Don’t let your garden go out of style. Add a raised bed and make it chic!
Garden beds are among the most practical yet easy-to-build areas for any garden. They can host practically any plant you can think of. And more importantly, they look fantastic regardless of the style.
But there’s a catch. Building a garden bed, regardless of how simple, requires you to know what exactly you want to achieve. Meaning, going head-on without a decent idea of what to build can be very time-consuming.
Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about. Following our raised garden bed plans will teach you everything you need. You won’t have an excuse not to try building one. So check them out!
15 DIY Raised Bed Garden Ideas Anyone Can Try!
We focused on plans that anyone could achieve, no matter their level of experience. And to make them even better, we chose all kinds of materials and styles. Whatever you’re looking for, you will probably find it below (or something decently close), so you can start building it ASAP! Take a look!
1. An Independent Wooden Raised Bed
Whether you have a small garden or need to save some space for whatever reason, you will find an independent wooden raised bed an ideal choice.
It is the simplest of all the ideas, making it a go-to alternative if you’re a beginner. Interestingly, the style is versatile enough to match any plant – going from bonsais to small palms. You’ll get double the advantage.
The best of all? It’s as cheap as you can imagine.
To make it happen, you’ll just need to gather enough wooden stock, a few angles, plus some borders for the top. As for the interior, you can use regular plastic or metal sheets. If you’re feeling incredibly cheap, go for a black polyester garbage bag (not the usual garbage bag but something slightly sturdier).
This should suffice to get your independent garden bed working in your backyard oasis.
2. Wicker & Fabric Bed Border
A combination of simplicity with a uniquely attractive style, a garden bed with wickerwork on the border can set any area to the next beauty level.
This wickerwork wouldn’t go along. You’ll need an inside cover to keep the soil inside. And what better for that than a piece of thick cloth?
Fabric of the right style and color can make the wickerwork look even better. You’ll have an inarguably beautiful area to set up your favorite plants.
The exciting thing about wickerwork garden beds is that you can make them as tall as you want. As long as you can find a gorgeous fabric to go with it – you’ll have no limits!
3. Bamboo Raised Garden for Front Yards
Why build a typical garden bed with planks and boards when you can instead use bamboo?
This Japanese wood makes for an excellent addition because it is easy to use, lasts a lifetime, and still looks BREATHTAKING anywhere you use it.
You can also paint the bamboo however you prefer. And if you need it, it lets you create the shape that best meets your garden. For those who like height, bamboo can also be as tall as you need it to.
We recommend piecing the bamboo together using the garden soil as a base, inserting each bamboo log next to each other. To make sure they don’t get separated, you can use logs across. This should keep the bed together.
4. Multi-Level Raised Beds
Those who are often complaining that their garden looks like their neighbors present the multi-level garden bed.
It looks as cool as it sounds. And adds a highly appealing touch to the garden by boasting your favorite plants on several levels at once. You won’t have to build different beds for different species when this type of garden bed hosts them all.
What sets it apart is that it is still one of the easiest to make despite being so unique. You just need to prepare the bed boxes using planks and boards. Fill up the base bed first, then place the second bed. Fill it up, and then fill the third. Keep going until you have a small bed at the top – perfect for the cherry!
5. Extra-Raised Garden Bed for Veggies
Who said garden beds need to be at floor level? This elevated garden bed takes the style to a whole new level, working as a super-bed where you can plant pretty much anything.
Our recommendation? Use it for your vegetables. Having it at waist level makes collecting your harvest a lot more pleasant. And what’s better, it saves you a lot of back pain when preparing the soil and seeding.
Building this type of garden bed, however, can be a little time-intensive. Unless you have excellent woodworking skills, it may take you anywhere from a day to a week. But as you can see, it is not rocket science either.
As long as you make it sufficiently deep for the veggies to thrive, you shouldn’t have much of a problem.
6. Terrarium-Style Garden Bed for Herbs
When planting herbs that have shallow roots, you won’t need a deep garden bed. Instead, you can fare pretty well with a thin bed, supported by four legs and its top at waist level.
Just like the veggie garden bed, this one would be ideal for collecting your herbs more quickly—no need to be constantly crouching to gather the harvest when the plants are mature.
The main advantage, however, comes from the ability to keep the herbs restrained. If you’re using fast-spreading species like mints, then this idea would be perfect for keeping them in check.
7. Block and Gravel Raised Garden Bed
Some materials will keep the garden bed stable and looking neat while still offering the perfect environment for any plant to thrive. Among these materials, few can match the beauty and sturdiness of concrete blocks.
When paired with gravel, these blocks add up an extra enticing appearance to your garden, looking as beautiful as you can expect it to.
The only drawback would be the price. But you don’t have to pay for them always, though. You may find some concrete blocks lying around from construction at home or in the neighborhood.
Either way, concrete blocks offer the chance to set them up in any shape or form, so you can create a raised garden bed as good-looking as you want.
8. Stonework Bed for Herbs
If concrete doesn’t meet your standards, then give rocks a chance. A combination of rocks and stones with some cement can create the ideal border for any garden bed.
The rough look and the brownish tone will make it impossible to dismiss. And more importantly, it will be the sturdiest of garden beds you can create.
Another benefit comes from the size. Given rocks are often plenty, you may want to go a little bit further than average (if space allows) and build a large raised bed for your garden.
9. Trellis & Recycled Shelf Garden Bed
Have a shelf or drawer you don’t use anymore? Then give it an excellent afterlife as a raised garden bed.
There’s no point in explaining, especially if the shelf comes with its own drawer/compartment separations that you can use to separate the plants themselves.
Just pour some soil inside, and that’s it. You’ll have a perfectly shaped and convenient garden bed to use in your garden.
10. Arched Raised Bed for Front Yards
Give in to a gorgeous bed with several arches all across. What are these arches for apart from making it exquisitely good-looking?
Well, some plants need protection, right? These arches offer the chance to attach a net or cover when you want. That way, the plants will be protected from whatever the climate wants to throw at them.
As you can guess, it is not hard to build. A simple garden bed will get the job done. The arches, however, may not be as easy. Burying them properly and making sure they stay firm is vital. But it’s still not a job to worry about.
11. A Sunny Raised Garden Bed with Old Wood
What do we say sunny garden bed? Well, because it is the ideal type for sunny and warm environments, especially desert-like ones.
What can you plant on it? It’s up to you, but we think almost anything works. Preferably, though, you’ll love cacti, agave plants, drought-tolerant species, and succulents that can withstand warm areas.
For an extra touch of roughness, make the borders with old wood. Decaying timber that seems soon to disappear from the earth’s face will make for an exquisite addition to any garden bed.
12. Plastic Garden Bed
Make it simple. Use commercial garden beds made of plastic, and you’ll achieve a distinctive look without wasting too much time or effort.
The advantage is that you can place them pretty much anywhere without worrying about a thing. What’s even better, they match with any type of vegetation. Going from flowers for a vegetable garden to herbs and even your favorite bonsais – they all match a plastic garden bed.
13. A Garden Bed Under the Backyard Swing Set
If you have a swing set in your backyard that no one uses anymore, there’s no need to bring it down and thrash it.
Instead, you can build a garden bed below and make it work as decoration. The swing set would work as a hanger for protective covers and nets if necessary. And if the need arises, you can build your own automatic irrigation system.
14. Brick & Concrete Raised Garden Beds
Brick never goes out of style. And it works wonders for most gardens as well, especially those with gravel or pebble paths.
The dark orange tone with the sturdiness every brick offers make for an excellent choice as garden beds. Paired up with your favorite plants, they can help you build the most beautiful raised beds out there.
15. Lid-On and Lid-Off Garden Bed
Let’s say you want to start growing slightly fragile plants that require special care. What can you do in that case?
For a garden bed, nothing would work better than an area you can close and open on demand. Is it going to rain soon, and you don’t want the plants to get soaked? Put the lid on.
Do you need them to receive sunlight early in the morning as nurture? Take the lid off and leave them to rejoice.
Conclusion
It may feel like an overwhelming endeavor at first, but once you see how straightforward it really is, building a garden bed at home won’t be much of a problem.
Use our raised garden bed plans as a starting point or inspiration, and you’ll have enough to revamp any outdoor area.
So, do you find any of our ideas enticing enough? If that’s the case, don’t waste your time and get to work! Those garden beds won’t build themselves!