Setting up a raised garden bed can be fun and can also help you to enjoy the benefits of nature even in limited spaces. Raised bed gardens provide an effective way for you to control the health of the soil used for growing plants or for growing vegetables. A raised bed garden can be as humble as a planter box or as elaborate as waist height garden with a trellis structure, flowers, ornamental plants, etc. Moreover, these gardens have almost the same maintenance needs as regular garden beds although their products are relatively healthier. Given below are the brief details of the top ten great raised bed ideas for creating raised gardens and their step by step guide.
Raised garden bed ideas to watch out for
Metal Bins
Metal bins such as the ones made from steel are a popular choice for creating a great raised bed garden. The metal bins create a rustic and polished look to enhance the appeal of the garden. The bins are especially great for growing plants with a deep root system as their depth makes it easier to contain such plants. However, be sure to make some drainage holes at the bottom of the bins before you start planting in them.
Wooden Boxes
Used wooden boxes and crates are other great options for creating raised garden beds. You can use scrap wood boxes to add natural beauty to your home by creating ornamental gardens in them or growing herbs or vegetables. Boxes made from pressure-treated wood are the best choice for creating such block-raised gardens as they offer greater resistance to decaying and insect infestation.
Cinder Blocks
If you are looking for an easy and affordable solution for creating your raised bed garden, then cinder blocks are a perfect choice. This no-frills garden bed is especially suitable if you live in an area with hard soil that can be too difficult to dig up. You can also build hollow concrete blocks directly on top of the ground in different sizes and depths to match your space needs.
Woven Willow Baskets
You can add an English look and appeal to your home by setting up a raised garden in woven willow baskets. The baskets help to naturally insulate the soil and maintain proper airflow and drainage to ensure the healthy growth of plants. The baskets are also a great choice for dry raised garden beds to grow ornamental plants that require minimum moisture. You can easily get woven willow baskets of different sizes from the local hardware store and start gardening.
DIY Stacked Stone
One of the easiest and most inexpensive ways of creating an elevated garden bed is by stacking layers of stone. This garden bed has an organic and natural look and feel that easily blends with the surroundings. Moreover, a DIY project such as this can help you appreciate the treats of nature and establish an emotional connection with your plants and garden as a whole. You can choose to build small raised beds or large ones depending on your needs and space availability.
Brick Or Paver
If you are seeking a sturdier option for creating the ultimate garden bed, then brick or paver stones are the right choice. Unlike wood-raised gardens, the ones made from brick and paver stones last longer as they are naturally rot-resistant. Moreover, the bricks develop a unique character with time, which adds an old-world charm to the garden space and makes it visually appealing.
Milk Crates
Repurposing milk crates and turning them into a beautiful raised vegetable garden can be a great experience. The crates already have drainage holes and are quite easy to handle which makes them a perfect solution for customizable gardens. They provide great flexibility in terms of ease of weeding, changing the topsoil, and even moving the plants to ensure that they get enough heat and light.
Grow Bags
Grow bags are perhaps the simplest way of growing plants with raised beds in your backyard or even your patio. In addition to their simple construction, grow bags also offer the benefit of better temperature regulation of the soil. Moreover, they can be used for large planters as well as for cultivating smaller plants and herbs and flowers. You can repurpose your old grocery bags or choose to purchase grow bags from a hardware store near you to build your garden.
Old Tires
Old tires make a great option for setting up a raised flower or herb garden in the yard or even the balcony. You might need to invest in some hardware cloth to cover the underside of the tires before you fill them with soil for making the perfect bed. Alternately you can directly place the tire on the ground and fill it with good soil to raise the plants closer to the natural settings.
Repurposed Pallets
Using wood pallets is another great idea for creating a DIY-tiered herb garden. The pallets make vertical gardening relatively simpler, especially in areas with limited space. The pallet planter beds are relatively small and are easy to care for and maintain. Moreover, the height of the pallets herb planter enables you to grow more plants in small spaces. The pallets are best to grow herbs or flowers or even vegetables while retaining the visual interest of the space.
Summing Up
Setting up a raised planter area enables you to unleash your gardening creativity and experiment with landscaping timbers and other items to connect with nature.You can choose the create the garden specifically during the planting season or maintain one whole year round. Once you have decided on the basic frame you want to go with the rest is similar to tending to a regular garden bed.