Why Raised Garden Beds?
Exploring ways to use your outdoor space for growing beautiful flowers or your own vegetables? Raised beds gardening provides a great way to maximize growing space, no matter what size your yard is. They also offer many other advantages over gardening directly in the ground, such as:
- Better soil control: You can’t control the soil in your yard. But you do have total control over the type of soil you use in your raised garden beds.
- Improved water control: Gardening beds that are above ground tend to have better drainage, preventing you from ending up with waterlogged gardens. They also need less irrigation overall.
- Aesthetic appeal: These garden beds give outdoor spaces a neater, tidier appearance. You can also use a wide range of raised garden ideas when building your own.
- Easier on your back: Having raised beds for gardening means you don’t have to lean over as much. This makes gardening more comfortable overall and reduces the risk of back pain.
- Pest deterrence: Garden beds that are off the ground make it harder for pests and wildlife to invade and eat or destroy flowers and vegetables.
- Greater productivity: Having multiple raised garden beds in your yard makes it easy to rotate crops, giving you better vegetables. You can also grow several kinds of vegetables in separate beds, resulting in a bigger harvest.
- Ideal for beginners: These beds are easier to care for if you’re just getting started with gardening. They’re also simple to build.
- Perfect for small outdoor spaces: You can set up raised beds in any outdoor space, even a small concrete patio!
Not sure where to start in terms of design? Let’s explore several raised garden bed ideas to suit different tastes and situations, from basic designs to unique ones!
“There’s something uniquely satisfying about constructing a structure with your own hands.”
30+ Raised Garden Bed Ideas
Raised Flower Bed Ideas
These flower bed designs are ideal for creating seasonal or decorative floral displays! For extra contrast with flower colors, use bricks, wood, or stone for your raised flower beds.
3×8 Raised Flower Bed
Craftcamp 3×8 Raised Garden Bed Plan
Offers plenty of space for setting up an impressive floral display featuring multiple flowers.
Raised Bed with Integrated Ladder and Trellis
Consider a stylish bed that includes visual appeal with an integrated ladder and trellis design — perfect for flowering vines.
Craftcamp Raised Garden Bed with Ladder Trellis Plan
Adds visual appeal and a perfect place for flowering vines.
Raised Flower Beds of Varying Heights
Creates an eye-catching look with different bed heights.
Traditional Rectangular Flower Bed
Offers a spacious layout for growing multiple flowers.
Creative Vegetable Garden Design Ideas
The following raised bed garden ideas offer practical layouts for productivity and beauty, including vertical stacking to maximize space and companion planting for better pollination and soil health.
Raised Rectangular Vegetable Garden Bed
Craftcamp 2×6 Elevated Garden Bed Plan
Maximizes productivity and makes a great choice for growing herbs or vegetables for your pantry.
L-shaped Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp Versatile L-shaped Garden Bed Plan
Provides easier access and better organization, whether you’re growing multiple vegetables or one type.
Star-shaped Garden Bed with Traditional Beds
Makes a creative setup for growing vegetables.
Raised Garden Beds with Overarching Vines
Adds visual interest and extra growing space.
Modern Raised Garden Bed Ideas
These design ideas have a modern twist, giving raised garden beds a streamlined look. Most include sleek lines, a minimalist style, and metal frames rather than wood. They go best with urban or contemporary homes.
Stylish Garden Bed with Integrated Trellis and Privacy Screen
Craftcamp Privacy Screen Garden Bed Plan
Gives outdoor spaces a modern look with a streamlined design and sturdy metal frame.
Square Raised Garden Bed with Minimalist Design
Craftcamp 2×2 Raised Planter Box Plan
Makes an ideal garden bed for contemporary homes with sleek lines and streamlined look.
Raised Bed with Corrugated Steel Sides and Metal Frame
Adds a contemporary design to outdoor spaces.
Grayish-blue Raised Garden Bed with Built-in Seating
Makes a great design for contemporary and urban homes with sleek lines and minimalist design.
Rustic and Natural Raised Bed Ideas
The following raised garden bed designs offer a way to blend gardens with nature, instead of working against it. They tend to feature recycled elements, stone, or untreated wood for a rustic or more natural appearance.
Organic Raised Bed with Trellis and Built-in Privacy Screen
Adds a rustic touch to yards and a place for vertical gardening.
Raised Stone Garden Bed
Creatse a natural look and durable design.
Raised Garden Beds with Seating
These raised bed ideas are both functional and beautiful, providing convenient places to sit. Consider them for older gardeners or families.
Raised Wooden Garden Bed with Built-in Seating
Offers a place to take a rest while gardening or sit and admire your garden.
Raised Bed with Attached Bench Seating
Provides comfort and convenience for gardening breaks.
Plain Wood Raised Garden Bed with Attached Seating
Offers ample seating and access to all garden areas.
Unique Raised Garden Beds
The following designs give your garden beds plenty of character using shape and structure, such as spirals, tiers, rounded shapes, and multi-levels.
Elevated Garden Bed with Multiple Tiers and Stacked Design
Craftcamp Tiered Raised Garden Bed Plan
Creates an eye-catching floral display.
Bedframe-Inspired Raised Garden Beds
Offers a unique look with top and bottom edges shaped like wooden bed frames.
Raised Garden Beds with Octagonal Shapes
Gives gardens a creative, unconventional look.
Small Garden Bed Ideas
These backyard raised garden bed ideas as ideal for smaller areas, like patios, high yards, and even balconies.
3-tier Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp 2×3 Tiered Planter Box Plan
Helps maximize space in tight areas, such as small yards or patios.
4-foot Wooden Window Garden Bed
Craftcamp 4×1 Window Planter Box Plan
Perfect for the smallest of outdoor spaces
Compact Wooden Window Garden
Adds a whimsical look to outdoor spaces
Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed Ideas
What is the cheapest way to get raised beds? Consider cheap raised garden bed ideas using materials you already have handy, such as old pallets, crates, or leftover bricks. The following above ground garden bed ideas give you some budget-friendly options to explore.
3-foot Wooden Window Garden Planter
Craftcamp 3×1 Window Planter Box Plan
Small and simple to make as a DIY option that won’t break the bank.
Compact Raised Garden Bed with Bottom Shelf
Craftcamp Compact Raised Garden Planter Plan
Adds value with a convenient place to store tools.
DIY Raised Garden Beds Made with Tires
Offers a cheap way to create your own gardens.
Raised Beds made of Cinder Blocks
Adds durability to your garden.
U-shaped Wooden Raised Garden Bed
Adds more space and features plain wood surfaces that can be painted for added appeal.
Secure Raised Garden Bed Ideas
The following raised bed ideas provide added security with fencing or mesh, keeping vegetables and flowers safe from deer and other wildlife,
Spacious Raised Garden Bed with a Sturdy Mesh Enclosure
Craftcamp Raised Garden Bed with Deer Fence Plan
Helps keep animals from destroying your plants.
Raised Bed with a Secure Mesh Enclosure in White
Craftcamp 8×16 Raised Garden Bed Plan
Adds visual appeal and peace of mind that plants are safe from deer, rabbits, and other critter.
Image Showcase: Raised Bed Gallery
Images of raised garden beds can make it easier for you to picture how they’ll look in your own yard.
Check out the following raised bed garden layout pictures:
2-tiered Garden Bed
Craftcamp 2-Tier Raised Bed Planter Plan
Features extra room for growing vegetables or flowers, along with a durable wooden and metal frame.
Rectangular Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp 4×8 DIY Raised Planter Box Plan
Offers a simple layout with easy access to all garden areas.
These images show raised beds using different materials:
Wooden Raised Garden Bed with Reinforced Metal Corners
Craftcamp 4×8 Raised Garden Bed Plan
Boosts aesthetic appeal and durability.
Raised Bed with Metal and Wood Frame
Craftcamp Deep Elevated Garden Bed Plan
Adds visual interest and features a bottom shelf for convenient storage
Get a better idea of varying sizes with these raised garden bed images:
2×8 Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp 2×8 Raised Herb Planter Plan
Ideal for narrow spaces and provides easy access to the entire garden for better ergonomics.
32×32 Raised Garden Bed with Fencing and Mesh Enclosure
Craftcamp 32×32 Raised Garden Bed Plan
Perfect for growing a wide range of plants in large outdoor spaces and keeping them safe from wildlife and pests.
Layouts That Maximize Beauty and Space
When you explore raised garden bed ideas, consider layout options. Some layouts are ideal for showing off the beauty of a flower bed. Others are more suitable for making clever use of limited space.
Take a look at these raised bed garden layout pictures to see what might work best in your outdoor space!
Layouts that separate crops or aesthetics: Keeps flowers and vegetables separate for easier maintenance and reduced disease risks
Benchtop Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp Benchtop Raised Garden Bed Plan
Provides separate areas for different plants and extra workspace.
L-shaped beds: Ideal for maximizing space in corners and tight areas
L-shaped Raised Bed
Craftcamp L-Shaped Raised Garden Bed Plan
Offers convenient spaces for growing plants in outdoor areas with limited space or yard corners.
Vertical raised beds for tight areas: Perfect for gardening in small spaces
Rectangular Raised Bed with Trellis
Craftcamp Raised Garden Planter with Trellis Plan
Provides spaces for vertical gardening in tighter areas.
U-shaped beds: Offers easier access to all areas and maximizes space
U-shaped Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp U-Shaped Raised Garden Bed Plan
Makes the most of gardening space and improves garden accessibility.
Tiered layouts for flowers and vegetables: Optimizes space and adds visual appeal
Multi-tiered Raised Garden Bed
Craftcamp Multi-Level Raised Garden Bed Plan
Creates visual interest and offers more growing space.
Planning Tips Before You Build
Once you’ve figured out the design and layout you want, it’s time to gather supplies for building your raised garden bed. But first, let’s go over some helpful planning tips to ensure a smooth building process and a successful garden!
- What do you put in the bottom of a raised garden bed?
Line your bed with some burlap or a weed barrier fabric. You’ll want to to this for a couple of reasons — to keep weeds at bay and to stop soil from getting washed out during downpours. - What not to plant in a raised garden bed?
You can grow a lot of flowers and vegetables in these beds. But there are some exceptions, including plants that will outgrow that space. Avoid plants that have widespread roots, like melons. Other plants, like corn, require more space for pollination and healthy growth. - How deep should a raised garden bed be for vegetables?
Giving your bed a depth between 8 and 12 inches is usually enough for most kinds of vegetables. But that varies, depending on what you want to grow. Some vegetables may need depths up to 18 inches, such as cucumbers and tomatoes. Others, like lettuce and herbs, can grow in just 6 inches of soil. - How do you choose a location?
Consider sunlight, access, and slope to determine the best location for your raised garden bed. Your plants will get the most sunlight in a south-facing area. Choose a space that’s at least slightly sloped for better drainage — or you’ll have water pooling around the bed. Pick a location that makes it easy for you to access the bed to maintain it, such as an area close to a hose or other water source. - How do you plan for soil type and drainage?
Choose soil that’s permeable for better drainage and contains a lot of nutrients for healthy vegetable growth. Consider adding compost for added nutrients if needed. Note that the exact soil mix that works best for your bed will depend on what you plan to grow. For drainage, permeable soil and a slight slope help prevent raised garden beds from pooling due to irrigation or rain — or even flooding during heavy rains.
With these tips and more than 30 raised garden bed ideas to choose from, you’re well on your way to creating your own impressive flower beds or bountiful vegetable gardens!
