Our Best Raised Flower Bed Ideas

Raised garden beds have so many benefits—they allow you to control your soil composition, are less strenuous on your knees and back, offer protection from pests, and produce less weeds. Beyond their practicality, raised flower beds also add visual interest: Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, the structures add color, texture, and dimension to your yard. As the following raised flower bed ideas prove, you'll love how these features look in your garden just as much as you'll appreciate their endless benefits.

raised flower bed with stones in garden — terra24 / GETTY IMAGES

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Wooden Raised Flower Bed

hydrangeas in raised wood flower bed — Lari Bat / GETTY IMAGES

Wood is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you envision a raised flower bed. You can buy this type of garden bed pre-made or make one yourself at home with a few basic materials. "Wood is probably one of the top choices for raised beds," says Jim Sutton, associate director of display design at Longwood Gardens. "Easy to work with, strong, and economical, it can [make] a nice finished product. [Wood raised flower beds] can also be made to almost any size."

How to Make and Fill a Raised Garden Bed

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Window Box

Perfect if you have a smaller landscape or don't want to bend over to tend to your plants, window boxes add instant curb appeal to any space. "Keep irrigation in mind with window boxes, as they can dry out quickly if they are exposed to a great deal of sun," says Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG. For this reason, window boxes are ideal for plants that have shallow roots systems, like succulents.

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Brick Raised Flower Bed

If you want to build a raised garden bed that will stand the test of time, brick is the way to go. "Brick may be one of the costliest materials to use for a raised bed, but will give a lasting, strong structure," says Sutton. "It will hold the soil in place, but will need some maintenance if the mortar needs attention."

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Rock Garden

Using rocks as the structure of your raised bed will give your landscape welcome dimension. "Rocks are a great option for building out raised beds," says Raboine. "For the novice, it's best to stick with smaller rocks that are generally only one row high. Building anything taller requires a bit of skill to prevent them from moving."

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Stock Tank Raised Flower Bed

trough flower bed — Janis Christie / GETTY IMAGES

One of the easiest ways to create a raised flower bed is by using a stock tank or animal feeding trough. The pre-made structure comes ready to use, providing a cost-effective and efficient approach to this gardening method. "While they have an agrarian aesthetic, which may not work for all home styles, they do a fantastic job with keeping soil in and are very easy to set up," says Raboine. Just make sure you drill drainage holes into the bottom so water doesn't get trapped and drown the roots of your plants.

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Fabric Raised Flower Bed

fabric raised garden bed — Courtesy of Amazing Garden

Not ready to commit to a raised garden bed quite yet? Opt for a fabric border, like this one from Amazing Garden—it's affordable and easy to set up, move around, and deconstruct. "Fabric containers made specifically for gardening work as a temporary solution for renters or gardeners who would like the ability to move the containers around," says Sutton.

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Spiral Garden

spiral flower bed — emer1940 / GETTY IMAGES

A good option for smaller plants and flowers, a spiral garden is a variation of a raised bed. "A spiral raised bed is a good option to maximize the space you have," says Raboine. "By raising the center of the spiral, you ensure good drainage and equal access to sunlight."

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Raised Flower Bed With Annuals

annual flowers in raised flower bed — beekeepx / GETTY IMAGES

Annuals, which provide stunning season-long interest, are a great choice for raised beds. "In a raised container, they are easier to give supplemental water and feed," says Sutton. "You can change them up easily and you can also plant them densely, still allowing for air flow."

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Raised Flower Bed With Perennials

perennials in flower bed — beekeepx / GETTY IMAGES

Unlike annuals, perennials return every year to put on a brief, but beautiful show. These types of flowers can also be grown in raised beds. "The bed should not be more than 1 to 2 feet off the ground in areas with severe winters, as they might freeze hard and damage the plants," says Sutton. Make sure the bed meets the soil, moisture, and sunlight requirements of the flowers you're planting.

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Companion Planting in Raised Beds

companion garden with flowers and vegetables — David Burton / GETTY IMAGES

Companion planting is a gardening strategy that involves growing plants in a combination that will benefit both species. In your raised bed, consider planting flowers, herbs, fruits, and vegetables that pair well together. For example, marigolds are a flower that are used to deter pests from disrupting fruits and vegetables. "The advantage of the raised bed is these plants can be grown in proximity for the maximum benefit," says Sutton.

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Waist-High Raised Bed

waist-high flower bed — Patrick Daxenbichler / GETTY IMAGES

Raised garden beds come in many shapes and sizes, but if you have mobility issues, a waist-high bed is ideal. "Its height relieves a lot of stress on the body that traditional gardeners endure," says Sutton. "A higher planting bed also reduces the accessibility for unwanted guests."

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