THE ARTISAN
8' x 4' x 15" / Cedar / Heavy Duty Corner Brackets
For fans of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The Architect combines our standard industrial engineering with the distinct beauty of Western Red Cedar. This model uses the exact same 12-gauge steel bracket system as our other beds, ensuring structural rigidity, but finishes the frame in premium lumber. It is the ideal choice for high-visibility locations—front yards, patios, or center-stage garden features—where aesthetics are as important as yield.
The Specs
Western Red Cedar: We use 2-inch dimensional cedar. This wood is valued for its rich colour, straight grain, and natural resistance to moisture and decay.
Natural Preservation: Cedar contains oils that act as a natural preservative against rot and insects. This allows for excellent longevity without the use of pressure treatments.
Aesthetics: This is the best-looking wood on the market. It starts with a warm, reddish-brown hue and emits a distinct, pleasant aroma. Like all untreated wood, it will silver naturally over time if left unsealed.
A Note on Pricing: Western Red Cedar suffers from significant price fluctuations. To ensure we offer a fair price based on current lumber costs, we quote The Artisan on a weekly basis. Please contact us for the current price per unit.
Living with Cedar
A Note on Care & Aging
Western Red Cedar is a living material. To ensure you are happy with your investment, please keep the following in mind:
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Colour Change: Without a UV-protective sealant, the vibrant red tones of new cedar will naturally weather to a silver-grey within a year. This does not affect the structural integrity, but if you wish to maintain the colour, you will need to apply a food-safe wood sealer annually.
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Wood Softness: Cedar is a soft timber. While it holds up well against rot, it can be easily marked by impact. We recommend being careful with lawn equipment (string trimmers) around the base of the frame to avoid cosmetic damage.
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What about the soil to fill it?
How to fill your bed without breaking the bank.
A common mistake is trying to fill a large raised bed entirely with bagged potting soil. That gets expensive fast. Since this is a high-volume system, we recommend a smarter approach:
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Go with Bulk: For a bed this size, ordering a "bulk bag" or a truckload of triple-mix from a local landscape supply is significantly cheaper than buying individual bags.
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Feed from the Bottom: You don't need premium soil all the way to the bottom. We recommend filling the bottom few inches with organic "biomass"—old logs, branches, dried leaves, shredded cardboard, or even upside-down sod. This organic material takes up volume (saving you money on soil), improves drainage, and eventually breaks down to feed your plants from below.
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