To build the planter used for Madison’s Garden, I recycled really old 6 inch x 2 inch decking. Though the lumber showed signs of deterioration, much of the wood remained in good shape. I cut 6 three foot pieces; 6 six foot pieces; and 4 sixteen inch pieces of 2×4. Using 2.5 inch deck screws, I attached each 6 foot board onto the 2×4. The 3 boards lined up added to more than 16 inches so that there would be 2 inches extra. I prefer this look, the dirt in the planter covers the 2×4 and you only see the box. Once I had two walls of 6 foot boards. I lined these two walls against a 3 foot board and attached it to the 2×4- I repeated this for each 3 foot board. This planter is bottom less and has no mesh inside for gopher protection. We’ve not had a problem with gophers so this should be fine. We have had an issue with dogs using the sidewalk strip as a potty, hence the raised bed.