Raised Garden Bed Design Ideas

Photo credit: iStock/mtreasuret

So, you decided a raised bed is the right type of garden for you this growing season. There's just one more decision you need to make: how you are going to build your bed.

Ease of planting aside, another bonus point when it comes to raised bed gardening is that you can build your own from materials found at a home improvement or farm supply store—or perhaps, your own house. We've assembled 5 of our favorite raised bed garden ideas and included some basic instructions for what you'll need to get the job done in a day or less.

Here are the materials we'll take a look at for building a raised bed:

Wood

Brick or natural stone

Metal

Concrete blocks

Straw bales

Before You Get Started

No matter which style you choose, start by creating an outline of the bed on level ground, using a rope or garden hose. This will help you get a sense of scale before you buy materials and begin assembling the bed. Any dimensions that allow you to reach the center of the raised bed will work (usually between two and four feet wide), so play around until you find a size that suits you. Once you're happy with the size and location, remove the grass in that area to keep weeds from growing up through the soil. 

Raised beds don't need to have a bottom, but using certain materials can help with weed and pest prevention. For weed protection, lay down landscape fabric, corrugated cardboard or several layers of newspaper to help block weeds from sprouting in your raised bed. If you have issues with gophers or other tunneling critters, you can use a fine mesh hardware cloth. Before you set your raised bed frame in place or start laying stones or blocks, cover the area with your preferred material all the way to the edges or slightly past the edges of where you want your bed to be.

Some of these builds can get big and heavy! Whenever doing a DIY project like this, it's always a good idea to have an extra set of hands nearby to help with the heavy lifting. Grab a friend, neighbor, or family member to help you out. Bonus: with two people sharing the load, the work gets done even faster.

Don't forget the soil! Raised beds need a well-draining soil that's lighter than soil from your in-ground garden. Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil is rich in organic matter and feeds plants for up to 2 months.

Now that we've got the set-up down, let's jump into those raised garden bed ideas.

Wooden Raised Bed Garden

Wood is one of the most common materials for a raised bed, perhaps because it's just so simple to put together. If you're planning to use the bed for multiple seasons, choose a rot-resistant type of wood, such as cedar, oak or cypress. Otherwise, any untreated wood should hold up well for at least one successful growing season. Here are instructions for building a simple 4x4-foot wooden raised bed, but you can adjust the lumber size and use more stakes to fit whatever size bed you need.

Materials needed:

2 - 8-foot long 2x12 or 2x18 boards

4 - 2x2-inch wooden stakes

Deck screws

11 - 1.5 cu. ft. bags of Miracle-Gro Organic™ Raised Bed & Garden Soil (or 16 bags for an 18-inch deep bed)

Instructions:

1. Buy two 8-foot-long from your local home improvement store. 2x12-inch boards are great for most projects, but if you want to grow deep-rooted vegetables, get 2x18-inch boards instead. You'll also want to get a package of 2x2 wooden stakes.
2. Cut the boards in half so you have four 4-foot-long pieces. You can ask your home improvement store to cut them for you, or you'll need to use your own saw (or borrow a neighbor's). 
3. To build the frame, place the boards on their edges and position them to form a square. Pre-drill holes (to keep the wood from splitting), then fasten the boards with four screws at each corner.
4. Set the raised bed frame into place. Pound a 2x2 wooden stake into the ground (through the fabric) on the inside of the frame at each corner and attach each to the frame to reinforce the corners.
5. Finally, fill the bed with soil and use a garden rake to level it out.

Brick or Natural Stone Raised Bed Garden

Whether you're after that #cottagecore look or you like to keep things looking more natural, a brick or stone raised bed will give you that aesthetic. You don't even need mortar: Dry-stacking means less work when constructing the bed and the option to take it apart should you want to move it next season. All you really need are solid brick pavers or flat-ish natural stone from any home improvement store. You can also salvage your own—just make sure they're in good shape and won't crumble under pressure (literally).

Materials needed:

Solid brick pavers or flat natural stone (purchase at your home improvement store or salvage your own)

Instructions:

1. Create a shallow trench the shape of your bed to help secure the foundational row. Use a straight-edged spade (or shovel) to dig between 1 to 2 inches deep. 
2. No matter what type of surface you're building on, use the widest brick or stones for the first row if they're not uniform in size. 
3. Stagger the vertical joints for the second row, and so forth, until all 4 sides are around 1½ to 2 feet high. This is a great stopping point; any higher than 3 feet and they may topple over, hurting you or your plants.
4. Fill your bed with soil and start planting!

Metal Raised Bed Garden

For a long-lasting raised bed, try rust-resistant galvanized steel. One of the most popular looks for this lightweight material is a stock tank—you know, the kind that cows drink from on a dairy farm. You can buy one from most farm supply stores, but crafting your own from metal siding isn't too tough, either. Remember to be careful of sharp edges, both as you're working and when you're out gardening.

The hardest part (and by hard, we mean taking on a task you've probably not done before) will be cutting the metal. The fastest way is to cut it with a circular saw using a metal-cutting blade (sparks will fly, so safety goggles and gloves are a must), but you can also use tin snips. These are scissors that cut through metal, but it takes a little more time—and wrist power—than using a saw. Some home improvement stores have saws available for rent. If you're not comfortable cutting metal yourself, find a service or ask a neighbor to cut it for you.

Materials Needed:

Metal roofing or siding sheets

Circular saw with a metal-cutting blade or tin snips

Safety goggles and heavy-duty gloves

Rebar or EMT Conduit to use as temporary stakes

Mini Sledgehammer

Corner guards (you can use metal or narrow wood boards)

Screws

Instructions:

1. Cut the metal sheets to size using the circular saw or tin snips. Remember to wear safety goggles when cutting and heavy duty gloves when handling metal sheets with sharp edges. 
2. Cut your metal or wood corner guards. If needed, cut your stake material.
3. Drive your stakes into the ground with a mini sledgehammer following the outline of your raised bed. 
4. Lean each sheet of metal against each row of stakes to form the frame, and fill the bed with soil so that it forces the sheets against the stakes.
5. Screw the sides together with metal or wood corner guards for safety. It's a good idea to keep a few stakes along the sides to stop the sheets from bowing. 

Concrete Raised Bed Garden

Concrete blocks are one of the least expensive materials you can use for a raised bed garden (they start around $2 a block, on average). Concrete has a strong industrial look, but you can play with a whimsical look by planting ornamental flowers in the wells. Keep in mind there's a difference between concrete and cinder blocks; the latter may contain heavy metals, so be careful if you use anything you found or you're not buying brand new concrete blocks from a home improvement store. To rest easy, simply line the bed with landscape fabric or a food-grade plastic liner to avoid any leaching. 

Materials Needed:

Concrete blocks from your local home improvement store

Wheelbarrow

Exterior decoration: spray paint, mosaic tiles, etc.

Instructions:

1. Use a wheelbarrow to move the blocks around (your back will thank you). They're heavy, but that means you won't need to dig a trench to secure them.
2. Form a rectangle or square with the blocks, putting the holes facing up.
3. One row is enough to create a simple raised bed frame for growing annuals or herbs. However, if you have the muscles for it—or a friend who does—you can stack them up 2 to 3 rows high and cater to deeper-root plant needs. 
4. If you're not sold on the plain gray surface, you can always get crafty and decorate the sides with mosaic tiles or colorful spray paint.

Straw Bale Raised Bed Garden

Put down the power tools and pick up some straw bales for one of the simplest ways to assemble a raised bed garden. Straw bales can be bought at most home improvement stores, or a farm supply store if you have one nearby. Don't pick up hay instead! Despite appearances, they aren't the same thing and seed-filled hay can bring several gardening problems with it.

Materials Needed:

Straw bales - Do NOT use hay bales

Scissors (optional)

Instructions:

1. Use the bales to form a square or rectangular frame with an open center—that's where the soil goes. 
2. You can make it neat and tidy by keeping them bound in the twine they come in, or cut that off for a loosey-goosey look. Either approach works, but sturdy bales offer a place to sit down while you tend the center of your garden or simply kick back to admire your plants. 
3. Once you've harvested your crops and the growing season comes to an end, you can scoop up the straw in a wheelbarrow and toss it in your compost. You'll have a blank canvas to start with next season or the space to build something permanent.

Once your raised bed is assembled, it's admiration time. Stand back, wipe that sweat off your brow, and give yourself a round of applause. You have a raised bed you love, and it's ready for plants that will enjoy it, too. (Check out How to Create a Raised Garden Bed Plan if you need any tips.) Together, you're in for one stellar growing season.