Do you want to build a raised garden but don’t know where to start? I’ve been there. And even after I built my little garden, there are still some things that I wish I had done differently.
To save you from having any regrets, we’re going to share some of the best raised garden bed ideas from other gardeners.
Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed Ideas
You don’t have to spend a fortune on your raised garden beds. Here are some practical and inexpensive raised garden bed ideas for inspiration.
DIY Cinder Block Garden
Looking for a simple, cheap and effective way to build a durable raised garden bed? Use cinder blocks.
If you have some lying around, you may be able to build your raised beds for free.
Cinder blocks have some big advantages over beds made with metal or wood.
- They won’t rot
- They don’t rust
- They have a lifespan of up to 100 years
You also have the freedom to make your beds as big or small as you want. You can even create unique shapes and layouts.
And if you want to create a more polished look, you can add capstones or cover the top of the blocks with wood.
Need some inspiration for your cinder block raised bed? Here are some ideas:
This raised bed has cap stones that are sealed into place with Quikrete.
If you want a more polished look for your raised bed, Toolbox Divas has some great tips. Her bed is made from two layers of cinder blocks that are secured with Loctite PL Premium Max and topped with wood. A little paint for the block and some stain for the wood, and you have a gorgeous raised bed that’s ready for planting just about anything.
Here’s a very simple raised bed design that also makes use of the cinder block cells for planting. This is a great place to plant companion flowers like marigolds.
The great thing about building a cinder block raised bed is that you don’t need any special tools or knowledge to put it together. And you can find concrete blocks in just about any home improvement store.
Log Raised Bed
If you’ve recently cut down some trees, you can use the logs to build raised beds. Not only is this a simple and inexpensive idea for a raised bed, but it’s also an eco-friendly one.
Plus, you can make your beds as long or short as you want. Depending on the size of the logs, you can make deep beds quickly and easily using natural materials.
Alternatively, you can use logs as a bed frame for in-ground garden beds.
Hardwood will work best for this raised bed garden idea because it will decompose slower than softwood.
Check out these ideas for log raised beds:
These raised beds are surprisingly simple to build if you have the right tools. Cutting notches into the ends of the logs will allow them to sit nicely and securely on top of each other.
Here’s a simple, rustic bed that you can put together in just a few hours. Large tree logs will make it easy to create deeper beds for vegetables.
Raised Bed Garden Ideas and Layouts
Looking for more raised garden bed ideas? Here are some beautiful ideas and layouts for gardens.
Enclosed Raised Garden Beds
Enclosed raised gardens are gorgeous, but they also have some perks.
- If you don’t have a fenced-in yard, an enclosed garden area will help keep unwanted visitors out.
- You can get really creative with the layout and the way you decorate the garden space.
- It adds to your backyard’s curb appeal.
Some gardeners set up their raised beds and build fencing around them. These raised gardens are typically bigger and have more open space between the beds, like below:
Other gardeners arrange their beds in a U-shape and enclose the space up around them, like the examples below:
This enclosed raised garden has an adorable metal gate, and the wire fencing that surrounds the beds can also act as a trellis for climbing plants.
This garden area is almost fully enclosed. It even has a pergola roof where you can hang planter baskets. It also looks like they have irrigation built-in, which is another nice perk of having a garden area like this one.
Formal Garden Layout
Would you rather have a garden with more structure? You can build a raised garden with a formal layout that looks like it belongs at a royal castle.
Formal layouts have pathways between beds, and they can be designed to create interesting and eye-catching shapes. At the height of the growing season, these gardens are gorgeous.
Check out these beautiful raised garden setups.
This garden layout features built-in trellises and a square layout for easy building and maintenance.
Here’s another square layout with L-shaped corner beds and four smaller beds at the center. I love the arbor and stepping stones at the entrance of the garden.
Here’s a more elaborate garden layout with a geometric design. If you have a large backyard, you can build a garden like this and may even be able to incorporate little sitting areas to admire your hard work!
Galvanized Tub Raised Beds
Galvanized tubs make excellent raised beds. And yes, they’re safe for growing vegetables. Unless you’re filling your beds with acidic soil, the coating shouldn’t break down. Garden soil has a neutral pH.
Plus, galvanized tubs just look great in the garden. They instantly create a farmhouse or cottage look, and their curved design makes the space more inviting.
Just make sure that the bottoms of your tubs have drainage holes (you may need to drill them in), and you’ll have the perfect garden bed.
Here are some awesome galvanized tub raised garden ideas:
If don’t have a lot of growing space, you can stack round tubs on top of each other to create this fountain-like garden. You can add flowers, herbs and even vegetables to the round base. For the higher levels, you can add low-maintenance plants that add beauty to the space.
Look how beautiful this galvanized tub garden looks in bloom! This is a simple layout with rows and aisles to give easy access to all sides of the bed. I love the potted flowers at the ends to add color, attract pollinators and help keep pests away.
Here’s another simple galvanized tub raised garden in an everyday backyard. As you can see, there’s plenty of growing space, and the layout allows you to access all areas of the tubs.
Raised Garden Beds With Trellises
Want to add beauty and function to your raised garden? Add a built-in trellis. Trellises can create dramatic walkways into the garden, or even serve as privacy screens in the summer.
The gardens below have incorporated trellises in beautiful ways:
This pergola is perched across the garden entryway and serves as the perfect place for plants to climb.
This triangular trellis creates a dramatic walkway in the garden and makes it easy to pick vegetables growing on the vines.
These raised beds have built-in trellises along the back, which create a privacy screen when climbing plants are planted.
Garden and Entertaining Area
Imagine spending cool summer evenings in your garden with friends and family, talking and laughing and sharing stories. Being surrounded by beautiful plants, whether they’re flowers or vegetables, just adds to the experience.
If you plan your layout properly, your raised garden can easily double as an entertaining area.
Just look at these ideas below:
You can recreate a raised garden area like this in your own backyard simply by adding some benches around the perimeter of the garden. The small tables that clamp onto the edges of the bed are a nice touch, and the string lights add to the cozy ambiance.
This raised garden has hidden benches where you can sit and take in the view of your garden. The rope lights around the beds create an enchanting ambiance and a space that you’ll love spending time in.
I hope these raised garden bed ideas have inspired you to start building your own. No matter your budget or vision, you’re sure to find an idea here that will work for your backyard.
