the bed corners...scrap lumber, plumbers tape, angle iron from old bed frame...so you materials might be free if you know how to scrounge.

I buy 18"x4"x12" concrete blocks from Home Depot. It runs $24-30 per bed, that is a 3' by 12' bed. The blocks are less than $2 per block. Bury them about 3" below grade and lay mulch 2"-4" deep outside...they will never move, they will never rot, they are flexible in their arrangement and easily rearranged. They have thermal mass to conserve heat in the shoulder seasons and insulate in summer (they wick a little moisture out to cool). Used wood for years, replaced multiple times....should have done this years ago...cheaper than timbers or lumber with brackets...looks good too!

Southwest Florida here. What is this "winter" you speak about ?? LOL ;)

My 12" tall boxes are made with treated boards and are going on 18 years in a Utah climate where it is very dry so I have to water all summer long. I started by using 3" screws to put them together and then followed them up with 8" corner brackets. Although my boxes do definitely look 18 years old they are still holding together nicely ready for at least another 5 or more years. I garden year round with low tunnels in the winter so my beds retain water even through out the winters with 3 feet of snow around them and 65 to 70 degrees depending on the day inside them. Yes, even at night.

Althouh you have 6 points of contact on the corner bracket, only 1 goes onto the adjacent piece. I suggest buying longer corner brackets. Longer ones are about 4.50 ea at Lowes. There are also selling corner brackets for raised beds for 14.99, 4 in the package.

I had considered brackets...glad to know I was on the right track!

Great video. I'm thinking about starting some raised beds myself. All of your videos are very insightful and I must thank you for sharing your knowledge.

This makes so much sense I would have probably never thought of it! That will be a "will do".