Recycled Plastic Raised Garden Beds — Frame It All (2024)

FAQs

Should I line sides of raised garden bed with plastic? ›

You can line your raised bed to make it more durable and to prevent toxics from leaching into the soil. For lining, use landscape fabric found at garden supply stores or cloth fabric from clothing. Avoid non-porous plastic, as it can retain too much water and discourage beneficial insects and worms.

Not harmful

The Danish FEA tried to find some research of this matter, but there is no concrete research which shows that it is dangerous for the health to line raised beds with plastic or to grow in plastic tubs and buckets like many do.

Raised beds made from recycled plastic will last for many decades, maybe even 100 years, but ours come with a 25-year guarantee.

The fact is, landscape fabric is not a necessity if say, you want to control weeds because the confined space makes it easier to control weeds. But, you can use landscape fabric as a raised bed liner for other reasons, such as preventing soil erosion or improving the life of the raised bed itself.

Beds off the ground and supported by legs are built or manufactured with a bottom. We recommend lining this space with a permeable material (like a weed mat or landscape fabric) to help preserve the structure and prevent soil loss when watering.

This is more of a risk if you're storing liquids in your plastic than if it's just simply touching soil. Remember, leaching requires the presence of moisture; soil allows excess moisture to drain away from the plastic and out whatever drainage holes are present.

Keep beds at least 6 feet from pavement and south-facing walls, which intensify summer heat. HOW LONG DO BEDS LAST? That depends on what they're made of. Beds built with western red cedar can last 10 to 15 years; galvanized steel, 20 years; masonry or plastic composites, indefinitely.

Landscaping fabric: Landscaping fabric can be used on the bottom of raised beds for several reasons – preventing soil erosion, promoting water retention, and most importantly, keeping out invasive grasses. Unlike cardboard, which breaks down over time, landscaping fabric will not.

On average, a DIY raised bed constructed from wood will cost $25 to $50 per square foot. To have a wooden raised bed constructed and installed for you, budget for at least $100 per square foot. (Find a kitchen garden company in your area.)

A lot of customers ask us, “Should I cover my raised beds with plastic in winter?” We're happy to report that plastic covering is totally unnecessary! Instead of wasting plastic, there are much more eco-friendly alternatives to getting your raised garden beds ready for winter.

How do you fill a plastic raised garden bed? ›

It acts as a physical barrier to block out pernicious weeds. Usually, 2 – 3 layers of cardboard will suffice, though you may want layers in more weed-prone areas. The damp environment created by the cardboard is conducive to earthworms and other beneficial soil microorganisms.

Well-structured soil with plenty of organic matter already provides adequate drainage in a raised garden bed. Rocks are not essential for achieving proper drainage and can even hinder it. Limited soil depth. Placing rocks at the bottom of a garden bed reduces the available soil depth for plant roots to grow.

Gophers will get into your raised beds as soon as they find the chicken wire has rusted away. Use stainless steel or double galvanized “gopher wire” which is made specifically to last in underground applications like lining raised beds, making gopher baskets, etc.

However, if your raised garden bed isn't properly lined, you can be losing this soil along with the beneficial nutrients for your plants due to rain and regular watering. A liner can help allow water to flow and drain, without losing the beneficial materials and nutrients of your specialized soil.

Ground types and drainage

For WoodBlocX raised beds built on open soil or grass (soft ground), you should add liner to the side walls including buttresses and leave the base of the raised bed open to allow for good drainage.

Plastic sheeting is the best material for lining a planter with. Pond liners work well for lining the bottom of planters as they are robust and can easily be shaped into the perfect size to fit the dimensions of your planter. Pond liners are also thick enough to reduce any evaporation of water from the soil.

They don't even need sides! Many small farmers use this type of raised bed or raised row gardening to help soil drain more quickly and to add additional amendments to the top inches of soil for shallow crops and to help seedlings get established better. But many gardeners opt for beds that are built with sides.