- Raised beds edged with lumber are quite popular, especially because of their casual, natural appearance and ability to blend in well with the background. They can be built from many types of wood as long as it is not chemically or pressure treated. However, over time most types of woods will begin to decay. Therefore it is best to stick with a long-lasting and attractive wood that is naturally rot resistant, such as cedar. While the setup cost may be a bit higher, raised beds constructed from cedar will provide many years worth of gardening enjoyment and will not need to be replaced in the foreseeable future.
- Composite lumber is made with a portion of wood fiber and internal supports to provide superior strength and lasting power in the garden. This type of lumber can withstand both hot and cold temperatures quite well and is intended to be impact and crack resistant. It should not fade or discolor significantly and does not produce splinters as natural wood can sometimes do. Composite lumber can be used in conjunction with stacking joints to create single or multi-tiered raised beds. Stacking joints are hinged, heavy-duty plastic joints that are used to connect the composite lumber pieces to one another. To make a typical square or rectangular raised bed you would use four stacking joints, one for each corner. If you wanted to make a double or triple tiered raised bed, you would add an additional four stacking joints per level. The bottom tips of the joints will fit neatly into the stacking joints on the level below.
- Both plastic and vinyl lumber are commonly used as elements of raised bed gardening kits. Not only are both readily available, affordable and easy to keep clean, but many are made with recycled materials and come in a myriad of colors. This means that you can customize your raised bed garden to coordinate with your home and outdoor space. Plastic and vinyl lumber is especially popular in darker shades, which are instrumental in helping plants to retain heat and moisture.
- A basic and attractive circular, oval, square or rectangular raised bed garden can be made by using medium and large stones or rocks from your own backyard. This type of raised bed is ideal for small-scale decorative plants. Because the rocks are not attached to one another, stacking them too high can result in the rocks falling over. By simply using a single or double layer of rocks and keeping it small and fairly low to the ground, flowers and plants will have an alluring, natural-looking habitat.
- Old car, tractor and truck tires can be used to form individual beds or stacked on one another to form a taller raised garden bed. Aside from being an environmentally friendly means of recycling tires that would otherwise wind up in a landfill, tires are extremely sturdy, long lasting and can withstand the outdoor elements with ease. Tires are most commonly used for flower and ornamental plant gardens. Some gardeners use them to grow vegetables as well. Because tires are so well insulated, they are excellent for keeping the soil temperature warm, which can help to extend the growing season.
- Concrete blocks stacked in square or rectangular formations make sturdy, long-lasting raised bed gardens. This type of raised bed can be built relatively quickly. If you are lucky enough to have concrete blocks left over from a home or construction project, you will not incur additional expenses by using blocks. If not, blocks can often be found inexpensively in the items for sale section of your local paper as well as for free or at low cost on websites such as Freecycle.org and Craigslist.
- Paver blocks and bricks can be expensive. However, for an attractive raised bed garden that can be built in just about any formation and placed anywhere on the property, even the front lawn, they may be well worth the investment. Pavers and bricks can be found at a home improvement and landscaping stores. However, they are also sometimes available at discount and overstock stores. Aside from being long lasting and durable, this type of raised bed can also be used to build a double-tiered raised bed for an interesting and functional look.
