Natural Cedar Raised Garden Beds (2024)

FAQs

Is cedar wood good for a raised garden bed? ›

The Best Wood Types for Your Raised Garden Bed Will Be Durable. It would be such a bummer to build a raised bed, only to have it bow and then rot in a couple of years. Certain types of wood like cedar, redwood, and hemlock are more resistant to rot and decay than others.

Building a Raised Bed from Lumber

Most raised beds are constructed from lumber. Pine and other framing lumber will last about 4 to 5 years, while more expensive cedar will hang together for 8 to 10 years. Don't use redwood, which is an endangered species.

Option #1 – No Treatment or Stain

Oils naturally occurring in cedar help the wood resist rot and deter pests like termites. This helps cedar last longer than other woods when exposed to the elements. If left untreated, you'll notice a few changes to your garden box.

Avoid using older types of wood treatments such as CCA, creosote, and Penta-treated lumber. Research from Oregon State University showed that pressure-treated lumber does increase soil copper concentrations by a minor amount, but only within 1 inch of the raised-bed edge.

The safest wood to use for vegetable container gardens is cedar. It resists rot and lasts a long time, but it is pricey. You can safely use other kinds of untreated hardwood to build raised beds, but your project will rot and warp in a few years, depending on the wood.

Types of Wood to Use for Raised Beds

My favorite wood to use is cedar because it's an incredibly durable and attractive timber that will perform well for years to come. Other woods that don't decay or rot quickly include redwood, cypress, and hemlock.

Cedar. Cedar is most commonly thought of as the best type of wood for raised beds. It's largely resistant to rot and termites, and it's relatively easy to find. It can also be expensive.

Studies have definitely shown some leaching of ingredients from this wood into garden soil and onto foliage (most likely from dust kicked up from the soil), relatively little in plants themselves (many of the most concerning elements aren't easily taken up by plants), and very low concentrations in any event.

What is the best material to line a planter? Plastic sheeting is the best material for lining a planter with. Pond liners work well for lining the bottom of planters as they are robust and can easily be shaped into the perfect size to fit the dimensions of your planter.

Concrete blocks or bricks: These building materials can be arranged to form the walls of your raised bed. They are safe, sturdy, and long-lasting. Stone: Natural stone can be a beautiful, durable, and safe choice for a raised bed. Galvanized steel: Galvanized steel is another option.

How to fill a raised garden bed cheaply? ›

Use the Lasagna Garden Method

To start, lay down sheets of cardboard or newspaper for weed suppression and then fill the raised bed structure halfway up with alternating layers of nitrogen-rich materials (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich materials (like wood chips and dried autumn leaves).

Vegetable Beds: On the other hand, when it comes to vegetable beds, the bed must be approximately 12 to 18 inches deep to ensure adequate depth for the roots of your plants. This is especially important if your raised bed is placed on cement or the patio, which will inhibit roots from growing deeper into the ground.

So to put it all together, the best type of wood for raised beds is untreated, FSC-certified pine. Or untreated, FSC-certified cedar or redwood if you want something a bit longer-lasting.

He stated in a bulletin titled, Treated Wood in Raised Bed Gardening, “Scientific evidence and data have shown that using pressure treated wood for raised bed or box gardening is safe to adults and children in terms of the plants grown and used in these containers.” He further explains, “All chemicals in consumer ...