Are Metal Raised Beds Worth it?
This post contains gifted products and affiliate links for Vegega metal raised beds, however, I always deliver an unbiased view of a product and answer as many questions as possible. Use the code HANNAH10 for a 10% discount on a range of raised beds LINK HERE.
Metal-raised beds have become more and more popular in recent years. Let’s face it they look great and if you want a picture-perfect garden they are certainly the way to go. But compared to your average raised bed made from let’s say reclaimed materials or just simply no raised beds at all they do come at a cost. So are they worth it and what are the benefits of having them?
I’ve been working with Vegega to test out their metal-raised beds and find the answer to all these questions for you.
What are the benefits of raised beds?
There are a number of benefits to gardening with raised beds including:
having the ability to improve the soil.
raise the soil if you have a disability or are unable to garden at ground level.
if have a concrete surface and want to bring plants and life to the area without major work.
ability to create a hotbed within your raised bed.
Will my plants get too hot in a metal-raised bed?
There is some worries and myths in the gardening world that metal raised bed will become too hot and harm your plants. This is not true. While the soil may warm slightly the metal does not get too hot to touch and will therefore not get hot enough to affect your plants. This could, however, be a benefit in colder climates and at the beginning and end of the growing season, allowing the soil to warm slightly more and keep your plants nice and toasty extending your growing season.
Metal raised beds vs wooden.
The main benefit to a metal raised bed over a wooden it that it will last a lot longer. Wood will root over time even over a few short years and mean you need to replace the raised bed sooner. Metal raised beds however can last up to 20 years without having to be replaced and look great throughout all of that time.
Who would benefit from metal raised beds.
If you have an area that is concrete or has limited soil underneath it these metal raised beds are perfect. Our front garden for example is paved with awful-looking grey stones. There would be little point in digging them up as the beds surrounding it have only a few inches of soil. I, therefore, decided to add one of Vegega’s raised beds and used pebbles to cover the surrounding areas to make over the garden cheaply and easily.
This did a number of things.
The raised beds lifted the area I plant in in order to get them more sunlight where the original ground-level beds were shaded by the boundary wall.
Allowed me to improve the soil and the soil depth.
Revitalized the area on a budget.
Increased the area I can plant in to increase bio-diversity in an area that was once devoid of it.
My original dreams of digging up the entire area to create a beach-inspired garden would have been costly and I see now as unnecessary, once I realised I could build up from the concrete area.
These raised beds can also create access to gardening for people with limited mobility. Choose from a range of heights 8 inch tall all the way up to 32 inch depending on your needs.
Are metal raised bed good for an allotment or vegetable plot?
Although metal raised bed can be great for growing vegetables I would not recommend them for an allotment or large veg plot in the garden unless you need them for accessibility reasons.
There are a number of reasons for this:
The price of buying many raised beds to fill a large space such as an allotment would be high.
The time to make a large number of these. One took me around an hour on my own, and more time to fill it.
If your on an allotment then it’s a rented site which you will have to clear it when and if you give up the plot. There would be a lot of soil in these to clear.
It’s not necessary. The main reason I wouldn’t recommend these for an allotment plot is simply that it’s not necessary. Marking out beds and adding compost (the no-dig method, which will improve the soil without a raised bed) is much easier and works so well. Allotments/veg patches are for growing so make the place look beautiful with veg and flowers over spending lots of time and money on raised beds. Then save the raised beds for somewhere they will look great and enhance the area.
See our full front garden transformation with Vegega below.
Are metal raised beds easy to assemble?
Metal raised beds are very easy and simple to assemble but easier done with more than one person. The only building of them you have to do with adding the bolts to each sheet of metal. Vegega provide the tool needed to do this.
On my own assembling a metal raised bed took me one hour. This would take less than half the time with two people as one can be sorting the washers and bolts together and then tightening the bolts while the others puts them in place.
The most time-consuming part of assembling a raised bed is filling it once it is put together.
How to fill a metal raised bed.
You may think buying enough compost to fill a raised bed will be expensive but it is not necessary to fill it all with fresh compost or top soil.
To fill a metal-raised bed use you only need fresh compost for the very top layer around 2 inches. The bottom of the raised bed can be filled with garden waste eg, sticks, cuttings, grass cutting spent compost, even unbroken-down bokashi compost if you have it or plain veg scraps from the kitchen. You can then add lots of cardboard (plain brown cardboard with any stick tape removed).
This method works so well because you are essentially creating a compost bin within your raised bed which will break down and provide nutrients for the plants growing in it.
Over the years it will break down more and more decreasing the level of soil in your raised bed, meaning you’ll probably need to add a fresh layer of compost to the top every year, however I recommend you do this anyway to improve the health of your plants.
If you have perennial plants in raised bed simply spread your fresh soil around the plants to add a new layer.
The image below will give you a good idea of filling your bed but don’t worry too much about exact measurements, use what you have already in your garden, or if you don’t have much garden waste ask friends and family. It’s certainly much cheaper, easier and much more planet friendly than heading to the garden center for bags and bags of compost.
Image Source. Vegega.com
Making a hot bed in your metal raised bed.
The method of filling your metal raise bed with layer of garden waste and carboard will effectively turn your raised bed into a hot bed. This is because as the organic matter you have layered breaks down it will create heat as it decomposes just as a compost bin does. This can be very beneficial to plants that like the soil to be warmer and extend your growing seasons by keeping the soil warm in early spring and into the later months of autumn whem temperatures drop.
Are metal raised beds eco-friendly?
Metal raised bed are definately an eco-friendly option when designing your garden. Make sure you buy from a reputable company and read reviews but most on the market use non-toxic recycled materials, last for 20 years plus and can be recycled at the end of their life.
One of those reputable companies include Vegega, who I have vetted for their sustainability credentials myself so you don’t have to.
Use my link HERE FOR VEGEGA to get 10% when you purchase by using the code HANNAH10.
Are the metal raised beds safe for children and pets.
Make sure when you buy metal raised beds like these from Vegega you buy ones that uses non toxic, eco-friendly materials and have rubber straps around the edges to make them safe around children and pets. The rubber straps will ensure no sharp edges and the use of non-toxic materials will ensure nothing will break off over time that can harm pets or wildlife if ingested.
How well do raised beds age?
Look for companies that state their raised beds last a minimum of 20 years without replacement or repair, as well as raised beds that come with bracing rods, which will ensure the metal does not bow or bend over time under the weight of the soil inside.
Summary
Overall I defiantly think purchasing a metal raised bed is worth it for the right area. Their long lasting and they look great. My front garden had bothered me for years and now I get such joy from it. Plus I have to admit in taking great pleasure from the neighbours talking about how great it looks.
As for Vegega I’ve been really happy with the service, the product and the price they sell for, so would 100% recommend.
If you do wish to buy from them please use my link HERE and then my code HANNAH10 for 10% of your purchase.
Other articles for you to dive into…
Starting a Zero Waste, Eco-friendly Allotment.
Cheap and Sustainable Gardening Landscaping.