If you’re into gardening, you’re surely be smitten with raised garden beds. They’re such a game-changer – easy to manage and they save so much space! But are curious about the best wood to use for yours?
I’ve chatted with some woodworking buddies and green-thumbed pals, and I’ve come up with a list of 15 top wood options for you. Stick around, and I’ll also share some tips on how to pick the perfect wood for your garden haven.
15 Best Wood Options for Building Raised Garden Beds
1. Black Locust
Black locust is a dense kind of wood that is highly durable. It is a medium-sized hardwood that is strong enough to be used for garden beds. Black locust is resistant to humidity, insect attacks, and moisture. Garden beds with this wood will last more than two to three decades.
what I like
- It's decay-resistant
- This wood is highly durable
- It contains anti-fungal compounds
- It's naturally rot-resistant
What I Don't Like
- It can be hard to work with
- Can be infested by grasshoppers
2. Cedar
Cedar wood is one of the best woods for making raised garden beds. Some famous types are the Alaskan Yellow Cedar, West Coast Cedar, Eastern Red Cedar, and Western Red Cedar.
Like Black Locust, Cedar wood is also rot-resistant with its natural tannins and does not need any wood chemical treatments. Cedar wood can last more than 30 years, depending on the climate. It is also water-resistant, making it great for outdoor woodworking projects.
Also Read: Is Cedar Expensive?
What I Like
- This wood is insect/decay-resistant
- I like the aesthetics of this wood
- This wood is long-lasting
- It's naturally rot-resistant
- It's reliably durable
What i don't Like
- This wood is pricey
- It is soft
- It's high-maintenance
- It's flammable
- This wood fades overtime
3. Cypress
Another elegant wood to use to make a raised garden bed is Cypress wood. Besides Redwood and Cedar, it is also considered a top-tier type of wood for garden beds. Cypress wood is also naturally rot-resistant.
Moreover, it contains natural oil, which can help save the wood from environmental elements. Cypress wood is also long-lasting. It can make raised beds last for more than a decade.
What i Like
- It's easy to work with
- This wood is great for beginners
- The finishing qualities is good
- It has an attractive color
- It's rot-resistant
- This is cheap wood, but high-quality
What i Don't Like
- It has a sour odor
- The toxicity is high
4. Pine
Pine is an ideal wood to use for raised garden boxes. It is softwood with beautiful wood grain and other extraordinary features crucial for making raised beds. Nevertheless, it is still inexpensive and great for outdoor projects.
Even though it is considered softwood, it is still durable and stable for raised beds. It will steady the garden bed frames for sanding, screwing, and drilling. It is easy to use for beginner woodworkers.
What i Like
- Pine is affordable
- This type of lightweight
- Pine has the aesthetics
- This wood is ideal for beginners
- It's durable and stable
What I Don't Like
- Pine has low rot-resistance
- Pine has low moisture-resistance
- It can be attacked by insects easily
5. Redwood
Redwood is one of the most commonly used for raised gardens. Vegetable garden boxes made from redwood are lightweight. It also has a natural resistance to decay and can withstand elements and insect attacks.
Moreover, this type of wood is rot-resistant and durable. Even though it is considered softwood, it can still repel termites and rot. Redwood garden beds can last for 10-20 years.
What i Like
- This wood is suitable for outdoor use
- Redwood is very durable
- This wood type is rot-resistant
- I like that it's lightweight
What i don't Like
- Redwood is high-maintenance
- This wood is a bit pricey
- It requires finishing
6. Douglas Fir
Douglas Fir is another ideal softwood material to use for a raised bed. It is an environmentally-friendly option for raised bed gardens. Moreover, it is an affordable type of wood with great quality.
Besides, if you want to level up its appearance, you can always stain douglas fir wood according to your liking.
If you build a raised garden using Douglas fir, it can last up to 10 years or more, depending on how you take care of it. This type of wood is also better than other softwoods.
What i Like
- It's cheaper but high quality
- This wood is durable
- It's free from chemicals
- It's moisture-resistant
- This wood is decay-resistant
What i don't Like
- Douglas Fir is high-maintenance
- It's not the best softwood
7. Juniper
With its rustic look, Juniper is an ideal wood for a garden bed. It is durable and rot-resistant so that you can use it outdoors. Moreover, this wood has the same qualities as Redwood and Cedar but at a lesser price.
Juniper wood does not need any chemical treatment to protect it from rotting because it can protect itself for a long time. Additionally, the oils from the wood also act as a fertilizer for the soil.
What I Like
- Cedar is eco-friendly
- It's a rot-resistant wood
- This wood type is affordable
- It provides nutrients to plants
What i Don't Like
- It does not last very long
- It's kinda hard to work with
- Cedar is less durable
8. Pressure-treated wood
You can use pressure-treated wood to make garden beds. Depending on your budget, growing zone, and needs, it can be a good option. This process can make the lumber last longer.
It makes it resistant to decay and rot. These chemical treatments help repel insects, bacteria, fungi, and other environmental elements. Depending on wood quality and type, untreated wood can show signs of decay after a year.
You just have to be careful with recycled or reclaimed wood. Recycled woods can harm the soil and plants in the long run. Do not use chromated copper arsenate (CCA) [1] pressure-treated wood or railroad ties.
What i like
- It's durable and long-lasting
- Pressure-treated lumber is decay-resistant
- Treated wood repels elements easily
What i don't Like
- The chemicals used are not great for soil
- It needs heavy metal testing
- Not accepted in USDA-organic guidelines
9. White Oak
White Oak is a nice wood to use for building raised beds. It is 50 to 100 percent stronger than Pinewood and other softwoods. Additionally, it also has a natural rot resistance. This type of wood is heavy but with lots of great features.
White Oak wood has an aesthetic grain that can make your vegetable gardens more attractive. It is also resistant to scratches and dents. Besides, it’s one of the best wood for making a garden shed.
What i like
- It's resistant to rotting
- This is a durable wood
- White oak is easy to stain
- It has the aesthetic look.
What i don't Like
- White oak is pricey
- It's hard and heavy
- It can’t resist temperature
10. Spruce
Spruce stands out as an excellent choice for raised beds due to its affordability, ease of handling, and workability. Moreover, it boasts a lifespan of approximately ten years.
Its appealing color evolves into a charming amber hue as it ages, featuring an attractive striped grain. Being pressure-treated, spruce showcases impressive resistance against insects and various environmental elements.
What i like
- It has an attractive color and grain
- This wood is lightweight
- Spruce wood is affordable
What i don't Like
- Not very resistant to weather, decay, and insects
11. Chestnut
Another long-lasting wood that you can use to make a garden bed is Chestnut wood. It has an attractive straight grain texture that you can use for any outdoor woodworking project.
It is resistant to rotting insects, and weather can cause that. Also, it’s one of the best wood options for staining, so it has lots of uses!
What i like
- It has a beautiful rustic look
- It's resistant to decay
- This wood is easy to work with
- This wood is durable
What i don't Like
- It can split easily
- This wood is not always available
12. Black Walnut
Black Walnut is another dense wood that you can use for garden beds. It’s also regarded as one of the best woods for making desks since this wood is easy to carve, sand, and finish. With its beautiful texture, your garden beds will look amazing as well.
What i like
- Resistant to insect and fungal attacks
- It's easy to work with
- This wood is stable and durable
What i don't Like
- Black walnut is pricey
- It's not resistant to weather
13. Catalpa
Although it has amazing hardwood qualities, Catalpa is often set aside. Our woodworkers find it ideal to use for making wooden raised garden beds since it’s suitable for indoor and outdoor use.
Moreover, it has a stable dimension that helps you easily make the shape you want.
What i like
- It's easy to work with
- It's resistant to rotting
- This wood is stable
Cons
- Not suitable for staining
- It can be hard to finish
14. Yew
Another perfect and long-lasting wood to use for garden beds is Yew. This durable and sturdy wood is usually used for commercial and industrial purposes. It has a straight grain with a brownish color that will make your vegetable gardens look more wonderful.
What i like
- Yew is durable
- It has the aesthetic style.
- This wood is decay-resistant
What i don't Like
- It has an oily surface
- Some can be toxic to human skin
15. Hemlock
Finally, we have the Hemlock hardwood lumber that is also durable and sturdy. You can make great garden beds using this high-strength wood. However, since this is a tough wood, it can be hard to work with.
What i like
- It has a uniform texture and great appearance
- Can be stained or painted easily
- It's hard and durable
What i don't Like
- It's hard to work with
- Not decay-resistant
- Toxic
Things to Consider When Picking Wood for a Raised Garden Bed
To get the best wood for a raised garden bed, there are some things that you should consider. Some of the factors you should consider are the wood’s durability, safety, cost, certification, and sustainability. Let’s discuss them further below.
Durability and Resistance to Rot
If you want your garden beds to last for ten years or so, you must consider the durability of the wood. Any local lumber yard will deteriorate for about 3 to 4 years. So choose wood with natural pest- and rot- resistance.
Certified by the FSC
The Forest Stewardship Council or FSC is a worldwide organization focusing on forest conservation through inspection and certification procedures. A certified forest should follow strict international environmental and socio-economic standards and practices.
Sustainability
Sustainability has been the norm for most parts of the world because of environmental awareness. Aside from that, sustainable woods are most likely cheaper than imported woods.
Locally-sourced wood from sustainable tree farms is safer to use for garden beds.
Safety
Another factor to consider is the safety of the wood to humans, plants, soil, and animals. Some woods can contaminate food crops and can also be toxic to humans. Avoid treated lumber or reclaimed wood, particularly pressure-treated wood and old railroad ties.
Price
You should also consider your budget when choosing a type of wood for raised gardens. Spend on long-term building materials rather than on the cheapest but short-term ones to save you money in the long run.
However, if you are not planning to have the garden beds for very long, short-term wood would be fine.
Using Natural Wood Preservatives
There are natural preservatives that you can use to help your wooden garden beds to last longer.
Tung Oil
It is a moisture-repellant natural preservative from tung tree seeds. Tung oil is pricier than raw linseed oil but is often combined with chemicals unsuitable for food crops.
Raw Linseed Oil
Another natural preservative is the raw linseed oil from flaxseed. It is cheaper if you want to protect the wood from moisture, decay, and other microorganisms.
Wood and Other Materials to Avoid
There are woods and other building materials that you should avoid when building raised beds. Look at the following materials that you should not use for garden beds.
Recycled Wood
Using recycled timber may seem eco-friendly and economical. However, if you do not know the origin of the wood, it is not safe to use it for your crops.
It may have some chemical finish, treatment, or stains leach into the soil. The poor soil will also affect the growth of your plants.
Old Pressure Treated Recycled Wood
In the 1970s, chromated copper arsenate (CCA) was the most used treatment for home projects such as raised gardens, play areas, and decks.
However, CCA can leach into the soil and affect the plants. Therefore, EPA stopped the availability of CCA-treated woods on December 31, 2003.
Reclaimed or Old Wood
Reclaimed or old wood is somehow similar to recycled wood. If you do not know the origin of the wood, then it is best not to use it for your garden beds project.
Some old woods are painted or stained with toxic chemicals. These older paints and chemicals can hurt the soil and plants.
Utility Poles and Railroad Ties
Similar to reclaimed, old, and recycled woods, utility poles and railroad ties may contain chemicals that can leach into the soil. These types of wood are also treated with creosote which is not supposed to be used in gardens.
Creosote-treated wood can be refinished or stripped. It can also lead to cancer.
Concrete + Cinder Blocks
Concrete blocks and cinder blocks should not be used for garden beds because these blocks contain galvanized metal which is not safe for plants. Concrete blocks are fine, but you should know how it is made.
Alternative Materials for a Raised Garden Bed
Aside from the best types of wood above, there are also some good alternatives where you can choose from. These alternatives include metal, plastic, and masonry, among others. These are also durable and long-lasting options worth considering:
Metal
Metal containers are great alternatives to wood. You can use aluminum and steel planters, cattle troughs, barrels, and sheet metal.
However, galvanized metal or galvanized steel may leach into the soil. So, it is important to know the components of the metal before using it for plants.
Plastic
Plastics can be a sturdy and cheap choice when making garden beds. Plastic boards, barrels, and planters can last for a long time. You just have to add some drainage holes since plastics are not porous.
Masonry
Cement blocks, bricks, and native stones are the most durable but expensive materials for garden beds.
If you want garden beds to last longer than any kind of wood and you have the budget for it, then you can go for masonry materials. Just be sure always to check the cement’s pH level.
Other Materials Worth Considering
Aside from the materials above, you can also use recycled composite plastic lumber, concrete bricks or blocks, composite lumber from wood shavings, metal stock tanks, felled logs, straw bales, and shutters.
However, each has disadvantages, so you should be careful when using them.
FAQ
Should raised garden beds be water-tight?
Raised beds generally need a consistent water supply. The width and height of the garden beds will determine how water will be retained in the soil. Therefore, installing a constant water supply for your plants can be a good idea. Remember that too much-retained water can cause the wood to rot easily.
Conclusion
When you set out to find the perfect wood for your raised garden beds, it’s not as hard as it seems. I’ve done the legwork and jotted down the top picks, as well as the ones to steer clear of. Now, the ball’s in your court. Which wood fits your needs best?!
(Interesting Read: Know the differences between spruce vs pine vs fir lumber)
Robert Johnson is a passionate furniture maker & carpenter, sought after for his knowledge on the craft.
You’ve probably seen his down-to-earth wisdom in USA Today, Bobvila, Family Handyman, and The Spruce, where he has shared commentary and guidance on various woodworking topics.
Robert is the brain behind Sawinery, where he aims to share tips, tricks, and a passion for all things carpentry.
