Best Wood for Raised Garden Beds

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Nowadays, a raised garden bed has been a convenient option for gardeners because of its manageability and space-saving ability. If you are wondering what the best wood for raised garden beds is, our woodworkers and gardening experts prepared 15 wood choices for you to pick from.

We will also discuss the things to consider when picking a wood type perfect for your raised garden bed.

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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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10. Spruce

Spruce is one of the great wood for raised beds in terms of price, mobility, and workability. Additionally, it can last for more or less ten years. It has a very attractive color that changes to amber as it ages with a structural striped grain. A pressure-treated wood, like spruce, can resist insects and other elements.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.