How to Make an Air Pruning Bed 1: Plans, Shopping List, and Budget

Plans:

 Budget/Shopping list:

Air Pruning Bed
Part	Amount	Cost/Piece	Total
Untreated Douglas Fir 2"x10"x8'	2	$15.15	$30.30
3'x10' 1/4" Hardware Cloth	1	$24.13	$24.13
4' Untreated lath bundle (50)	1	$19.98	$19.98
3 1/2 " screws	1	$5.98	$5.98
1 1/2" screws	1	$1.28	$1.28
Staples	1	$6.97	$6.97
Pedestals - Cinder Block	4	$1.12	$4.48
			$93.12
Cover Cage
Untreated Pine 1x2x8 (furring strip)	4	$1.77	$7.08
Wildlife netting, 100'x7'	1	$19.98	$19.98
			$27.06
Total Cost			$120.18

Note, this is the cost for the 1st bed. You will have leftover hardware cloth, screws, and lath, so the 2nd bed will be less expensive.

We chose douglas fir, since it is more rot resistant as compared to untreated pine. Cedar would be best, or even black locust if you have access, since these woods are more rot-resistant. Whichever wood you choose, just make sure it is untreated to avoid having chemicals leach into the soil.

After reviewing videos on YouTube, like:

Twisted Tree Farm

Edible Acres

Oak Ridge Farmstead

we decided to go with 1/4" hardware cloth for the base, and to wrap the material around the bottom, onto the sides and reinforce with a simple piece of lath. Soil weighs an incredible amount! 

In fact, our original design was twice as big, at 8'x4'. However, after calculating that the beds would weigh over 1,000 lbs, we down-sized, just in case we needed to move the beds at some point.

To calculate the soil weight, first figure out your cubic feet of soil:

Length (in feet) x Width (in feet) x Depth (in feet) = cubic feet of soil

Then, multiply the cubic feet of soil x 80 lbs (assuming your dirt is loose and moist).

Next step is to make the beds!