Raised garden beds offer a convenient alternative to traditional in-ground planting. They’re easier on your back, fit well in compact spaces, require less upkeep, and can often be relocated around your yard. In the following guide, we share our reviews of the top raised garden beds available on Amazon. Read on to find the best choice for you.
Top 5 Raised Garden Beds
- Outland Living Raised Garden Bed: Best Tiers
- FOYUEE Raised Planter Box: Best Metal Bed
- Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden Bed: Best Compartments
- Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed: Best Standard Bed
- Best Choice Products Mobile Garden Bed: Best Mobility
Compare Top Raised Garden Beds
| Product | Dimensions | Weight | Capacity | Material | Number of Compartments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outland Living Raised Garden BedCheck Price | 30 x 23 x 65 inches | 31.7 pounds | 14 liters of soil | Plastic | 4 |
FOYUEE Raised Planter BoxCheck Price | 37.4 x 15.7 x 31.5 inches | 23.3 pounds | 2.5 cubic feet of soil | Metal | 1 |
Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden BedCheck Price | 32.3 x 14.7 x 30.7 inches | 21 pounds | 12.7 gallons of soil | Resin | 6 |
Best Choice Products Raised Garden BedCheck Price | 48.5 x 24.5 x 30 inches | 36.2 pounds | 200 pounds of soil | Wood | 1 |
Best Choice Products Mobile Garden BedCheck Price | 48 x 23.3 x 32 inches | 32 pounds | 100 pounds of soil | Wood | 1 |
Best Tiers
Outland Living Raised Garden Bed
Unlike the other raised garden beds in this review, this garden box has four distinct beds that increase in height to give you more planting space. This allows you to both save ground space and put different types of plants into separate beds. Plus, it’s available in multiple colors.
Pros and Cons of Outland Living Raised Garden Bed
- Has numerous color and quantity options
- Is made from 100% BPA-free plastic
- Has a curved design that ensures that all of the layers have equal access to sunlight
- May be difficult for shorter individuals to tend to the plants on the top tier
- Has a heavy body, making it difficult to move
What People Are Saying About The Outland Living Raised Garden Bed
From living rooms to gardens, customers claimed that the design of this planter from Outland Living matched any aesthetic. However, customers who weren’t satisfied with this planter complained that the drainage holes on each tier clogged frequently, complicating their watering systems.
Best Metal Bed
FOYUEE Raised Planter Box
This raised metal garden bed is made of galvanized steel, making it durable and capable of holding a lot of weight. In addition to its steel construction, the manufacturer has also coated the garden bed with a protective layer that prevents rust from accumulating, avoiding corrosion issues.
Pros and Cons of FOYUEE Raised Planter Box
- Includes two wheels for easy transportation
- Has a bottom storage shelf for storing gardening tools
- Can support vegetable gardens
- Holds less garden soil than some competing models
- Some customers said they had drainage issues
What People Are Saying About The FOYUEE Raised Planter Box
Many customers said that this planter was easy to assemble, requiring only a screwdriver and half an hour to complete. They also said that the final product looked significantly more expensive than it was. However, some customers didn’t receive the assembly instructions and failed to get a response from the manufacturer after requesting instructions.
Best Compartments
Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden Bed
This raised garden bed kit is split into compartments so that you can grow herbs and vegetables without them meshing together. It also has a drainage system that you can open and close and a water gauge that notifies you when your plants need more moisture.
Pros and Cons of Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden Bed
- Is crafted with a high-quality, durable resin material
- Includes a special UV coating that prevents fading
- Comes with a detachable seed sprouting tray
- Only available in one color
- Holds less soil or mulch than some competitor models
What People Are Saying About The Keter Urban Bloomer Raised Garden Bed
Customers complimented this bed’s easy maneuverability. Even users who lived in small apartments said that this planter easily fit under their windows. However, dissatisfied users complained that the water reservoir that allowed for self-watering didn’t work properly.
Best Standard Bed
Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed
This spacious garden bed is nearly four feet long, giving you enough room to plant a variety of fruits and vegetables. It has also been crafted with weather-resistant cedar wood that has built-in drainage holes, which prevents it from retaining water and rotting your plants.
Pros and Cons of Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed
- Is constructed with weather-safe materials
- Is designed with a long bed space to prevent crowding
- Comes with four wheels
- Doesn’t have a bottom shelf for storage
- Is shorter than some other models at 30 inches tall
What People Are Saying About The Best Choice Products Raised Garden Bed
Most customers had no trouble assembling this raised garden bed out of the box. One customer even said that they were able to assemble it in under half an hour. However, customers who weren’t satisfied claimed that it was made of low-quality materials and fell apart after a few months of use.
Best Mobility
Best Choice Products Mobile Garden Bed
This elevated planter has four wheels that allow you to move the bed from place to place to give your plants the right balance of sunlight and shade. When it’s not being moved, simply step on the wheels’ locks to keep this raised garden bed in place.
Pros and Cons of Best Choice Products Mobile Garden Bed
- Includes a garden liner that prevents soil from touching the natural wood of the bed
- Comes with a large built-in shelf for gardening
- Has holes to drain excess water
- Can be overly heavy when filled
- Has a higher price point than some other, similar models
What People Are Saying About The Best Choice Products Mobile Garden Bed
Customers loved how easily this cart rolled and how its wheels could be locked without bending down. However, dissatisfied customers complained that the cart was made from low-quality fir wood.
Buyer’s Guide
Before purchasing a raised garden bed, consider its size, material, and location, among other factors.
Size/Location
The size of the garden bed you purchase will depend on where you plan on placing it. If you only have space in a small corner of your backyard or outdoor space, you may want a smaller bed. If you live on an acre of land, a bigger garden bed may be a better option.
Material
Raised garden beds are made of one of four materials.
- Plastic: The walls on plastic beds are often thin, making them more prone to bending under too much weight. However, they’re affordable and rot-resistant.
- Wood: Wood is more heavy-duty than plastic and has a more natural look. You can purchase a naturally rot-resistant wood, such as cedar or redwood, or you can purchase wood that has a weather-resistant coating.
- Fabric: Fabric is lightweight, affordable, and low-maintenance.
- Metal: Galvanized metal is the most durable option for a raised garden bed, and it gives your yard an industrial look.
Accessories
Some raised bed planters come with gardening accessories, such as plant markers and pest covers. If you’re new to gardening, investing in a raised garden bed that comes with an essentials kit can prevent you from having to make a separate purchase.
Assembly
Most garden beds ship in pieces that need to be put together upon arrival. Some garden beds have pieces that simply snap together, while others require tools for more of a DIY approach.
The Best Vegetables to Plant in a Raised Garden Bed
Raised garden beds provide a nutrient-rich environment for plants to grow, making it a great place for growing vegetables for experts or first-time planters alike. Raised beds are effective in growing just about any vegetable, but some take particular advantage of the garden space and environment during growing season. Here are some of the best veggies you can cultivate using a raised garden bed.
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Cucumbers
- Eggplant
- Kale
- Legumes
- Lettuce
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Squash
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a raised garden bed if I’m in a wheelchair?
Yes. Before purchasing a garden bed, look at its measurements to ensure that you can reach it in a sitting position.
Will a raised garden bed deter animals and insects?
Similar to in-ground garden beds, raised planting beds are prone to pests. To protect your plants, cover your garden bed with netting or spray an organic insecticide around its perimeter.
What should I plant in my raised garden bed?
This depends on your personal preferences. If you want to eat what you plant, opt for an herb garden, or you could plant fruits or vegetables. If you want to add color to your garden, consider planting flowers.
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