The best raised flower beds can be made from most materials, such as wooden sleepers, paving slabs, and softwood boards. As well as being neat and easy to install, this way of growing outdoor plants is bang on trend.
Timber versions can be bought as self-assembly kits or, if you have a bit of DIY knowledge, they’re easy to make from lengths of wood from builders’ merchants. Alternatively, if your DIY skills aren't particularly strong, you can opt to buy ready-made beds, of all shapes and sizes, to suit your outdoor space.
Best raised flower beds at a glance:
• Best wooden raised flower bed: Sarah Raven Wooden Raised Bed - View on Sarah Raven
• Best metal raised flower bed: Crocus Galvanised Rectangular Raised Veg/Herb Bed Frame - View on Crocus
• Best for corners : Livingandhome L-Shaped Bed - View on B&Q
You can grow all sorts in raised beds, from flowering plants that grow well in pots to simple vegetables, small trees, and shrubs. They have better drainage than regular borders and the soil is warmer, so plants get off to a great growing start in spring. Having several small raised beds rather than one big border also makes it easier to tend your flowers, and the raised level means less bending when you need to weed.
Best raised flower beds for your garden
Best wooden raised flower bed
Sarah Ravenwww.sarahraven.com
Prefer to garden standing up or sitting down, no kneeling required? Or do you have a balcony or courtyard with limited room to grow anything? Enter the classic raised flower bed. This offers easy access to your planting standing at 78cm tall, providing you with a planting depth of nearly 30cm. This is made from FSC-certified pinewood that's been treated with a plant-friendly, water-based wood stain. This has a handy shelf beneath the planter for space-saving storage.
Pros
- Integrated shelf
- Space-saving design
Cons
- Requires assembly
Best modular raised flower bed
Garden Gear/Robery Dyas www.robertdyas.co.uk
If your clay or sandy soil lets you down, fill this modular steel Garden Gear Original Veggie Bed with quality topsoil and compost, and your problems are solved! Set it up in any one of six possible shapes to suit your plot and growing needs. This is made from extremely durable Zincalume steel with Colourbond coating which Garden Gear claims means it lasts up to four times longer than regular galvanised steel. This gives you a planting depth of 40cm.
Pros
- Modular design
- Zincalume steel
Cons
- Comes flat-packed
Best for design
Land Gear/AmazonFancy a standout bed that’ll soup up your boring boxy plot? This curvy metal Land Guard Galvanized Raised Bed Kit comes in a range of colours to add a funky twist to your back garden. You can buy this in silver, grey, green and brown, but we think the blue is particularly eye-catching. There are also a range of sizes available. The open bottom is great for drainage too.
Customer review: "Pleased with purchase. I have ordered another one and will purchase more. Took 15 minutes to put together. Very strong."
Pros
- Available in a range of colours
- Eye-catching curvy design
Cons
- No ground stakes
Best metal raised flower bed
Crocuswww.crocus.co.uk
We like the bold modern looks of this rectangular bed that Crocus describes as "smart, strong, and stylish." It's made of corrugated galvanised steel, a material that's tough and durable and offers an interesting and eye-catching alternative to wood. This bed can be used for a wide variety of planting, from herbs to hebes. This measures in at 120cm by 90cm by 30cm and has an open base so you have the option to dig down for deeper crops.
Pros
- Galvanised steel
- Flexible uses
Cons
- Has no base
Best with greenhouse frame
Outsunny/Amazonwww.diy.com
We love Outsunny's two-in-one solution, especially for anyone that doesn't have the space for a standalone greenhouse. This is comprised of a sturdy steel base and frame that is covered with a UV-resistant plastic cover. You can have the cover down to create that greenhouse effect or roll up the two window sections on good weather days to give your plants some fresh air. This has an open base but a 10cm extended edge to securely bury it into soil.
Pros
- Greenhouse frame
- UV-resistant cover
Cons
- Only a six-month guarantee
Best for corners
www.diy.com
We love this smart-looking raised bed option for anyone who has an under-utilised corner of their garden they can make great use of. This weather-resistant galvanised steel raised bed won’t rot, unlike untreated wood, so it’s zero maintenance. The 45cm-high sidewalls let roots grow deeper, which is perfect if you’re placing it on patios or gravelled areas rather than straight onto soil.
Pros
- Corner-friendly
- 45cm walls
Cons
- Only available in black
Best eco-friendly raised flower bed
Crocuswww.crocus.co.uk
We like this option for its eco-friendly credentials - it's made from recycled plastic. We're also fans of the hexagonal design - something a little different to liven up your outside space. This is a modular option. Once constructed, each raised bed is 25cm deep, but you can buy more and stack them up to whatever height your heart (or back!) desires. These maintenance-free plastic beds are UV-resistant.
Pros
- Made from recycled plastic
- UV-resistant
Cons
- One kit only gives 25cm depth
Best gabion-style raised flower bed
vidaXL/AmazonFilled with rocks or cobbles, this on-trend addition made of rustproof and weather-resistant galvanised steel is super-stable and durable. It's a great way to add some industrial chic to your garden with its stark, eye-catching design. This comes in a range of sizes, from the smallest at 50 by 50 by 50cm and the largest 360 by 90 by 100cm.
Customer review: "I have not put in position yet as the ground has been wet but built it on my decking for practice as not built one before but quite pleased with the results and easy to build."
Pros
- Galvanised steel
- Available in range of sizes
Cons
- Requires rocks for full effect
Best compact raised flower bed
Sarah Ravenwww.sarahraven.com
Raised beds warm up more quickly in spring, so you can start growing earlier in the year. At 60cm wide and 32cm deep, this steel Galvanised Raised Bed from Sarah Raven is perfect for a petite plot and looks great placed between other ground-based plants. Its compact dimensions aren't going to help you with a huge harvest, but do make it ideal for growing herbs and smaller salad plants.
Pros
- Compact
- Simple to assemble
Cons
- Limited growing space
How we chose the best raised flower beds
All of these raised flower beds have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered style, material, and construction in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching raised flower beds to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
What size should a raised flower bed be?
Think about what is going to be the most comfortable and practical when you’re gardening. A good rule is to make sure that the surface is wide enough to reach across with your arm without having to step on the soil. This is usually up to a metre. If you can only access the bed from one side, the maximum width for comfort is about 50cm.
The length of the bed is calculated by how much space you have and how much space you need for your veggies or bedding plants. Shape-wise, you can opt for rectangles, squares or triangular beds, and the height of the structure depends on whether you like to sit, stand or kneel when you’re gardening. If you’re standing, aim to have your bed at about 90-100cm tall. For sitting, 69-76cm is the optimum height; for a wheelchair user, go for 61cm. The depth should be at least 45cm so plants can form deep roots. This means you don’t have to water them as often.
If you have more than one raised flower bed with a path running between, make the gap at least 30cm wide for walking, or 45cm for wheelbarrow access.
What type of soil is best for raised garden beds?
The smaller the bed, the more likely it is to lose the nutrients that help your plants grow. Use a mixture of 50 per cent garden soil or loam, 50 per cent compost and a slow-release fertiliser. If you use soil scooped out from existing beds, add some fertiliser to enrich it and boost your plants’ growth.
The bed might need topping up with soil after a year. One drawback with raised beds is that they dry out fast, so need watering regularly. Top the soil with a bark, gravel, or garden mulch to retain moisture. This is effective and also looks attractive.
What plants should I put in a raised garden bed?
Apart from big trees and shrubs, you can treat your raised bed like any border. Herbs work well and look attractive. Try thyme, chives, rosemary, parsley, and oregano.
Trailing flowers, such as osteospermum ‘Falling Stars’ or nasturtium ‘Firebird’ help to soften hard edges. Easy veg such as salad leaves and ever-popular tomatoes will also thrive there, as will strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries.
What to read next:
Subscribe to Modern Gardens magazine and get the most out of your outdoor space. Discover everything you need to know to make your outside space look fantastic, quickly and easily, with hundreds of simple ideas, designer tricks, affordable products and expert advice in every issue of Modern Gardens. View our latest subscription offers to save on shop prices.
Angie Kenny is production editor of Modern Gardens magazine at Bauer Media, and when she hasn't got her nose in all the lovely proofs that come her way, her fave place to spend her time is in her garden with husband Alan and their three cats Rupert, Darcy and Frankie.