Side by side
| Measure | Metal | Cedar |
|---|---|---|
| In our catalogue | 21 families, 135 sizes (Vego Garden, Birdies, Metal Garden Beds, Tarter, Best Choice Products, Garden In Minutes, Epic Gardening) | 11 families, 29 sizes (Gronomics, Greenes Fence, Gardener's Supply, Outdoor Living Today, VegTrug) |
| Published heights | 12 to 32 in | 7.3 to 35 in |
| Stated soil capacity | 4.8 to 96 cubic feet | 3.5 to 60 cubic feet |
| Lifespan, as published | 14-gauge galvanized steel could last 35 to 50 years before first perforation; most beds are 20 to 24 gauge (Virginia Cooperative Extension) | 10 years or more for cedar or redwood (UNH Extension); untreated wood, even cedar, often begins to decay within a few years (WSU Extension) |
| Safety notes | Zinc may leach only below pH 5; some metal beds sold online have been found to contain lead (University of Minnesota Extension) | Untreated cedar has no preservative; the question applies to treated lumber, not cedar |
| Fasteners | Bolted panels supplied with the kit | Stainless or hot-dipped galvanized screws (Western Red Cedar Lumber Association) |
See the beds
Metal beds
- Vego 17" Tall 9-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed
- Birdies Medium Modular Raised Bed
- Metal Garden Beds CUADRA, EXACTO and FRESA
- Tarter 4 ft Oval Raised Bed Planter
- Best Choice 6 × 3 × 2 ft Metal Raised Bed
- Garden In Minutes 17-in-1 Metal Raised Bed
- Epic Small Modular Metal Raised Bed
- Vego 17" Tall 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed
- Birdies Large Modular Raised Bed
- Epic Medium Modular Metal Raised Bed
- Vego 32" Extra Tall 6-in-1 Modular Raised Garden Bed
- Birdies Round Metal Raised Bed
- Epic Large Modular Metal Raised Bed
- Vego 17" Tall 42" Round Metal Raised Bed
- Birdies Jumbo Modular Raised Bed
- Epic Round Metal Raised Bed
- Vego 32" Extra Tall 10-in-1 Jumbo Modular Bed
- Vego 26" Tall Woodgrain Metal Raised Bed
- Vego Classic Elevated Garden Bed
- Vego Slim Elevated Garden Bed
- Vego Jumbo Elevated Garden Bed
Cedar beds
- Gronomics Cedar Raised Garden Beds
- Greenes Fence Cedar Raised Bed 4 × 8 ft
- Gardener’s Supply Cedar Raised Beds, 4 ft Wide
- Gardener’s Supply Deep Root Cedar Raised Beds
- Gardener’s Supply Farmstead Cedar Raised Beds
- Gardener’s Supply Elevated Cedar Raised Beds
- Gardener’s Supply Elevated Cedar Planter Box with Shelf
- Gronomics 24 × 48 Elevated Cedar Garden Bed
- Outdoor Living Today Urban Cedar Raised Bed
- VegTrug Classic 1.8 m Cedar Planter
- Gardener’s Supply Elevated Cedar Patio Garden with Shelf
References
- Comparison of Raised Bed Methods, Materials, and Costs (SPES-425NP), Virginia Cooperative Extension
- How to Utilize Raised Beds for Small Space Gardening, University of New Hampshire Extension
- Raised Beds: Will They Benefit Your Vegetable Garden? (FS075E), Washington State University Extension
- Raised bed gardens, University of Minnesota Extension
- Fasteners for Outdoor Projects, Western Red Cedar Lumber Association