Although this spring has been slow to start, we promise it’ll come along in full force soon enough and then it’ll be a scramble to get your garden growing! Raised planters are not only great for veggie gardens but also for herb and cut flower gardens along with shrubs, perennials, and even trees. They can add a unique addition to the landscape and they’re also very helpful for saving our back from bending over while planting or weeding. There are so many options to choose from that you’re sure to find a raised planter that’ll fit your space, budget, and style.
Wood & Composite
If you think of a raised planter, wood is probably one of the first images that pops into your head. Both wood and composite materials are great for building raised beds and can easily be built to your specifications. If you’re looking for an easy to do project for a weekend you can also find decorative metal braces that help you easily build a wood raised planter. Wood and composite are also a go to, to frame corrugated metal.
Stone & Concrete
Whether you’re looking for a modern or a rustic look, stone planters offer a wide range of styles depending on the materials chosen. Dry stacked stone planters tend to be on the more rustic side and work well for creating organic shapes while stone veneer lends itself well to square and rectangular planters. Freestanding block wall planters are another option if you’re wanting to seamlessly transition between retaining walls, seat walls, or stairs as they can all use the same block material for both organic and geometric shapes. Because these need to be built from the ground up, it’s also relatively easy to customize their shape and size.
Galvanized Steel Troughs
Over the past couple of years these have really become trendy. They’re easy to procure at your local home improvement store and are easy to place and maneuver into the perfect position before putting in drain rock and soil. You can find ones with or without a bottom but if you choose an option with a bottom, you’ll need to make sure to drill drain holes in the bottom. They come in both oblong and circular shapes to suit your garden style. Like most of us you’ll likely decide to place them in a sunny area so just remember that they can get extremely hot in the summer sun (watch out for those little ones’ hands!). If you have a very small space, these may not work as they come in specific sizes and can’t be customized.
Metal
If your style is more modern or contemporary, powder coated metal planters could be the perfect solution to your gardening needs. They have a sleek look and can be customized to fit your space and have quite a few color options. Durable powder coating, while providing color, also increases the life of the planter. Like the trough planters you can get them bottomless or not so they can be placed directly on the ground or on a deck or patio. Steel and aluminum are 2 of the more widely used materials to create raised planters. If weight of the planter is a deciding factor it’s important to look at the specifications as aluminum will be considerably lighter.
Pots
The ultimate customizable option. Pots are great not only for decks and patios but also for apartment balconies, side yards, and other small spaces. You can find pots in all sorts of colors, materials, and sizes and can fit anything from ornamental grasses to tomatoes and blueberries to small trees. While they may not be the first thing that comes to mind for a raised planter, don’t pass them by as they can add valuable space to your landscape.
Fence Planters
While technically not a raised planter, fence planters deserve an honorable mention on this post. They’re perfect for adding a pop of color to a side yard or much needed planting area in a small space that can’t fit traditional raised planters. While you may not be able to grow a large tomato plant in a fence planter, they’re great for herb gardening along with succulents, trailing plants, and other smaller ornamentals.
This year my daughter and I are ditching the veggies (because what 3 year old loves them) and strictly growing flowers in our raised planters. We hope you have an exciting and abundant gardening season this year!
Let us know what you’re growing in your raised planters, we’d love to hear from you!
