DIY Raised Garden Beds - 23 Designs You Can Build Today (2024)

FAQs

Is it cheaper to buy or build raised garden beds? ›

A homemade raised garden bed might be cheaper in the short term, but it will cost you far more time and money in the long run.

The cheapest way to make raised garden beds is to use recycled materials such as free pallets made of wood, old tires, or even cinder blocks. You can also use a combination of these materials to create an inexpensive and unique garden bed with a rustic look.

Layer the bottom with cardboard or newspaper as a weed barrier, which will decompose over time. Then, use a mix of yard waste, leaves, grass clippings, and kitchen scraps layered with soil and compost.

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. For that reason, raised beds will likely need fertilizer more often.

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.

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.

Wood is not the only cheap option for building a raised bed. Concrete blocks and some bricks can be relatively cheap, easy to lay and will last longer than wood.

If you're looking for high-yield veggies, you can't go wrong with cucumbers, pole beans, radishes, squash, zucchini, peas, and tomatoes. These vegetables are easy to grow and have been known to produce a large amount of produce per plant, providing you with a bountiful harvest that lasts for weeks.

If you're going to pay for a product to fill your raised beds, again, it should just be really good soil and compost. I only recommend a thin layer of gravel at the bottom of your raised bed and under the edges to help you level the area. Save the rest of your gravel for your garden pathways.

Why put cardboard in raised beds? ›

It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.

Raised-Bed Garden Cost per Square Foot

If you're DIY'ing your garden installation, expect to spend anywhere from $25 to $50 per square foot of garden space for wood raised beds. Stone, brick, and steel will be more expensive.

If you were thinking of planting a garden to increase property value, you may want to reconsider. You should update the exterior of your home before selling to increase its value, but adding a garden is likely not the best choice.

Raised beds made of cinder blocks or concrete blocks

Cinder blocks and concrete blocks are very inexpensive (typically $2 to $3 a piece at home improvement centers), and they make it really easy to build the outline of a raised garden bed.

While generally minor, raised beds do have some disadvantages. Raised beds dry out faster than level garden sites. Accordingly, they have to be watered more frequently in dry weather. Initial construction of the raised bed may take more effort than maintenance of the conventional garden.