Take Your Garden to the Next Level with These Unique Raised Bed Ideas
Whether you're an experienced green thumb or a beginner gardener, planting in raised beds is an excellent way to control weeds and maximize your growing space. Beyond a great landscaping idea, raised beds can also help keep soil warmer for longer, thereby extending your garden's season. Plus, raised beds offer a great way to start a vegetable garden if your soil isn't in the best shape.
Building your own raised beds out of two-by-fours is a straightforward approach, but there are so many other ways you can get the same effect—and some of them won't even require fancy garden tools or a trip to the hardware store. If bending down to tend to a bed that's low to the ground isn't great for your back, check out the raised bed ideas ahead! They'll help you build taller, more accessible garden plots. Have an old piece of furniture laying around the house? You can probably turn that into a raised bed, too.
Keep reading to learn more about these genius ideas for building a raised bed garden, then get ready to break out your garden shoes and pull on garden gloves, because they're definitely going to inspire you to get some plants in the ground.
Add Turf Grass to the Bottom
Removing a layer of grass to make room for your new raised bed? Don't toss that turf—instead, you can use it to line the bottom of the bed, reducing the amount of soil you need to purchase and providing nutrients to your plants.
Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.
Add a Shade for Hot Days
Shield your plants from scorching sun and heat by adding a DIY shade to your raised bed. You can easily make one like this using PVC pipe and garden cloth.
Get the tutorial at Home Made by Carmona.
Repurpose Gardening Materials
Your raised bed doesn't have to be made from anything fancy. Why not make your own raised bed using repurposed materials? For example, the garden beds seen here were made from soil mixing bins and put on a wooden riser.
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
PVC Pipe Garden
For a modern twist on a raised bed, consider constructing a PVC pipe garden. The pipes provide a structured framework for your plants and will also help keep weeds at bay!
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
Wine Barrel Planter
Wine barrels make the most unique and charming raised beds! To ensure proper drainage, drill a few holes into the bottom of your barrel and prop it up on some bricks.
Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.
Install a Sub-Irrigation System
The benefits of a sub-irrigation system are many and include consistent and efficient watering, reduced water usage, and better control over moisture levels for optimal plant growth. Follow this tutorial to create a system that only requires a refill once every two months!
Get the tutorial at Home Made by Carmona.
Suitcase Planter
Breathe new life into a vintage suitcase by turning it into a raised bed. Follow this easy tutorial for tips on how to add gas pipe legs, drill drainage holes, and fill your new planter with a mix of edibles and ornamentals.
Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.
Make Garden Signs
Design a cute sign for your raised bed garden using your Cricut machine. Beyond that, a wooden frame and stake are pretty much all you'll need to bring this idea to life.
Get the tutorial at Home Made by Carmona.
Raised Bed Boat Planter
All aboard! This adorable repurposed canoe makes a great vegetable planter. It'll keep all your veggies raised up to a convenient height.
See more at One Little Project.
Add Gold Knobs and Handles
Bring a touch of glamor to a furniture-inspired planter by adding gold knobs and handles. Not only do they amp up the charm but you can also use them to hold gardening tools and gloves.
Get the tutorial at Inspired by Charm.
Bed Planter
This raised bed is quite literally a bed! We love this idea as a way to repurpose a vintage twin bed or even a crib.
See more at Garden Therapy.
Modern Fence Panel Trellis
Your climbing plants will be right at home on this modern black trellis. It's super easy to create using fencing from your local hardware store.
Get the tutorial at Vintage Revivals.
Leaf Stepping Stones
Decorate the paths between your raised beds with these unique leaf-inspired stepping stones. Make them using concrete mix and big leaves with prominent veins, like rhubarb leaves.
Get the tutorial at DIY in PDX.
Grow Baby Tears
Grow baby tears and moss on broken concrete raised beds to add charm and color to your garden.
See more at Heather Bullard.
Raised Bed Dog House
How cute is this?! You can kill two birds with one stone by creating a raised bed that doubles as a dog house for your furry friend.
See more at One Little Project.
Add Wood Chips
Take a cue from blogger Ursula Carmona and add a layer of moisture-absorbing wood chips on your bed, and then a layer of cedar chips on top to help repel insects.
See more at Home Made by Carmona.
Stack Your Beds Using a Trellis
This clever setup is a great way to maximize your growing space while also allowing climbing plants to thrive. By stacking two narrow raised beds on top of one another, you can plant more in the same area, and the trellis is perfect for peas, beans, and cucumbers.
Get the tutorial at Anika's DIY Life.
Sew a Grow Bag
This idea is perfect for anyone who's more comfortable with a needle and thread than a toolbox. Grow bags are a lightweight alternative to traditional raised beds since you can make them in just about any shape or size, and move them around with ease.
Get the tutorial at Empress of Dirt.
Repurpose a Vintage Bathtub
If you're into the vintage aesthetic, then you'll love this idea for a no-dig garden Simply clean out an old bathtub, place it in your yard, and fill it with soil. Your plants will be flourishing in no time.
Get the tutorial at Garden Betty.
Plant Your Garden in Metal Troughs
Another great no-dig option is to buy some metal troughs and use them as raised bed planters. Because metal troughs come in a variety of shapes and sizes, this is a great option for anyone who wants to use several planters.
Get the tutorial at Cynthia Weber.
Make a Green Roof for a Chicken Coop
If you have chickens, you'll want to check out this awesome DIY, which can also be built on top of a bunny hutch.
Get the tutorial at Chicken Street.
Upcycle an Old Table
If you have an old table laying around, check out this tutorial to learn how to turn it into a raised bed for growing lettuce. Not only does it look beautiful, it's also an amazing way to have garden-fresh salad greens on hand at all times.
Get the tutorial at Creative Green Living.
Install a Critter-Proof Cover
There's nothing more heartbreaking than growing vegetables only to have animals eat them before you get the chance. The best way to prevent it? A critter-proof cover, like this one.
Get the tutorial at Home Made by Carmona.
Build your Beds Taller
If leaning down to tend to a low raised bed is hard on your body, here is a tutorial on how to build tall raised beds, which are easier to plant and weed since they're built to be around waist height.
Get the tutorial at Tidbits Cami.
Add Fairy Lights
Create an enchanting atmosphere with this simple idea. All you need are some fairy lights or LED rope lights to wrap around the outside of your raised beds to turn your garden into a fairytale landscape.
Get the tutorial at Homestead and Chill.
Repurpose an Old Storage Cart
Here is an idea to breathe new life into an old storage cart by turning it into a tiered flower garden. Since it's already on wheels, it's easy to move this portable raised bed to maximize sun exposure.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Construct a Vertical Garden
Here is another solution for anyone who has a hard time leaning down to work in a low raised bed: Build up, not out! This vertical garden is just as easy to construct as a standard raised bed, but can also help maximize your space.
Get the tutorial at Garden Therapy.
Make a patio garden with teracotta pots
If all you have is a patio space, check out this genius idea for a making a terra-cotta pot garden. It offers many of the same benefits of a standard raised bed layout, but requires no tools to put together. It's perfect for flowers, tomatoes, and other plants that do well in pots.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Use an oversized wooden bucket
Another simple solution for a no-tools, no-digging garden! Here, oversized wooden buckets stand in for typical raised bed planters.
Get the tutorial at Blooming Homestead.
Put in a Drip Watering System
Keep garden maintenance low-key and ensure happy plants throughout the season by installing a DIY drip watering system.
Get the tutorial at Houseful of Handmade.
Use Garden Markers
Once you have your raised beds constructed, you'll want to make sure to label them so you don't loose track of your seedlings. These adorable hand-painted garden markers are a fun idea.
Get the tutorial at Over the Big Moon.
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