Is Timber the best material for raised garden beds

This article is the first of three examining what materials form the best raised garden beds and ask the question is Timber the best material for raised garden beds.

Or could it be metal/galvanised or ieven plastic? Lets take a look

Hopefully we can give you a clearer insight in the following articles.

Well the answer is that there are multiple factors to consider that will contribute to determining what choice you may eventually make when deciding to add a raised garden bed to your garden,patio areas

In theis particular article we will be discussing timner/Wooden raised garden beds

Timber raised garden beds have become increasingly popular in recent years. They are a stylish way to improve your garden, and are a great way to add a little extra height meaning there is no need to excavate or dig up your eisting lawn or garfen,

They come in a range of sizes and styles, so you’re sure to find one that suits your needs and requirements and can be built from a variety of materials, ranging from traditional wood to modern compressed timber.

For even greater control over the growing conditions, timber raised garden beds offer the best of both worlds.

They allow you to build raised beds in any shape and size to fit your garden, and add extra insulation for better growing conditions. Best of all, you can choose the best material for the job, whether that’s a high-quality virgin timber or a recycled material.

You can purchase timber garden bed kits or you can build your own using reclaimed or new materials. If you’re on a tight budget,you can also make raised garden beds using just timber pallets.

Using Untreated Timbers

Generally untreated timbers are used bu those who want to build their own raised garden bed areas

Untreated timbers are the more natural raw timbers that can be ised to form a raised bed area, These tend to be timbers that have had no treatment after being sawn and prepared . No oils, paints,varnishes so in effect self preserving.

These timbers come in the form of wooden sleepers , rough sawm planks o wood shaped to suit purpose.

Although this offers a more sustainable element of building raised garden beds there can also be some pitfalls.

All untreated wood will need to be replaced at some point. The lifespan of the timber you choose will depend on a number o factors:

The Climate
Your environment.
Your ground condition
Maintainance

In a dry and sunny climate where the ground tends to be mostly hard you may fin that untreated timbers last a little longer.

In the main this is because the water content not only in your garden soil but that which is added to tend your growing efforts is mainly concentrated to the speciic area of your garden bed and what exer is plamted to grow will be the first to absorb the water content meaning the timbers do not take in a high volume of water.

This can also be supported by simply lining the inner of your raised bed timbers. The wood and timber will rot over time in these dry conditions however not as often as in other climates.

In more wetter climates you will more than likely see the opposite effect. Untreated timbers that are constantly wet over a large percentage of the year will break down more quickly as the water content avsorbed within causes the wood to split,break down and eventually perish.

A maintenance regime will help slow this down but in time the timbers will need to be replaced.

Using Treated timber:

Treated timber unlike untreated timber has the application of chemicals in some form This could be in the form of timber preservatives , Oils,Oil based Paints , varnishes etc

Thankfully the aplication of these preservatives and oils are seeing a reduction in receny uears with the introduction of more water bourne products being added to the market making the garden area more environmentally friendly.

Other natural applications that can be applied are raw linseed oil or raw tung oil..

Treated timbers will offer a more robust defence to the elements and all climate conditions. Whether that is hot, wet or inclement.

A maintenance regime does still have to be put in place to keep on top of the timber treatment. Adding an internal liner to a pretreated formed garden bed will add to the longevity of the timber .

Most purchased timber raised garden beds come pretreated and are generally supported with a guarentee or warrentee to ensure the timbers do not breadown before time as long as they are installed in line with the manufacturers instructions.

It is important that you consider what application you are going to use when treating timber or buying pretreated timber for your garden bed. No matter what product the timber is protedted with in time the product will breakdown which could cause leaching into the soil or compost within the bed.

This is especially important if you are growing food, Vegetables ,Plants that you are preparing to eat. This is why using an internal liner in your raised bed to seperate the two is a very good idea.. Thorough washing of your produce is essential when preparing before you eat.

Pre-Made timber garden its:

If you’re not confident in your DIY skills, there are also pre-made kits available. These tend to be more expensive than the materials required to build your own raised garden bed, but they can save you time and can be handy if you’re not sure how to build a raised bed.

Below is the Cedar Raised Garden Bed Kit – Fast Assembly, No Tools Needed – 1.5″ Thick Boards – (48″ x 48″ x 12″) – Naturally Rot-Resistant Wood

The benefit of a pre-made kit is that you will have no wood cutting or measuring to do, Additionally, pre-made kits can sometimes be easier to install than the DIY option, and are often delivered to your door.

The majority of the pre mde kits tend to be formed from pre treated timber such as hardwood, Cedar,Pine,Redwood , scandanavian softwood , sofywoods amongst many others

One examples of a pre made kit formed from Scandanavian softwood is the Mazi Manger Trough Planter. You can see our review on this beautiful planter made bu Harrod Horticultural at Maxi Manger Trough Planter bu Harrod Horticultural Review

You can find more pre made timber garden kit reviews at Betsraisedgardenbeds.com

Using raised bed Liners:

Raised garden bed liners are an affordable and easy way to give your garden beds an extra form of protection . They can act as an insulator and a waterproof memnrane at the same time.

You can purchase timber raised bed liners at Amazon.com or at Harrod Horticultural.

They are also a great way to extend the life of your garden beds by keeping them free of damp soil and preventing yjr intrusion of weeds. Finally, raised garden bed liners are a good way to protect your plants from pests and disease.

If you are looking to grow food in your raised bed then you should loo to use a food-grade polyethylene.You must also ensure that your liner on a low level ground mounted raised bed allows for drainage at some point.

Remember to Plan your garden

One of the most important things you must do is plan your garden no matter whether you are adding a single small raised bed or multiple raised beds. It is critical that you consider

. A few considerations that you need to consider is :

Price
Availability
Environmental durability
Aesthetics

Toxins
Allelopathy
Portability
Maintainability
Workability

The AMERLIFE Raised Garden Bed 8×2 FT

To view this raised bed just click on the image below