Cheap Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed Ideas – When you’re looking at cheap inexpensive raised garden bed ideas, the first thing that usually comes to mind is wood, but there are actually lots of different materials you can use to create your own custom beds.
Some are better than others when it comes to durability and insulating properties, so be sure to do your research before choosing what you want to use in your garden bed projects!
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1) Buy Last Year’s Plants
Buying last year’s plants is a great way to save money on your garden. Many nurseries and garden centers mark down their plants by 50% or more at the end of the season.
This is a great time to stock up on annuals, perennials, and shrubs for your garden. Look for healthy plants that are still blooming and have not been damaged by frost.
Be sure to ask about any guarantees before you buy so you know what you are getting yourself into. If there are no guarantees offered be careful when buying from this type of sale as they may not be worth the risk.
Related article: Modern Raised Garden Bed Ideas
2) Make Your Own DIY Raised Beds
With a little time and effort, you can easily build your own raised garden beds. This is a great way to save money and get exactly what you want from raised bed. Plus, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing what exactly you built it yourself!
There are a few different materials that work well for building raised garden beds. One option is using posts and 4x4s for supports with 2x6s for sideboards, this allows you to frame out an area where you plant or put landscaping stones on top of them.
Another option would be stacking brick or cinder blocks one layer at a time until they’re about 3 feet high then filling in with dirt between each layer.
Read more: 17 Brick Raised Garden Ideas That Will Make You Green With Envy
3) Mix and Match Planters | Cheap Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed
If you have different-sized planters, you can create a raised garden bed by stacking them on top of each other. Line the bottom of the largest planter with landscaping fabric, then fill it with potting soil.
Place the next largest planter on top of the first one, lining the bottom with more landscaping fabric. Continue this process until all your planters are stacked.
Once you’ve reached the top, plant your favorite flowers, vegetables, or herbs in the soil. Water regularly and enjoy your new raised garden bed! This is a great option if you’re looking for cheap raised garden beds because you can use planters you already have around your home.
4) Use Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are a great way to create cheap raised garden beds. Simply line the bottom of the box with weed matting or newspaper, fill with soil, and plant your seeds or seedlings. You can even add a layer of mulch to help keep the soil moist.
To make sure your plants have enough room to grow, make sure to use a box that is at least 12 inches deep. Cut out windows in the sides so you can easily access your plants.
For extra support, stack two boxes on top of each other and secure them together with some wood or bricks.
5) Turn Totes Into Gardens
This is a great way to recycle those plastic totes you have laying around the house. Simply drill drainage holes into the bottom, fill them with soil, and plant your favorite herbs, vegetables, or flowers.
You can even add wheels to the bottom for easy mobility. If you don’t have any totes lying around, visit your local recycling center.
In addition to using old milk jugs as planters in raised garden beds, consider using milk crates instead. It’s an idea that could be used for indoor use or outside on a patio area where the space may not be large enough for traditional raised garden beds.
When designing these raised garden beds, look at what will fit best in the space available.
Related article: Top 17 Front Garden Bed Ideas to Transform Your Curb Appeal
6) Metal Buckets – Cheap Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed
Metal buckets are a great way to create raised garden beds on a budget. They’re quite strong and durable, so you won’t have to worry much about them breaking. Plus, they’re easy to find at your local hardware store.
To create a raised garden bed with metal buckets, simply stack them up to the desired height and fill them with soil. You can even add drainage holes to the bottom of the buckets for extra drainage. Just be sure to use a liner before filling with soil so that the dirt doesn’t leak out and cause damage.
If you don’t want to deal with buckets or don’t have any lying around, there are plenty of other ways to make a raised garden bed using only scrap materials like milk crates, bricks, or stones.
7) Wooden Pallets
Wooden pallets are a great option for raised garden beds because they are relatively cheap and easy to find. Plus, they add a rustic charm to your garden. To use pallets for your raised garden bed, simply line them up and fill them with soil.
You can also add a layer of weed barrier fabric to help prevent weeds from growing. The only downside is that you may need to replace the wood every few years as it will eventually rot away.
There are also many DIY projects on Pinterest that show how to construct your own wooden pallet garden bed without needing tools or skills. If you’re looking for something more sturdy than wood, look into using concrete blocks or cinder blocks.
8) Window Sills | Cheap Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed
Window sills are often forgotten about when it comes to gardening, but they can actually make great raised garden beds! They get plenty of sunlight and can be easily accessed for watering. Plus, you can use them to grow a variety of plants, from herbs to vegetables.
Choose a sunny spot in your home for your window sill garden. south-facing windows will give your plants the lightest.
Make sure your window sill is deep enough to accommodate the roots of your plants. A depth of at least 6 inches is ideal.
9) The No Planter Necessary Section
Get some pallets and screw them together to make a raised garden bed. Use an old dresser as a planter. Turn an old tire into a planter. Make a planter out of an old drawer.
Hang a basket on the wall and plant some herbs in it. Repurpose an old dresser into a potting bench and place some plants on it. Use an old wooden crate as a raised garden bed.
Plant your veggies and herbs in individual pots placed inside a metal garbage can with holes cut into the bottom. You can also use two large metal trash cans, one inverted over the other, with drainage holes punched into the bottom of each one.
10) Try a Bathtub
An old bathtub can make a great raised garden bed! Just make sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom before filling it with soil. You can even add a few inches of gravel to the bottom for extra drainage.
If you’re worried about the tub rusting, you can line it with a heavy-duty tarp or liner. It’s also important to note that when building this type of garden bed, you’ll need to turn the dirt over every year because it will compact and become unusable if left untouched.
11) Repurpose Shelves
If you have any extra shelves lying around, put them to good use by turning them into raised garden beds! All you need to do is screw the shelves together and add some soil. This is a great option if you don’t have a lot of space, as you can stack the shelves on top of each other.
As long as your shelves are at least four feet high, they should be sturdy enough for plants to grow. The most important thing is to make sure that there are plenty of drainage holes in the bottom so that excess water can escape.
Another benefit? These wooden bed frames are much easier to move than concrete or brick ones would be.
12) Grab a Bench – Cheap Inexpensive Raised Garden Bed
A garden bench can be a great way to add extra seating to your outdoor space, and it can also double as a raised garden bed. Simply place the bench against a wall or fence, and fill it with soil and plants.
You can find benches at most home improvement stores, or you can repurpose an old bench that you have around your house. The only downside is that they may not hold up in windy areas. If you want to keep it simple, just lay boards across some sturdy sawhorses for a similar effect.
Conclusion
Building a raised garden bed doesn’t have to be expensive. By using reclaimed wood, cinder blocks, or even recycled tires, you can create a beautiful garden space without breaking the bank.
With a little creativity and some elbow grease, you can have the garden of your dreams on a budget.
