The Best Raised Garden Bed Options For The Backyard

Even if you do not have much time for gardening, you can still create a productive vegetable garden no matter what the size of your backyard is. As times change, many people have begun living in smaller houses where there is limited space for gardening. The solution for these gardeners is to utilize raised garden beds, which are a shortcut approach to plentiful harvests, even in the first year. These days, you do not need a large backyard nor a massive amount of time and effort to create a successful garden.

Raised garden beds, also known as above-ground gardens or planting beds, are enclosed containers that sit above the ground, giving you more control over soil specifications and facilitating a comfortable gardening experience practically anywhere. There is less bending and straining involved, and the added benefit of bringing a clean, modern style to your backyard. Whether you’re looking for a new way to display your flowers, or planning to grow a serious vegetable garden, below are a few raised garden bed options to inspire you as you begin an adventure in gardening.

Choosing a Raised Bed

Many reputable suppliers offer a wide selection of raised beds, from aluminum corner kits, to entire raised bed kits made of cedar, composite wood, recycled plastic or galvanized steel. Nowadays, many people are also considering elevated raised beds or extra tall raised beds. Check out Vego Garden extra tall raised beds here for effortless, no-bend gardening.

Typically, raised beds are available in a wide variety of heights starting from 6″ tall. Generally, the more soil depth that is available to your plants, the healthier their roots will grow. Vego Garden offers both 17″ and 32″ tall options, which allow ample space for all of your planting endeavors whether you’re growing a medley of fruits and vegetables, or beautiful flowers. Raised garden beds also contain more soil, which helps the beds retain moisture, meaning less frequent watering.

There is no standard when it comes to choosing garden beds, as they are dependent on available space, personal preferences, budget, and overall gardening goals. We recommend metal raised garden beds, which have become very popular among gardening enthusiasts due to their sturdy, rust-free material and modern, industrial design.

Forever Raised Beds

The Forever Raised Beds, which are available at Gardener’s Supply Company, are durable raised beds that can be set up in under an hour and last for years. Made from a mixture of recycled wood and plastic, they retain the attractive aesthetic of silvery aged cedar without splintering or rotting. They are 10 ½ inches deep and can support root space for salad greens, peppers, tomatoes, and even potatoes.

Self-Watering Raised Garden Bed

The benefits of a self-watering raised garden bed become apparent after a scorching summer of drought, particularly if you live in a hot climate. The innovative gardener will love the concept of the self-watering planter, which is suited for indoor or outdoor use. Self-watering garden beds work by funneling water to plant roots through capillary action, using a tube connected to the reservoir that allows you to replenish your water supply easily. Prefabricated containers have indicators that will alert you when the water supply is low. 

Self-watering planters are best suited for apartment dwellers who only have a balcony or patio. They are available both pre-constructed and as kits. To use, simply fill the reservoir with water, and it will distribute the necessary hydration to your plants. Pictured below is the Nest from Crescent Garden, which makes a great addition to a balcony.

 

 

Dual Raised Garden Bed

For people who have larger yards, this side-by-side option is a decent choice. The simple design of this garden bed introduces a farmhouse style to your garden. Made from Chinese fir and built to last through many seasons, it contains a middle divider that helps keep your garden organized and allows you to experiment with different varieties of plants on each side. You can grow flowers in one section and vegetables in another. The panels are pre-sanded and the design features dovetail joints that slide together easily for faster assembly. The image is courtesy of Home Depot, where you can find the bed on their website.

 

 

Elevated Raised Garden Bed

Elevated raised garden beds are deep rectangular planters supported by four legs. They are designed to keep critters and pets from trampling your garden. Since the height is adjustable, making them significantly taller than conventional garden beds, they are ideal for people with physical limitations or mobility problems. Because the bed is raised off the ground, you do not have to dig very deep to plant your garden. They can be placed on the patio or deck to help brighten up the space.

Portable Raised Garden Bed

Similar to the elevated garden bed, portable garden beds are mobile carts that you can roll around using the attached wheels. Because you can easily move them, you can rotate your plants throughout the seasons so that they get enough sunlight. Flowers and plants with shallow root systems tend to grow well in these beds, as they are not as deep as traditional raised garden beds. The bed pictured here includes a shelf where you can store your gardening tools.

 

 

Modular Raised Garden Bed 

With a modular design, you can harness your creativity to customize your raised garden bed to suit your needs, and place it a desirable place. Vego Garden's metal raised beds are modularly designed with flexible configuration options to fit any back or front yard space. Offering both superior form and function, Vego raised beds offer many benefits that make them an attractive focal point in any backyard. Our beds are deeper than the usual raised garden beds, allowing you to effortlessly set up a garden, with no digging or weeding necessary. In addition, the all inclusive kits are easy to assemble, eliminating the time-consuming process of shopping for materials and assembling a DIY raised bed. Check out our 6-in-1, 9-in-1, 10-in-1 models, and our round beds for more information. 

Specialty Shaped Raised Beds

Vego Garden offers the same modularity and features in a special collection of L and U-Shaped beds if you want to add an unusual, unique element to your garden space. The L-Shaped raised beds are designed to fit perfectly in the corner of your yard. Arrange four kits to create an eye-catching border around a focal point like a fountain, statue, or Round Bed. The U-Shape design offers a convenient wrap-around configuration, giving you easy access to more growing space for your fresh vegetables, herbs and flowers. From the interior of the bed, you can easily reach across all corners, and will be surrounded by your beautiful harvest.

Circular Raised Garden Bed

One well-liked configuration is a circular bed, which has become popular among gardeners with limited space and casual gardeners that seek an elegant, easy maintenance option. Circular garden beds are a great way to cultivate your plants, especially flowers, by displaying them in a graceful, elevated platform. We have round 42″ beds in 17″ and 32″ height options, as well as a more petite herb garden series. All of our garden beds come with customized heavy duty rubber edging, which provides protection against injury.

Kids Raised Garden Bed

Gardening is a great way for children to explore the wonders of the natural world. Vego Garden offers a Kids Garden Bed that is 17″ tall and 42″ x 24″. Despite its name, our kid’s garden bed can actually grow a lot of vegetables. This size is perfect for kids, or even beginner gardeners who want to start off with a small garden for one person. You can easily fit 6 tomato plants in the summer, or 16 carrot plants in the fall. For additional fun, you can even decorate your raised garden bed with the Vego Garden sticker kit. We recommend this garden bed to schools to help promote environmental awareness for students, especially if the school garden has a limited space.

 

Undoubtedly, raised garden beds are the perfect choice for gardening enthusiasts all around the world, giving you the flexibility to grow your plants anywhere. With minimal effort, you can quickly set up a raised garden bed and marvel at the flourishing harvest that results.