Raised bed gardening is a way to grow plants and flowers in soil above ground within a contained space, such as a wood frame. Unlike in-ground gardening, raised gardening gives you more control over certain aspects of growing, like soil and water. It’s also easier on your back, allowing you to handle all of your gardening tasks without much bending.
How do you get started with above ground gardening? The following guide walks you through planning your raised bed garden and building it. You’ll also get some ideas for layouts and designs, along with valuable tips on do’s and don’ts and answers to commonly asked questions.
You don’t need any expertise to enjoy the benefits of raised bed gardens. Our guide provides the info you need, whether you’re a DIYer, beginner, or just curious about this gardening approach!
Why Choose Raised Bed Gardening? (Benefits vs. In-Ground)
Why are raised garden beds better than in-ground gardens? These elevated beds offer notable benefits that help improve your gardening experience overall. Let’s take a look at these advantages in more detail.
Soil Quality Control
Unsuitable soil conditions can easily ruin an in-ground garden, making it tough to grow any plants. A raised vegetable garden or flower garden gives you greater control over soil quality. You get to choose the specific soil or soil mixes you need, depending on what you’re growing.
Fewer Weeds
Dealing with weeds is among the more back-breaking tasks that in-ground gardening involves. You have to be vigilant to prevent weeds from quickly taking over your garden. Above ground gardening makes this much easier to handle. In fact, you might not have any weeds to worry about!
Extended Growing Season
Traditional gardening limits the kinds of plants you can grow based on season. Using raised gardening means you have more options. Since you’re working with a contained garden, you can set the right conditions in terms of soil and water for growing plants beyond their normal season.
Accessibility for All Ages
In-ground gardening can be physically challenging for younger kids, seniors, and those with mobility issues. Having to kneel down or bend over to dig in the ground may not be comfortable or even possible.
Above ground gardening offers accessibility for everyone! With the right height, gardeners of all ages can easily care for a raised garden filled with flowers or vegetables. We’ll provide raised bed gardening tips on choosing ideal heights based on age and mobility.
Aesthetic Flexibility
Raised gardening gives you all sorts of options for creating visually stunning garden spaces. With different layouts and designs to choose from, you can set up a tiered garden for vegetables and flowers – or grow flowering vines in a garden with its own trellis. Elevated gardens allow you to put your creative skills to use for striking effects!
Raised Beds vs. Traditional Beds
Here’s a quick comparison of in-ground and raised beds to help you see their most notable differences.
| Raised Beds | Traditional Beds | |
| Space | Suitable for any size, ideal for limited space | More suitable for bigger outdoor areas |
| Irrigation | Typically needs watering more often | May need watering less frequently |
| Soil Quality/Control | Greater control over soil mixes, easier to maintain | Depends on native soil type, harder to maintain |
| Shape | Variety of bed shapes available | Harder to create specific shapes |
| Accessibility | Less bending involved | More physical effort needed |
| Drainage | Less risk of being waterlogged | May be poor in some soils, like clay |
| Weeds | Reduced risk of weeds | Frequent weeding may be needed |
| Aesthetics | Versatile ranging from tidy and modern to more natural and rustic | Usually more natural |
Now that we’ve gone over the benefits of raised beds, let’s take a look at different designs and layouts to choose from.
Raised Bed Garden Designs and Layouts
With so many different types of raised garden beds available, you’ll find tons of layout possibilities to consider. The right design for your own garden will depend on the plants you want to grow, the amount of space you have, and your personal preferences.
Layout Ideas for Raised Gardens
A few layout options, along with accompanying raised bed garden layout pictures, include:
Grid Layout
Grid layout is suitable for growing different kinds of vegetables in tidy, separate areas.
U-shape Layout
U-shape layout provides better accessibility and maximizes space.
Tiered Layout
Tiered Layout adds a visual appeal and practical setup for growing different types of plants.
Companion Planting Zones
Planting companion vegetables is a great way to keep weeds at bay and use your space more efficiently. These zones also help improve your soil quality if you rotate crops regularly. Examples of companion plants include:
- Carrots and peas
- Broccoli or cauliflower and beets
- Garlic and onions
- Cucumbers and beans
- Basil and tomato
Best Raised Bed Layout for Vegetables
You can use a grid layout to keep your plants separate or grow them in tiered beds. For the best results, choose a layout that gives you room to plant taller plants behind shorter ones. If possible, set up your garden so that it’s facing south. For longer or narrower beds, consider a north-south layout that gives all areas good sunlight exposure.
With designs and layouts in mind, it’s time to dive into the process of planning a raised bed garden.
How to Plan a Raised Bed Garden That Works
Building a raised bed is a fairly simple process, but you’ll need to consider a few factors beforehand to make sure your garden has an optimal setup. We’ll go over the factors to think about while planning your new elevated gardening bed.
How to Choose the Right Location?
Our raised bed gardening tips on planning start with the key factors needed for the perfect location. Putting your garden in the right place helps ensure that flowers, vegetables, or herbs can grow and thrive, giving you a rewarding gardening experience.
Sunlight, Slope, Wind, and Drainage
A big part of raised bed garden planning involves checking these factors in order to find the best area in your outdoor space.
- Sunlight: Set up gardens in south-facing areas if possible for maximum sunlight
- Slope: Choose a spot with a slight slope to allow water to drain
- Wind: Consider planting near bushes or shrubs to protect delicate plants from wind
- Drainage: Pick an area with soil or surfaces that drain well to prevent flooding that affects raised gardens
Accessibility and Proximity to Water
Planning a raised garden bed for beginners? Don’t overlook your water sources! Carrying heavy buckets or watering cans back and forth can be difficult. Set up your garden close to a hose or other source of water for convenient irrigation.
You’ll also want to pick an accessible spot. Make sure you can reach each part of your raised garden, so you can maintain it.
What Tools and Materials Do You Need to Start?
How to start a raised bed garden? After deciding on location and layout, you’ll need to gather your tools and materials. The right material depends on the aesthetics you want and practical factors, like your budget.
Wood
Wood is a versatile material that’s suitable for all kinds of raised garden bed designs, from rustic to modern.
Pros: Insulates soil better, rust-free, customizable, improved drainage, visual appeal
Cons: Limited durability, maintenance needed to prevent wood rot and pests
Metal
Raised beds made of metal can give your garden a contemporary look and streamlined design.
Pros: Highly durable, absorbs heat for warmer soil, customizable, aesthetic appeal
Cons: Higher costs, heat absorption may not be suitable for hotter climates, rust, no insulation
Composite
Garden beds made with composite materials can have all kinds of styles and designs for an eye-catching look.
Pros: Minimal maintenance, durable, resistant to many severe weather conditions
Cons: Chemicals might leach into soil, more expensive than wood
Essential Tools
These DIY projects don’t require a ton of tools, but you’ll need the following for raised garden bed construction:
- Shovel for adding soil
- Drill for working with wood and drilling drainage holes
- Trowel for applying mortar to stone or bricks
How Many Raised Beds Do You Need?
When planning a raised bed garden, consider the number of beds you’ll need. Factor in how much you want to grow for a vegetable garden or the kinds of flower displays you want to build, for example. Here’s a closer look at how to determine how many beds to build.
Space Planning for Households and Garden Goals
Are you planning a raised bed vegetable garden for your family? Consider how many people are in your household and how many different types of vegetables you want to grow. For example, you might only need one garden for growing a small amount of herbs. You’ll need more gardens if you want to grow a variety of vegetables, though, like carrots, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes.
Keep in mind that you may be able to use garden space for growing different plants throughout the year. For example, as you harvest a summer vegetable, you can prepare that garden to grow a fall or winter vegetable.
Planning a raised flower garden? For more visual interest, you may want to use multiple gardens or a multi-level garden with tiers.
Single vs Modular Layout Options
Here are a few layout options- both single and modular – along with visual examples of raised bed garden setups:
Single Layout
A single layout may provide convenience for you. All of your plants will be in one place, making maintenance a bit easier with only one garden to take care of.
Modular layout
You might consider a modular layout if you want to keep plants separate for practical or aesthetic purposes.
What Type of Soil Should You Use in a Raised Bed?
Gardening in raised beds means you get to pick which soil to use, rather than being stuck with your native soil. Just keep in mind that it’s important to choose carefully to ensure a healthy environment for your plants to grow.
Key Elements
When planting in raised beds, you’ll need a combination of the following elements. Try starting with 50% topsoil, 25% aeration materials and 25% compost. You can adjust this ratio as needed.
- Compost: Makes gardens more fertile, helps retain moisture
- Topsoil: Provides plants with nutrients, balances drainage and water retention
- Aeration materials: Help improve water retention and drainage for healthier plants
For topsoil, avoid using any that’s sandy or has a clay-like texture. You’ll want topsoil that crumbles easily and is darker in color.
Aeration materials may include vermiculite, peat moss, or similar materials.
Factors to Consider
Raised bed planting
- Soil layering: Layer compost and other organic matter first, followed by topsoil
- pH: Aim for a soil pH of 6 or 7 for healthy plant growth, but adjust as needed depending on what specific plants may need
- Seasonal renewal: Add compost to upper soil layers for renewal, or add a compost and topsoil mix
What to Put in the Bottom of a Raised Garden Bed?
Don’t put your soil in first! But what do you put in the bottom of a raised garden bed? Filling raised beds involves placing a layer of gravel, cardboard, or weed barrier first. These materials provide a foundation for your garden that helps support it and prevents soil from washing out.
How to fill a tall raised garden bed on a budget? You don’t need to invest in the highest quality store-bought weed barriers or purchase gravel. Look around your yard and home for budget-friendly options, like pieces of cardboard or straw. Knowing what to put in a raised garden bed using household supplies can help you fill it without emptying your wallet.
How Deep Should a Raised Bed Garden Be?
The answer depends on which plants you plan on growing. Some vegetables need deeper soil to accommodate their roots. Others only need shallow soil to grow. Your ideal raised bed depth may vary from as little as 6 inches for growing some herbs or 18 inches or more for growing kale or cucumbers.
So how deep should a raised bed be? The following table gives you an idea of which plants need deep vs. shallow beds.
| Depth | Plants |
| 6″ | Herbs, spinach, lettuce |
| 12″ | Root vegetables (ex: carrots, radishes), peppers |
| 18″ | Cucumbers, tomatoes, kale, zucchini, squash |
How Tall Should a Raised Garden Bed Be?
Once you figure out the depth you need, you can start figuring out raised bed size and height. In general, raised garden bed dimensions with a height of 16 to 18 inches are suitable for many people.
If you have younger kids who want to help out with gardening, or if you’re a senior with achy knees or have mobility issues, you may need more suitable heights.
Ideal heights for these cases include:
- 6 to 12 inches for kids
- 24 inches for wheelchair access
- 36 inches to avoid lots of bending
Consider aesthetics when choosing a height, too. Taller garden beds can have an impact on your landscape, blocking your view of surrounding areas. They can also give your yard a cozy, private feel, though.
What Vegetables Grow Best in Raised Garden Beds?
The best vegetables for raised garden beds include those that don’t need a lot of space to grow, including beneath the soil. Vegetables that don’t take a ton of time to grow are also ideal, so you can make the most of your garden and stock up your pantry!
Seasonal Planting Ideas
A raised vegetable garden offers a great way to focus on seasonal growth, rotating crops as needed. Some ideas to think about include:
- Spring: peas, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, beets
- Summer: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, squash, herbs
- Fall: leafy greens, root crops, broccoli, cabbage
- Winter: turnips, carrots, spinach, lettuce, radishes, kale
Low-Maintenance/High-Yield Options
To boost productivity with your raised bed plants, choose those that yield a lot – without needing much maintenance, such as:
- Leafy greens (kale, lettuce, spinach)
- Tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes
- Radishes
- Cucumbers
- Peppers
What NOT to Plant in a Raised Bed
What vegetables should not be grown in a raised bed? While these beds are versatile, they’re not meant for every type of vegetable. Here’s what a raised bed planting guide shouldn’t include:
- Invasive species: Can harm native species and take over your garden
- Large-space plants: Might outgrow your bed, like pumpkins or corn
You now know what it takes to plan your raised bed garden, so let’s move onto the building and setup process.
How to Build and Set Up a Raised Bed Garden
After the planning process, you’ll be ready to start putting your new garden together! Knowing how to build a raised vegetable garden or flower bed involves a few steps and tools. The exact way to do this varies, depending on design, material, layout, size, and other factors. We’ll provide a basic set of steps below.
Step-by-Step Raised Garden Bed Instructions
Here’s how to do a raised garden bed, step by step:
- Gather your tools
- Measure your wood or other material and cut the lengths you need
- Use screws or other fasteners to connect the frame pieces together
- Attach corner brackets to hold the frame together
- Add trim pieces or other decorative pieces to the main frame
- Place cardboard or other material in the bottom
- Add soil mix
After your raised bed is all set up and ready to go, it’s time to think about what you want to grow. Let’s explore tips and advice on growing vegetables.
How to Grow Vegetables in a Raised Bed Garden
How to grow a raised bed garden that provides you with plenty of vegetables? Let’s explore a few things to keep in mind for a healthy and productive garden!
Prepare Soil for Planting
For raised bed vegetable gardening, make sure your bed has the right mix of soil, starting with compost. Add topsoil and aeration materials to complete this mix. Before you begin planting any seeds, though, consider the following factors.
Key Requirements
Planting in raised beds means ensuring your vegetables have everything they need to grow, including:
- Spacing: Plant seeds far enough apart for adequate space to grow
- Watering: Irrigate your bed as often as needed, depending on how much water your plants need
- Light: Make sure your plants will have enough hours of sunlight per day to grow
Maintaining Your Vegetable Garden
Your garden needs tending over time to keep producing vegetables. A couple ways to do this include:
- Companion planting: Plant certain vegetables together or combinations of vegetables and flowers or herbs
- Crop rotation: Switch gardening areas for different plants, rather than planting the same vegetables in the same spaces
Now that we’ve covered growing vegetables in your raised bed garden, let’s go over some general tips and what to do and what not to do.
Raised Bed Gardening Do’s and Don’ts
Our raised bed gardening tips for beginners include:
- Make sure your bed has good drainage
- Choose the best location possible based on sunlight, wind, and other factors
- Start with one or two plants if you’re new to gardening
- Place mesh around gardens to keep pests and wildlife out
When starting a raised bed garden, avoid these common mistakes:
- Don’t use topsoil only
- Don’t overcrowd your plants
- Don’t wait to get rid of any weeds that appear
- Don’t pick plants that are difficult to grow in raised beds
You still might have more questions about raised bed gardening, even after reading the previous tips. Check out the FAQs about it below.
Frequently Asked Questions About Raised Bed Gardening
- What is the best thing to plant in a raised garden bed?
The best things to plant are annual flowers that require minimal maintenance, such as marigolds and zinnias. Herbs like mint, basil, oregano, and parsley are also great low-effort options. For a more strategic approach, consider companion planting – pairing flowers, herbs, and vegetables together – like tomatoes with marigolds or cabbage with sage. - Can I build a raised bed on concrete?
Yes, but you’ll need an excellent drainage system. Otherwise, water can stain your concrete or cause waterlogged gardens.
You’ve learned the basics of raised gardening – now it’s time to plan your garden bed. Use the info in this guide, and begin growing your own vegetables or flowers to enjoy!
