Raised garden beds for bad backs

Planting means preparing a patch of ground, fertilizing it and then planting seeds or plants, right? Yes, some people are still planting in gardening beds, and while those are still my favorite, I admit I’ve come to appreciate really nice, lofty, raised garden beds. Here’s why.

You’re In for a Gardening Treat

If you’ve never used raised garden beds before, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised. They have so many advantages over ground planting:

• It’s a lot easier on your back and knees.
• You can constantly improve the soil conditions to achieve perfect growing soil in your beds.
• Your plants get some protection from critters and insects.
• They give your garden a wonderfully neat, organized look.
• There are fewer weeds in a raised bed.
• Roots can grow deep into the soil to produce strong, healthy plants.

Does it sound good? Here’s how you can get started with raised beds.

Easy on Your Knees, Back and Feet

As you can see, it’s easy to walk around the raised beds to weed, water, harvest and just enjoy your growing plants. You don’t have to worry about bending, kneeling or walking through muddy planting beds.

Raised beds work for flowers, vegetables, fruits, shrubs and small trees.

Try a Combination of Garden Types

Ideally, you should have a combination of ground plantings, raised beds and potted plants for a vivid, varied garden that you’ll enjoy every day.

Where to Get the Best Raised Garden Beds

Raised bed gardening is even easier if you don’t have to worry about building the beds. The online store Wayfair has an outstanding selection of premade wooden planting beds.

Raised beds are an increasingly popular way of designing a garden. They look great and are easier to maintain than other low level gardening options.

These raised planter boxes have become particularly appealing for older gardeners because they require less physical effort than normal garden beds. They can be brought up to a height of the gardener’s choice, making them a good option for people with limited mobility too.

On this page you can find out everything you need to know about raised garden beds and our top tips on how to get started.

• What are raised beds?
• Advantages of raised beds
• Raised bed gardening tips
• Raised bed FAQs

What are raised beds?

A raised bed is a structure, usually made of wood for planting above floor level. Most people plant on top of existing soil, but they can be set up on hard floor surfaces such as concrete or gravel.

The outside of the raised bed tend to be made out of timber or sleepers. These are the key to keeping the soil secure at a height.

They can be made as high as the gardener needs or wants. Most raised beds are around 12 inches (28cm) high, although some people make them as high as 36 inches (84cm).

Once filled with the soil/compost of your choice, you’re ready to start growing. They are well-suited for both flowers and edible produce, although you might want to use a net to ward off pests. 

Advantages of raised beds

The main appeal of raised beds is that they make gardening easier and less labour-intensive. Which is great for people who are older, less mobile, or pressed for time. 

However, there are more reasons that raised beds are great – see our full list of the advantages below. 

Less bending over

Long gone are the days of describing gardening as back-breaking labour!

Raised beds mean less bending over — perfect for people with existing bad problems, or who are worried about developing one. 

Fewer weeds

Raised garden beds have fewer weeds - hoorah!

There is less weed intrusion because the tall borders of the raised bed stops weeds from creeping in from garden pathways. Having a barrier underneath the raised bed can also keep weeds out. 

Increased drainage

Because the soil will be above normal ground level, there tends to be better drainage through the raised bed. 

However, you will need to think about drainage carefully — a lot will depend on the surface below.

Neat and tidy appearance

Well structured raised beds look neat, tidy and can be a real design feature. 

Suited to the UK's climate

Raised beds are well-suited to the climate of the UK. Having the beds raised above the level of the surrounding soil allows them to drain much better when there are high levels of rain.

Greater control over soil

Good soil is important for successful gardening. This is especially true if you are growing fruit and vegetables.

By having raised vegetable beds it means that you can choose the soil that you plant with – rather than using whatever soil happens to be in your garden.

Keeping pests out

Growing fruit and vegetables in raised garden beds can offer an extra barrier against pests. The height of the raised planter provides an obstacle for the likes of rabbits, snails and slugs.

Wheelchair-friendly

Raised beds can make gardening wheelchair-accessible, as all of the beds can be made to a custom height. As long as the beds are not too wide, a person in a wheelchair will be able to tend to their plants with ease.

Raised bed gardening tips

If you think that raised beds might be for you, there are still some decisions that you need to make. Because they involve more initial investment, you want to make sure you have planned carefully.

Below, we have picked out the 6 key areas you should be thinking about when setting up raised beds in your garden.

Find the right location

Different plants require different levels of sunlight. Finding the right location for your raised beds will depend on what you are planning to grow, and how much sunlight different areas of your garden tend to receive.

Choose the right plants

Almost all plants are suitable for raised bed gardening, but people commonly use them to grow vegetables, soft fruits, and flowers. If you looking for a good online stockist, we recommend Crocus.

Pick a suitable material

You need to think carefully about what material you want to build your raised beds out of.

Timber is a cheap and popular option, but does not last as long as some other materials.

Sleepers last longer but are more expensive and harder to manoeuvre. You might need to ask for help to set them up properly.

Other more permanent options include paving slabs or stone, but these are also expensive and can be hard to set up yourself. 

Choose the right soil

If your garden naturally has alkaline soil, you may find it difficult to grow plants that prefer acidic soil (such as Rhododendrons). 

Because you will be filling the raised bed with any soil you want, the world is your oyster when it comes to picking plants. 

Think about drainage

Drainage is particularly important when building raised beds on top of hard surfaces. You need to think about where the water will go and we advise you aim for a soil depth of at least 18 inches (45cm).

Choose the right height and width

You can make your raised bed as high as you want (or need). The important thing is that they make gardening easier and more comfortable. Most people go for heights of around 12 inches (28cm), but some make them up to 36 inches (84cm) high.

You will also want to consider the width — don't make the them too wide as it can make it harder to water the plants in the middle of the bed. You might want to incorporate seating on your raised bed. Being able to perch on the side is a nice feature. 

Most people do not go for widths of greater than 1.5m, to ensure easy access from all sides.