A common method for creating a flower, vegetable, or herb garden that is easier to manage and build than a typical garden is to use raised garden beds. Raised garden beds can be utilized to organize a vast backyard or make the most of tiny outdoor areas.
A straightforward project that lets you personalize the appearance is building a raised garden bed yourself out of basic materials like cedar wood or cinder blocks.
With a variety of sizes, forms, heights, and styles, these do-it-yourself raised garden bed ideas will inspire you to grow your own private garden (without breaking the bank or your back).
Level Up
Anika’s DIY Life has crafted a tiered raised garden bed that’s both functional and stylish. Using cedar fencing, 2×4’s, and braces, this design maximizes planting space. A built-in trellis adds an eye-catching element, perfect for supporting climbing plants like tomatoes and cucumbers, making it a standout feature in the backyard.
Use Stock Tanks
In this Connecticut backyard by Most Lovely Things, stock tanks are repurposed as raised garden beds. Planted with herbs and tomatoes, these galvanized metal containers bring an industrial farmhouse vibe. Placed on a gravel bed lined with plastic, they reduce weeding and are a practical choice for a patio garden.
Add DIY Tomato Cages
My 100 Year Old Home introduces a creative DIY tomato cage trellis crafted from pine boards. Over time, the wood weathers naturally, blending beautifully with the farmhouse aesthetic. Topped with decorative finials, these cages are both functional and charming, perfectly complementing the garden’s side-yard placement.
Repurpose Livestock Panels
Liz Marie Blog demonstrates how leftover livestock panels and T-posts can transform into sturdy trellises for climbing plants. These affordable materials create a durable structure for raised garden beds, making it easy to achieve a professional-looking setup on a budget.
Add an Arched Trellis
Delia Creates enhances outdoor charm with a DIY arched trellis connecting two raised garden beds. This feature not only supports climbing plants but also adds a romantic and inviting touch to the garden’s expansive layout.
Divide and Conquer
A Beautiful Mess designed a simple, cedar wood raised garden bed with a built-in grid using PVC flat trim. This keeps the garden organized while adding visual interest. Pots of flowers and playful pink flamingos in opposite corners add personality and keep the space lively.
Keep It Simple
The Merrythought showcases a straightforward DIY raised garden bed made from untreated wood and corner braces. Positioned in a sunny backyard spot, it’s filled with nutrient-rich compost and planted with a variety of crops, from carrots to rhubarb and garlic.
Terrace a Sloping Lawn
Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona tackles uneven terrain by creating terraced raised garden beds in varying heights. Built with non-toxic pressure-treated wood, the beds are lined with cardboard and filled with a mix of natural and store-bought soil, moisture-absorbing wood chips, and cedar chips to repel insects.
Keep the Bunnies Out
Most Lovely Things opts for two-foot-high galvanized stock tanks as raised garden beds. This elevated height not only minimizes bending during maintenance but also keeps pesky bunnies from accessing the plants.
Use Repurposed Materials
Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona gets creative with salvaged pallet wood and castors from discarded furniture. These upcycled materials form unique, movable raised garden beds that are as eco-friendly as they are practical.
Vary Heights and Sizes
Finding Lovely incorporates raised garden beds of different heights and sizes in a fenced garden area. This design accommodates a mix of vegetables and flowers, creating a visually appealing and functional garden space.
Add a Cover
Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona constructs self-watering raised garden beds placed on a deck for a low-maintenance solution. To protect seedlings from harsh sunlight, a shade cover is fashioned using leftover PVC pipes, providing much-needed relief on hot days.
Add a Cage Cover
A Beautiful Mess creates a custom cage to cover a raised garden bed, ensuring plants stay safe from animals. This practical addition offers peace of mind while maintaining the garden’s aesthetic.
Give It Space
Liz Marie Blog uses stock tanks arranged with ample spacing to maintain a clean and organized appearance. This layout complements the farmhouse garden’s neat aesthetic while providing plenty of room for plants to thrive.
Add a Picket Fence
Liz Marie Blog enhances her garden’s charm with a classic picket fence surrounding the raised beds. This feature defines the garden area and lends a touch of cottage-style warmth to the outdoor space.