What is the best way to make a raised box garden on hard-packed dirt?

Mine was only a 12 by 12 ft. My husband got the timbers that interlock on the ends, corners, and also nailed them. He bought 6 for height, I believe, a total of 24. We were weekend warriors for this project. One day it was built, killed most weeds and grass. Next day filled with good Potting Soil, some lime, eggs shells and coffee grounds. Scooped everything together. Shortly after I started planting and using tomato cages. It is gone now, after 30 yrs. PLEASE take the time to add chicken fencing for rabbits, deer and critters. Good Luck!!

It depends on how high your raised garden will be. If it is high enough you know it won't sink and you can add good soil to plant in. If it won't be very high make sure you can get a tiller in and till inside to soften the soil and then add what you need. Myself I would use ties or something similar. Just make sure they are not treated with anything that would harm anything, especially if you plan to plant edibles in it. Ties are sturdy, don't need any care and can take years of weather abuse before they rot and need to be replaced. My parents had a raised bed about two feet high to raise the soil level around a tree that had too much soil taken away when they built there house (it was close to the house). My mom planted this bed with some Lily of the Valley she brought from the other house. When my Mom Moved the same ties were still in excellent shape 30 years later!

Line your box with filter blanket first. Water will soak through it but your soil can't go through it and you won't have to worry about weeds growing up through it either. Fill your box with Miracle Grow potting soil and/or top soil.

Thank you! No worries about critters, we have a fenced yard and 3 dogs :)

I didn't know about the lime, so thanks for that!

I have four dogs and a fence in my back yard. Squirrels come across the fence from other yards, the power lines and nearby trees. Unless they go into the garden the dogs take care of them. The dogs are the reason I had to put up a seven foot fence around my veggie garden. If there was a squirrel in there two of the dogs can clear a four foot fence without touching it and decimate the garden in one go. The dogs can jump into any garden if they want to get in there. They don't seem to care if critters are in the garden, so watch them at first, they may think it is a playground for them.

That's true, thank you for that. My dogs will likely dig up what we plant, thinking it's a treat for them, lol!