Olle Gardens 17" Tall "U" Shape Infinity Raised Garden Bed (2024)

FAQs

What is the longest lasting raised garden bed? ›

While untreated wood has a limited lifetime, using cedar, redwood, cypress, or hemlock can prolong the garden's life expectancy by five or ten years, meaning you can enjoy decades with your wooden raised beds. Steel is next in durability, and stone and brick can quite literally last a lifetime.

If the raised bed is on top of a hard surface, the minimum recommended height of 10 inches may not be deep enough for some crops, like potatoes. Young children need beds closer to the ground. For wheelchair access, beds should be 24 inches tall. A bed that is 36 inches off the ground helps avoid excessive bending over.

Gravel or Rocks: A layer of gravel or rocks can provide excellent drainage for your raised garden bed. This will prevent water from sitting at the bottom of your garden bed, which can lead to root rot and other issues. Gravel or rocks can also help prevent erosion and soil compaction.

Raised garden beds can help extend the growing season by providing warmer soil temperatures earlier in the spring and later into the fall. The elevated position allows the soil to warm up more quickly in the spring, enabling gardeners to start planting earlier and prolonging the harvest season for cold-sensitive crops.

The cons of raised beds

The soil mix also can be a significant, albeit one-time, expense. Raised beds need water more often since the soil is more exposed to air and dries quicker. Similar to growing in containers, the extra watering can leach nutrients out of the soil quicker than in-ground gardens.

The minimum required depth depends on the plant. But on average, a raised garden bed should accommodate about 20 inches of soil for the roots of flowers and vegetables.

The maximum width you would want for a raised bed is about four feet wide, and that would only be for beds that you're able to access from all four sides. Anything beyond four and a half to five feet typically makes plants in the middle of the bed too difficult to reach (unless you have very long arms).

Tomatoes should ideally be grown in a raised bed that's at least 15 to 18 inches deep. Many of my clients in Houston are successfully growing tomatoes in 12-inch deep raised garden beds, but their plants tend to be a little stunted compared to plants in deeper beds.

The answer is yes. You can line the bottom of your raised garden bed with cardboard and newspaper to block out weeds or act as a barrier against rhizomatous, weedy or invasive plants. While some may opt for landscape fabric, cardboard is a more cost-effective option.

Do you put landscape fabric under raised beds? ›

Depending on your budget and gardening goals, you can line the bottom of your raised garden beds with wide-mesh hardware cloth, stainless steel mesh, landscape fabric, burlap sack, or newspaper/cardboard.

On average, a DIY raised bed constructed from wood will cost $25 to $50 per square foot. To have a wooden raised bed constructed and installed for you, budget for at least $100 per square foot. (Find a kitchen garden company in your area.)

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

A north-south orientation is best for low-growing crops, allowing direct sunlight to reach both sides of the bed. For taller crops such as pole beans, peas and tomatoes an east west orientation works best. Leave enough space in between beds to easily maneuver around.

Composite wood is rot-resistant and more durable than natural wood. 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.

Raised Garden Beds Can Last a Couple Years to a Lifetime

Here's the short answer based on the type of material used for the raised bed: WOOD RAISED BED: 5-10 years. METAL RAISED BED: 30 years. STONE RAISED BED: lifetime.

As their name suggests, permanent raised beds are permanent, rather than tilled mechanically every year as in conventional agriculture. This means that the small cultivated area is always exactly the same and market gardeners can focus their efforts on improving soil quality over the course of the seasons.

The Bottom Line

Greenes Fence Premium Cedar Raised Garden Bed is our pick for the best overall raised garden bed because of its durability, height, and attention to detail, like the included box liner and dovetail joinery.