Raised Garden Beds

Raised garden bed sizes and soil depth

Raised garden beds here come in nominal sizes of 2x4, 3x4, 3x6, 3.6x7.2 and 4x8 ft, and their heights start at 10 inches. A bed no wider than about 4 ft lets you reach the middle from either side without stepping on the soil.

Most vegetables, herbs and flowers grow well in 10 to 12 inches of soil. Deep-rooted crops such as tomatoes and carrots do better with more depth, so match the bed height to what you plan to grow.

Metal raised garden bed options

A metal raised garden bed is the most common type on this page, and it gives a garden a clean, modern frame. Check each listing for the finish, the soil capacity and whether the bottom is open to the ground.

Colors include black, gray, green and brown, plus walnut and natural finishes, so a bed can match a fence, a shed or the deck.

Elevated raised garden bed styles

An elevated raised garden bed stands on legs at about waist height, so you can plant and weed without kneeling. Some styles here add a storage shelf below or wheels for moving the bed into the sun.

Some beds are self watering, with a reservoir that feeds water up to the roots between waterings. That helps on hot days and when you are away for a weekend.

Filling and layering a raised bed garden

A raised bed garden starts with the right fill. Lay cardboard on the bottom of a ground-level bed to smother weeds, add a coarse layer of twigs or leaves in a deep bed, then top up with a mix of garden soil and compost.

Fill to about an inch below the rim, water well, and top up after the soil settles. Work fresh compost into the top few inches each season to keep the bed productive.

Raised garden bed ideas for small yards

Set the bed where it gets six to eight hours of sun, on level ground and close to a hose. On a patio or balcony, an elevated bed keeps soil off the floor and puts plants at a comfortable height.

Group two or three beds with paths about 2 ft wide between them, so a wheelbarrow fits and every side is easy to reach.