How to Build a Garden Fence, Raised Garden Bed and Cucumber Climbing Screen

My son Tyler (17 years old) built our garden area himself. I put this post together with his help! Building a garden fence, raised bed and cucumber climbing screen is something you can do, too. I will go through the steps he took to build everything. Follow along to see how to build a garden fence, raised garden bed and cucumber climbing screen (our favorite part).

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Where the Love of Gardening Began

First let me give you a little background. My dad, their Pop, has always loved to garden. Because of this, when my boys were little he loved to show them how. Tyler especially was fascinated as a little guy.

Honestly, if it wasn’t for Pop’s example and Tyler’s interest, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with planting my own garden. Now I love it, too!

Years ago, after deer kept nibbling at our first attempts at gardening, my husband Tim decided to build a fence around it. Tyler was very excited to help build it.

Fast forward to several years ago when we had to take the first fence down. We were finishing the basement, including putting in egress windows in this spot, so the old fence was in the way. (You can read more about the basement reno and the egress windows here.) This spot against the house is the only good spot for a garden, because it gets the best sun. (We have a lot of trees in the back!) So after the old one came down, we planned on putting a new one in between the two egress windows.

Tyler remembered a lot from helping to build the original fence, and even made some improvements he felt were needed. He did this whole project himself. I only helped him paint it 🙂

Building the Fence and Raised Garden Bed

After having picked out this sunny spot and measured, he dug a trench where the frame would go to make a raised bed. Then he built the frame to put against the house using 2×10 pressure treated lumber. After making sure it was level, he filled in the dirt all around to make it secure.

Because our last garden got a little flooded at times, he drilled in some drainage holes using a spade bit.

On our old garden fence, we had used 2x2s, and Tyler wanted it to be sturdier. So this time he went with 2x4s for the entire frame and door. It looks and feels solid and great! It is 3 1/2 feet tall.

To break up the chicken wire and for the sake of appearance, he used 2×2 deck balusters (42 inches tall). In the picture above, you can see how he clamped them down in place first before screwing them in. They look so good!

Painting the Fence

Using a foam roller and brushes, we primed one coat and painted one coat. I went with SW alabaster to match the trim on the house.

Adding the Finishing Touches

He attached chicken wire with a staple gun and 9/16 inch staples. Also, lineman’s pliers were handy in case he needed to remove any staples, as well as wire cutters for cutting the chicken wire to size.

Making the Cucumber Screen

Above is a picture of Tyler when he was younger and our previous cucumber screen. They climb so high, and it’s a great use of space in a small garden to have one.

When designing this new one, he wanted it to be pretty big and sturdy. He built a frame with 2x4s, and made it 5×7 feet. He again used a staple gun to attach the wire to the frame, like he did with the chicken wire.

The grid wouldn’t fit across the whole frame, so he lay two pieces next to each other and crimped them together with pliers all the way down the middle.

If you make a screen like this that is leaning against a house or something else, make sure it is secured. We used a hook eye and latch on either side. That way it could easily be unhooked and taken down, if desired.

I am so thrilled with it! We can’t wait to see it filled with green and veggies to pick!

(Edited to add photos of the cucumber plants climbing!)

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