Growing season is creeping nearer, or even here, and we all are looking at our garden beds from last year. And possibly being disappointed by their condition. Have you considered using raised garden beds this year? Raised beds are great for veggies and herbs, and can be the perfect solution for flower beds when the soil is poor. Or for when a gardener just needs an easier way to maintain their garden space. Easy to put together, DIY raised garden beds are nothing more than a box, with or without a bottom, filled with good garden soil.
Plants that are grown in raised bed planter boxes are healthier, weeds are easier to control, and watering and fertilizing is concentrated right where you need it. Gardeners that have trouble bending over will find raised beds easier to work in, and you can make them any height that works for you. Plus, they just keep the garden neat! If you want to try to grow an above ground garden this year, check out these tutorials for DIY raised garden beds.
DIY Raised Garden Bed Ideas
How to Build a Raised Planter Box
From ‘HGTV‘, learn how to build a raised bed with the basics. Use this for a raised flower bed, vegetable bed or even for herbs. This is a cheap garden box idea that is easy enough for beginner DIY’ers to make. The tutorial has lots of photos and instructions.
Concrete Garden Planter Box
So ‘Laguna Dirt‘ has the solution for any one who thinks they have no dirt to garden. They made their DIY raised vegetable garden on top of a concrete patio. This raised garden bed is simply stacked concrete blocks, filled with soil. Instant above ground garden. (The pup loves it too!)
DIY Garden Box from Cedar
This DIY raised garden bed from ‘DIY Pete‘ looks nice enough to have right up near the house. You don’t have to keep this one out in the veggie garden! Made from redwood, it will withstand the elements. This raised planter box is filled with flowers, but I can see just about anything growing happily here.
DIY Raised Garden Beds – Metal
From Becca at ‘My Crazy Good Life‘, these DIY raised garden boxes are made from corrugated metal. They look a little bit industrial, a little bit farmhouse, and a lot like a good garden idea. She has lots of step by step photos as she shares how to make this raised bed.
Planter Box Idea Using Troughs
Our next project is from ‘Gardenista‘. They show us a homeowner with a brilliant idea –using water troughs as DIY raised beds! I love this because it looks like art in the garden, yet tall enough to make working the beds easy for an older gardener, or someone like me who has trouble with her knees. Love this!Photography by Marla Aufmuth.
DIY Raised Garden Bed from Railroad Ties
From ‘DIY Network‘, this raised garden box is made from sleeper timbers. The only power tool you need for this planter project is a drill.
Garden Planter Box Tutorial
This is another version of a raised planter box using sleeper timbers. This tutorial is mostly a photo tutorial, but it does have a supply list and a project sketch. It also includes step by step photos. From ‘Railway Sleepers‘. Remember, if you use sleeper timbers for a gardening project, make sure they are chemical free.
Simple Raised Planter Box
Just need a basic raised bed tutorial? ‘This Old House‘ shows you how to make a raised garden bed from cheap lumber. Step by step, with a supply list.
Raised Garden Bed Idea
You can use that last basic tutorial in order to make this next raised garden bed from ‘Art & Appetite‘. These are simple projects that make perfect raised vegetable beds. In addition, making a smaller size will create a garden planter box that is easy to maintain. Lots of great ideas on this site on how to use, and also what to grow in raised beds.
Wraparound Raised Garden Bed Idea
From ‘Brittany Stager‘, this DIY raised garden bed was designed to grow enough food for their whole household! We love the way it has a walkway through the middle to give you good gardening access. This is the perfect vegetable planter box to make your own “farm to table” garden!
DIY Garden Box with Tin Roofing
‘Project Alicia‘ created this unique raised garden box planter from tin roofing and some lumber. They give complete directions on how they made it, and since their son helped, it was a family project!
Cheap DIY Raised Garden Beds
‘I Save A 2 Z‘ created these cheap raised garden beds from cinder blocks. I like how they lined the bottom with cardboard to prevent weeds from growing up into the bed. Great gardening tip!
Planter Garden Box Ideas from a Wine Box
Here’s how to create a wine box raised garden bed. ‘Life on the Balcony‘ created this project that is a cross between a raised bed and a garden container… but it serves the raised bed purpose, and you have to love the vintage charm it gives the garden.
Where to Buy Raised Planter Boxes
If you aren’t ready to break out the power tools, then you may want to check out theseraised gardens bedsat Wayfair. We’ve heard good things about the “Cisbrough Raised Garden Bed“. This wood garden bed has great reviews and it’s so pretty, no matter what you grow in it, you can show it off. The 2×8 foot size allows you plenty of room for whatever you want to grow. And it’s an easy to assemble kit. And, it’s free shipping!
Another option (but a bit more money) is the 6 ft x 3 ft ‘Buckingham’ wood raised garden bed made with red cedar wood. Go check it out on Wayfair.
If you need a raised garden bed that is more accessible because of knee problems, back pain, arthritis, (or just don’t want to kneel down in the dirt), we hear ya. (Especially Kathy. ;)) The “Caiden Elevated Planter” is a great choice for a raised planter box on legs, because it is made of solid cedar. These would be great for an herb garden right outside the kitchen door, too.
You could create a basic, ordinary garden bed… or you could make one of these unique DIY raised garden beds like the ones shown here! Think of how much healthier you could eat, for less! (Oh, and EASIER!) We think you will also love our posts on How to Build a Garden Trellis and !
Thx for sharing on Gardening Week, DIY IdeaCenter!
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