DIY Keyhole Garden Raised Bed Plans: 6x6 Cedar, Compost, Trellis PDF

DIY keyhole garden plans: a 6' x 6' cedar raised bed with a walk-in keyhole path, a lidded compost basket and a 6' climbing trellis. Beginner PDF.

- Product: Wrenfield Keyhole Garden Bed, a square cedar keyhole raised garden bed with a walk-in path, compost basket and back trellis
- Format: Digital PDF download
- Pages: 27
- Paper Size: US Letter
- Units: Imperial (inches, 1/16" precision), metric cut lengths for reference
- Dimensions: 6' 0" x 6' 0" square (73" x 73" with the caps), trellis top cap 74" wide at 6' 1-1/2", needs about 10' x 10' with working space
- Bed: 3 rows of 2x6 cedar, 16-1/2" deep, 2x6 cap rail at 18", 4x4 corner posts and stakes at the middle of the side walls
- Keyhole Path: 18" clear and 28-1/2" deep from the front, so you reach every part of the bed from the path or the outside
- Compost Basket: 18" x 18" cedar frame wrapped in 1/2" hardware cloth, 36" tall, with a lift-off slatted lid
- Trellis: 3 tall 4x4 posts, 2 bays each split into 2 windows of 29-1/4" x 22-3/4" (4 in all)
- Growing Area: 26.0 sq ft, about 34 cu ft (1.2 cu yd) of soil
- Style: Natural cedar bed and compost basket with sage green painted posts and trellis
- Materials: 2x6 and 2x2 cedar walls, caps, basket and lid, pressure-treated 4x4 posts, 2x4 stakes and trellis rails, 2x6 trellis top cap
- Skill Level: Beginner (square cuts plus 3 cap notches, template included)
- Build Time: One weekend, 2 people for standing the walls
- Includes: 12 illustrated steps, shopping list, master cut list, cut diagrams, back cap notch template, plan view, trellis and compost basket drawings, 7 finished renderings
- Best For: Vegetable, herb and flower gardeners who want to compost kitchen scraps right inside the bed and reach every plant without stepping on the soil
- Delivery: Instant PDF download after purchase, no physical item shipped

## What's Included in This Keyhole Garden Plan

This 27-page plan shows you how to build a square keyhole garden bed in cedar. A narrow path cuts into the front of the bed and ends at a lidded compost basket, so kitchen scraps feed the soil around it, and a climbing trellis runs along the back.

- Overview and specifications table
- Plan view, back trellis elevation and compost basket drawings with dimensions
- Before You Start notes on tools, lumber, paint, placement and fasteners
- Shopping list for lumber, hardware cloth, hardware and supplies
- Master cut list with part IDs, cut lengths and millimeter references
- Cut diagrams for every store board
- Back cap notch template for the tall trellis posts
- 12 illustrated steps, each with parts, fasteners, a tip and a check
- Planting, finishing and care guide, including how to use the compost basket
- 7 computer renderings of the finished keyhole garden, bare and planted

## Keyhole Raised Garden Bed with Compost Basket

- 6' x 6' U-shaped cedar bed around an 18" walk-in keyhole path
- 18" x 18" compost basket at the end of the path with a lift-off cedar lid
- Kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and leaves in the basket feed the soil around it
- No plant is more than 2 ft from a path or an edge
- 6' climbing trellis on the back wall for clematis, climbing roses, sweet peas, morning glory and pole beans
- Stakes and the weight of the soil hold the bed, so no concrete footings are needed

## Cedar Keyhole Garden Bed Plans in PDF Format

The plan is a digital PDF on US Letter paper. All drawings and measurements are imperial, in inches to 1/16" precision. The cut list also shows millimeters for reference. You can print the pages for the workshop or open them on a tablet or phone.

## Who These DIY Keyhole Garden Plans Are For

The build is beginner friendly: every cut is square except three notches in the back cap, and a template shows where to cut them. You need a miter or circular saw, a jigsaw, a drill/driver, a staple gun, tin snips and a helper for standing the walls. It suits gardeners who want a square raised garden bed with a compost bin built in and a trellis for climbers.

## How to Use This Keyhole Raised Bed Plan

1. Purchase the plan.
2. Download the PDF from the link on your order page and in your email.
3. Print it or open it on your screen.
4. Buy materials from the shopping list and cut parts with the cut list and cut diagrams.
5. Follow the 12 illustrated steps to build the bed, the compost basket and the trellis.

## Digital Product Note

This is a digital download. No physical item is shipped. The PDF is available instantly after purchase.

## Terms of Use

This plan is for personal use. You may build as many as you like for your own property. You may not resell, share or publish the PDF or its drawings.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How do I download the PDF after purchase?

After checkout you get a download link on the order confirmation page and in your confirmation email. Click it to download the PDF, then print it or open it on any device.

### What is a keyhole garden?

A keyhole garden is a raised bed with a path cut into it and a compost basket at the end of the path, so the shape looks like a keyhole from above. In this plan the keyhole garden is a 6' x 6' cedar bed with an 18" path.

### How does the compost basket in a keyhole garden work?

You add vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, leaves and grass clippings to the compost basket and keep the lid on, and the nutrients wash out into the soil around it when you water. Once a year you scoop out the finished compost at the bottom and spread it on the bed.

### How much soil does this keyhole garden bed need?

This keyhole garden bed takes about 34 cu ft (1.2 cu yd) of raised-bed mix, filled to 1" below the wall top. That gives 26 sq ft of growing area.

### Can I build the keyhole raised bed without the trellis or the basket?

Yes. You can use short corner posts and a plain back cap to leave out the trellis, or skip the basket and fill the space behind the path end with soil.

## More Building Plans from KRMPLANS

Browse the KRMPLANS shop for more DIY building plans for your garden and backyard. If you have a question about this plan, send us a message and we will be happy to help.