A raised bed like this is not only a practical matter for people with back problems: vegetables, herbs and flowers grow at a comfortable working height, so that you don't have to bend down for maintenance work or harvesting. But what material should you build your raised bed out of? There are many options for this and the right border for the bed depends on how durable you want the raised bed to be and how much money you can spend on it.
What materials can I use to build a raised bed border?
There are different materials for raised bed borders such as wood, stone, plastic and metal. Wooden raised beds should be lined with foil or fleece, stone raised beds require a foundation, plastic raised beds are light and durable, and metal raised beds offer a special look and longevity.
Raised beds can be made from many materials
Many raised beds are finished in the classic way with a wooden border. Basically, you have the choice between many different materials, because it's not the wood that makes the raised bed - but rather its height and the filling. A traditionally filled compost raised bed offers a whole range of advantages, from the higher temperature in the bed to the availability of nutrients. But whether the bed box is made of wood, stone or metal is irrelevant and entirely up to your ideas.
Wood
A raised bed with a wooden border should be carefully lined with waterproof foil or fleece in order to separate the always moist bed filling from the wood and thus protect it from rot. Wooden slats are usually used to build raised beds, but palisades, planks, whole trunks or thick branches, hazelnut rods or wickerwork made from willow branches are also suitable.
Stone
Beds with a stone border are significantly more durable than a wooden raised bed. For this you can use natural or concrete stones and build them either in dry construction or in a mortared wall. A foundation is also absolutely necessary. Stone raised beds can also be clad very well, for example with wood.
Plastic
A plastic raised bed is perfect for the balcony or terrace due to its low weight. However, there are also large plastic raised bed borders for the garden that last for a very long time and stand up well to wind and weather. However, they are not particularly ecological.
Metal
A raised bed with a metal border is always a special eye-catcher - especially if it has a patina of age. Raised beds made of Corten steel, for example, are very tasteful and extremely durable.
Tip
If you want to build a new raised bed, you don't necessarily have to buy the necessary materials expensively. Upcycling is the magic word or, in plain English: Turn old into new! You can create great raised bed borders from a variety of raw materials.