A raised bed is the single biggest upgrade most backyard gardens can make. Better soil, better drainage, fewer weeds, less bending, and in a cold-winter place like Wyoming, soil that warms up weeks earlier in spring. Our own backyard went from bare dirt to a full summer of tomatoes, squash, peppers and corn mostly because of a few raised beds and a lot of compost.
But "raised bed" covers everything from a short cedar box to a waist-high planter on legs. Here's how to pick the right one for your yard, your plants and your back.
1. Pick the material
Galvanized metal
Our favorite for most gardens. Galvanized steel beds won't rot, hold their shape for years, and the metal warms up quickly in spring sun, which helps a short growing season. Round beds are great for a pepper or squash patch; long rectangular beds make easy tomato rows. Look for a protective coating and rolled or covered top edges so they're safe to lean on.
Shop metal and galvanized raised beds
Wood (cedar, fir, pine)
Wood looks warm and natural and is easy to add trellises or hoops to. Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and is the longest-lasting wood choice; fir and pine cost less but wear out sooner, especially where the ground stays wet. Avoid old pressure-treated lumber for food crops.
Shop wood raised beds and planter boxes
Plastic and self-watering
Lightweight, easy to move and simple to set up. Self-watering models have a reservoir in the bottom, which is handy on hot, windy days or if you travel. They're a good fit for patios, decks and renters.
Shop plastic and self-watering raised beds
Gabion
Wire baskets you fill with stone. Gabion beds are nearly indestructible and look great in modern or rustic landscapes, and the stone holds heat. They take more work to fill, so plan on a weekend project.
2. Get the size right
- Width: keep beds about 4 feet wide if you can reach them from both sides, or 2 to 3 feet wide if one side is against a fence or wall. You should be able to reach the middle without stepping in the soil.
- Length: whatever fits your space. Leave at least 2 feet between beds for walking, and 3 feet if you'll bring a wheelbarrow or garden cart through.
- Height: 6 to 12 inches of soil works for lettuce, herbs, beans and most vegetables. Carrots, potatoes and other root crops like 12 inches or more. Beds 24 inches and taller mean far less bending.
3. Decide: on the ground or elevated?
Ground-level beds are open at the bottom, so roots can grow down into your native soil and worms can move in. Elevated beds sit on legs at a comfortable working height, which is easier on knees and backs, keeps rabbits out, and works on a deck or patio. Elevated beds hold less soil, so they suit greens, herbs, strawberries and compact vegetables best.
4. Plan your soil
To figure out how much soil you need, multiply length × width × depth in feet. A 4 × 8 bed filled 1 foot deep holds 32 cubic feet, or about 1.2 cubic yards. Fill deep beds with logs, branches or leaves in the bottom to save on soil, then top with a mix of quality topsoil and compost. Add a few inches of compost every spring.
5. Tips for short, cold seasons
- Raised beds warm up and drain faster in spring, so you can plant earlier than in the ground.
- Add hoops and frost cloth, or a low tunnel, to protect early plantings and stretch fall harvests.
- Mulch with straw to keep moisture in during dry, windy summers.
- Run drip line or a soaker hose before you plant; it's much easier than adding it later.
Want an even longer season? A small greenhouse or tunnel pairs perfectly with raised beds. Shop greenhouses
The short version
For most backyards, a galvanized metal bed about 4 feet wide and 12 to 17 inches tall is hard to beat: long-lasting, warm in spring and deep enough for almost anything. Choose cedar if you want a classic look, self-watering if you're on a patio, and an elevated bed if bending is the problem. And every bed we sell ships free.
Follow along for garden tips and new arrivals: Instagram · Facebook · Pinterest · Shop the whole store at gardenzenzone.com