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Oct 02, 2023

13 Best Raised Garden Beds in 2023, Based on Testing and Reviews

Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn

Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

We spoke to experts, conducted real-life tests, and scoured reviews to choose these top picks.

Whether you want to grow your own vegetables or plant summer flowers, raised garden beds are a great choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. "Raised bed gardens solve a lot of problems for the home gardener," says Pam Farley, garden blogger at Brown Thumb Mama and author of The First Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening. "They give you complete control, which is great if your yard has poor soil, and they allow you to place them wherever you want."

Whether you have a rambling yard or a small garden, raised beds are ideal. For starters, you won't have to till up your lawn when you use a raised bed. They can be placed on soil, or if they have a bottom, on your deck, patio, or balcony. Raised beds also warm up faster in the spring, which is helpful if you live in a climate with a brief growing season. If they’re elevated, they can protect your crops from garden visitors such as hungry bunnies or your pup who might wander through it. Elevated beds can make gardening easier on the knees and back, too, and they’re ideal for people with mobility issues.

We tested many of these top-rated raised beds to evaluate their practicality, including how easy they are to assemble and maintain. We also combed through thousands of reviews from home gardeners who have used them.

Ahead, our picks for the best raised bed gardens for your backyard:

Don't want to bend over? This bed is ideal for preventing achy backs or knees. It's also easily accessible for those with limited mobility.

In our test, it was ridiculously easy to assemble with no tools needed. We were up and gardening in less than 10 minutes. A tray fits nicely in the top for starting seedlings.

We love the self-watering feature, and the water fill tube is easy to read and access for filling. If you have a rainy spell, there's also a manual drainage tap for emptying the reservoir so plants won't get water-logged.

This small planter is surprisingly sturdy and practical. In our test, it survived four growing seasons and is still going strong. It accommodates up to four decent-sized plants such as tomatoes or eggplants.

We love the self-watering feature, which is perfect for plants that benefit from steady moisture levels, such as bush cucumbers or peppers. This planter does a good job at an excellent price point. Plus, it comes in fun colors to coordinate with your house or outdoor furniture.

This corrugated metal raised bed is easy to assemble and has a nice, clean, modern feel. It has an open bottom, so roots can grow into the soil below the container.

In our test, it lasted for four years in harsh winter conditions before beginning to rust. It's also available in a slightly larger rectangular version.

Not sure how to make the best use of your space? This modular galvanized metal raised bed allows you to set up the planter in 12 different ways. You can create several different square or rectangular configurations.

In our test, we found the rubber bumpers on the top edges a real plus so you don't knock into sharp edges while you're planting, watering or harvesting. Assembly is simple. The bed is attractive with a sturdy feel and plenty of room for growing full-sized veggies.

These soft-sided pots come in a variety of sizes, with strap or shop cut handles. The breathable fabric has excellent drainage and is easy to fold and store at season's end.

In tests, the sturdy handles held up when a full bag was dragged from one side of the yard to the other. They're ideal for crops, such as potatoes, because you can just dump the entire bag out when it's time to harvest.

If you want to grow a ton of vegetables, this raised bed garden is the answer! There's zero assembly; just unfold it and fill with potting soil. The sturdy handles allow you to move it as needed (though it's better to find your spot and stick with it because it becomes quite heavy).

The breathable fabric is beneficial for building healthy roots. In tests, we were able to fit three large tomato plants with plenty of air circulation and space for growth.

If you're looking for a metal raised garden bed, this one is a good size for a budget price. The powder-coated galvanized metal needs no tools for assembly, but it's a wee bit dicey to assemble (the instructions aren't great), so take your time and enlist a friend to help.

While it feels a little flimsy before dirt is added, it holds up once filled. As raised beds go, this one is handsome enough that you won't feel like you have to hide it behind your shed.

Tight on space? This vertical planter gives you plenty of room to grow greens, herbs, strawberries, and vegetables such as cherry tomato plants, and flowers with its upright, space-saving design.

It has five tiers of planters with six pockets on each tier. It also has a 2-gallon self-watering reservoir, so you won't have to worry about plants drying out. In tests, the planter has lasted for more than five years.

If you prefer wood over other materials, this rough-cut cedar bed is an option. Cedar is naturally pest- and rot-resistant, so it will last longer than other woods such as pine. This bed also isn't glued together or treated with any chemicals, so you can feel comfortable growing edibles in it.

The bed is easy to assemble by sliding the individual boards into the corner posts. No tools are needed. The open bottom design gives your plants plenty of space to spread their roots.

What's better than an elevated raised bed so you don't have to bend over? An elevated raised bed garden on wheels so you can move it anywhere on your patio or deck!

This raised bed is reasonably-priced and ideal for eliminating the need to kneel or crouch, so it's great for people with limited mobility. It's also self-watering.

Made from 100% FSC-certified cedar wood, this raised bed garden is the perfect size for balconies or small decks. The v-shaped container allows you to grow deep-rooted crops, maximizing space for root growth.

At only 24 inches tall, it's not an accessible height for everyone, but it's great for compact spaces or to introduce kids to growing their own veggies or flowers.

Once assembled, it feels sturdy and substantial. But be aware that it's not the easiest to put together, so enlist a friend's help.

This vinyl planter includes an integrated trellis. You can grow vining plants to provide a privacy screen on your patio, or you can keep tomatoes from tumbling onto the ground.

The planter comes with a 20-year warranty against cracking, warping or yellowing, so it should provide lasting enjoyment to you on your deck, patio or in your yard.

If you're looking for an elevated metal raised bed planter, this one holds plenty of soil for most flower or vegetable crops. A powder-coated finish gives it a handsome appearance, while the polypropylene liner with drainage holes is included.

✔️ Materials: Most raised beds are made from wood such as cedar, fir, or pine; metal; plastic; vinyl; or fabric.

✔️ Drainage: If the raised bed has a bottom, make sure it has drainage holes; roots need oxygen to survive, and you’ll drown plants if there's nowhere for excess water to go.

✔️ Self-watering feature: Some planters have a reservoir you can fill which allows the plants to take up the amount of water they need when they need it. This is great for plants that benefit from steady moisture, such as peppers. You also will be able to water less frequently, which is great in the heat or if you're going away for the weekend.

✔️ Elevated design: Raised beds on legs prevent your having to bend over, which saves your knees and back. It's also ideal for those with mobility issues.

✔️ Wheels: If you’ll be placing your raised bed on a deck or patio, it's convenient to have wheels so you can move it out of the way or push it around to maximize the hours of sun exposure it receives. For example, if part of the deck becomes shaded at certain times of day, you can wheel the container into full sun.

Arricca SanSone is an experienced home gardener with more than 15 years of growing ornamentals, trees, shrubs, and vegetables ranging from cabbages to watermelon. She trialed many of these containers in her own garden, as well as combed through thousands of reviews of real gardeners.

Pam Farley is a garden blogger at Brownthumbmama.com and author of The First Time Gardener: Container Food Gardening, who also has gardened with several of these products.

Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She's passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.

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