Yards aren’t created equal. Some are beautifully flat and easy to work with, while others may be set on a sloped surface, either going up or down. Without major terraforming, you’re stuck working with the landscape you’ve got. Thankfully, building a raised bed on a slope is an option, and there are multiple ways to do it!
Depending on how steep the grade is where you’d like to place your raised beds, different variations may be necessary. You’ll have to do some digging and leveling no matter what, but the rewards will be worth it.
So, let’s cover all the essentials you need to know to build raised garden beds on a sloping surface. Gardening is possible no matter what your landscape looks like to start, and you’ll love being able to plant your garden every spring!
Stepped raised garden beds are increasingly popular for backyard gardeners, landscapers, community gardens, senior centers, schools, and more. These unique multi-level planter boxes provide practical benefits and visual appeal to enhance your outdoor space.
What are Stepped Raised Beds?
Stepped raised beds, also called tiered raised beds, are elevated garden beds with two or more levels or steps. The beds are stacked, with each tier sitting above the lower one like stairs or bleachers.
These stepped planter boxes let you maximize planting area vertically. The tiers provide more room to grow various flowers, herbs, vegetables, and other plants in a small footprint.
Benefits of Stepped Raised Beds
Using stepped raised beds rather than single-level beds offers many advantages:
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More planting space – The vertical design provides more area without taking up more land. The multi-tiered structure offers more room to plant.
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Better organization – The steps separate plants and make it easy to organize vegetables, herbs, and flowers. You can designate each level for different types of plants.
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Improved ergonomics – Stepped beds reduce excessive bending The higher tiers bring plants closer for easier care,
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Enhanced aesthetics – Stepped beds add dimension and visual interest to gardens, The tiered look is more dynamic than flat single beds,
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Customizable heights – Beds can have varying step heights to suit needs. Taller ones fit bigger plants while shorter work better for kids.
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Creative possibilities – Stepped beds allow endless design options. Beds can be arranged in rows, curves, circles, and more for creativity.
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Efficient watering – Proper drainage freely sheds excess water from upper to lower levels. Gravity helps distribute moisture efficiently.
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Sun exposure – Elevated tiers allow more sun exposure for plants needing it without shading those below.
Stepped Bed Design Options
Stepped raised beds have many shapes, sizes, heights and layouts. Popular designs include:
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Linear – Basic rectangular tiers in a row. For example, a 4′ x 8′ bed may have stacked 4′ x 4′ planters.
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Corner – Beds occupy a corner with one longer than the other at a 90 degree angle.
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Curved – Tiers have rounded, organic edges instead of straight lines. This creates a smooth, flowing look.
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Circle – Concentric circular levels are nested within each other. Visually striking in gardens.
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Cascading – Dramatically staggered tiers seem to cascade down with each much longer and lower than the last.
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Pyramid – Tapers up to a point as each tier is smaller than the one below it. Forms a pyramid shape.
Building Stepped Raised Beds
Stepped raised beds can be built as DIY projects using lumber or bought as pre-fab kits. Tips:
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Use rot-resistant, non-toxic wood like cedar, redwood, or wood-concrete composites. Avoid chemicals leaching into soil.
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Place supporting posts every 4-6 feet around the perimeter to reinforce higher tiers.
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Securely attach all components with corner braces, joist hangers, and screws.
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Ensure higher steps back enough from the edge below for proper soil depth (12-18 inches).
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Add weep holes around each level for drainage.
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Line interior with landscape fabric to prevent soil from washing between tiers.
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Completely fill each tier with enriched gardening soil, leaving ample headspace for plants.
Choosing the Right Size
When deciding on bed dimensions, consider:
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Available space – Measure site boundary.
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Desired plant quantities – Bigger yields more produce.
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Reach – Limit widths to 3-4 feet for arm’s length access to center.
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Number of tiers – More levels mean smaller per tier.
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Height of each – 1-2 feet is common. Match to desired plants.
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Sitting/kneeling – Have at least one short 1 foot bed.
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Layout – Long rows or other orientations?
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Step back – Allow 12-18 inches between tiers.
Material Options
Popular stepped raised bed materials:
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Wood – Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant and ideal. Avoid treated lumber.
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Recycled Plastic Lumber – Maintenance-free, won’t rot, split, or need painting. Looks like real wood.
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Stone – Natural stone slabs or bricks are sophisticated and permanent. Granite, limestone, and sandstone work well.
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Concrete – Poured concrete, blocks, or precast units are durable. Use non-toxic concrete without fly ash.
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Galvanized Metal – Galvanized steel sheets create sturdy, industrial-style beds with long lifespans.
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Wood-Concrete Composite – Best of both worlds with wood’s look and concrete’s durability.
Choosing the Right Soil Mix
Use quality potting mix or raised bed soil, not native ground soil. Considerations:
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Nutrient-rich – Balanced organic nutrients to support healthy plant growth. Avoid synthetic fertilizers.
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Well-draining – Incorporate perlite or pumice for proper drainage and aeration. Dense, rich soil impedes drainage.
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Lightweight – Avoid heavy loads on stepped beds which can deform them over time.
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Moisture-retentive – Holds water reasonably well so plants don’t dry out too fast. Add peat moss, coir, or compost.
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Regionally-suited – Local blends provide nutrients suited to native environment.
Ideal Plants for Stepped Beds
Great options for planting in elevated stepped garden beds:
Vegetables: Leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, onions
Herbs: Basil, oregano, thyme, sage, rosemary, cilantro, parsley, chives, mint
Flowers: Petunias, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, dianthus, alyssum, impatiens
Fruit: Strawberries, bush berries, dwarf fruit trees
Maintaining Stepped Raised Beds
Follow these tips:
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Check soil moisture often, water when top few inches are dry. Fully saturate entire depth of each tier.
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Monitor nutrients during growing season by testing pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Top dress with organic fertilizers as needed.
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Weed regularly, especially in corners between steps where weeds can hide. Hand pull or carefully hoe to avoid damaging roots.
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Watch for erosion between tiers after heavy rain. Refill and tamp down any washed out areas.
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Prune overgrown plants, stems, and foliage to keep growth tidy and allow sunlight to reach all tiers.
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Replenish nutrients each year by mixing 1-2 inches of compost into soil after clearing spent plants.
Elevate Your Garden with Stepped Raised Beds
With their tiered design, expanded planting capacity, and attractive appearance, stepped raised beds are an excellent choice for any gardener looking to upgrade their garden. Follow these tips to build durable stepped beds that provide efficient, organized, and visually appealing vertical space to grow more flowers and vegetables in a small footprint. Let your imagination run wild combining heights, shapes and layouts to create a one-of-a-kind stepped garden bed feature.
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Do Raised Beds Need To Be Level?
Technically, a raised bed doesn’t absolutely need to be level. After all, plants naturally grow on slopes! However, a level raised bed can offer several important advantages.
In a level garden bed, watering becomes much easier. On a slope, the top is likely to dry out faster than the bottom, making it harder to maintain even soil moisture. A level bed helps ensure consistent hydration across the entire area.
Similarly, nutrients dissolved in water tend to flow to the lowest point on a slope. Level beds ensure that fertilizers and soil amendments are evenly distributed, benefiting all your plants equally.
Rain can also cause uneven distribution in a non-level bed—this time, affecting the growing medium itself. Without leveling, you may face significant erosion issues that can deplete your soil.
Finally, working on a level surface is much more convenient. Gardening on a slope can be challenging even under the best circumstances, so leveling your raised beds when possible will make your gardening experience far more enjoyable. Plus, your raised garden bed will perform better overall.
Step 2: Build a Base
Once the soil is cleared, you may need to remove a bit more to add leveling sand, tamping it down to create a solid base for your wall. This step is especially important if you’re building a concrete wall, as it needs a stable foundation to prevent sinking. Take the time to ensure the footing is even and secure now to avoid having to rebuild it later.
Beginner Gardening Raised Bed Do’s & Don’ts
FAQ
What vegetables should not be grown in a raised bed?
- Potatoes.
- Asparagus.
- Artichokes.
- Rhubarb.
- Corn.
- Wheat.
- Rice.
- Winter Squash.
What is the German method of raised beds?
Hugekultur is an ancient German technique. It is a process of making raised garden beds filled with rotten wood. Yes, you’ve read that right, rotten wood! The result is a low-maintenance garden that requires little watering.
What should you put in the bottom of a raised garden bed?
All you have to do to hold the soil inside your raised bed is put down some type of porous material. You can do weed barrier cloth or plain ol’ burlap.Apr 27, 2024
What are the disadvantages of a raised garden bed?
While generally minor, raised beds do have some disadvantages. Raised beds dry out faster than level garden sites. Accordingly, they have to be watered more frequently in dry weather. Initial construction of the raised bed may take more effort than maintenance of the conventional garden.
What is a stepped bed?
Stepped bed is a set of 3 different sized GardenBoxes that allows you to create stepped raised bed for growing different vegetables and flowers all while looking fun and stylish. Made from 15mm thick responsibly sourced Nordic soft wood and available in 4 different colours it would become a centerpiece of your garden.
What is a raised garden bed?
When we say “ raised garden bed ” or simply “ raised bed,” we’re referring to a freestanding box or frame—traditionally with no bottom or top—that sits aboveground in a sunny spot filled with good-quality soil. Raised beds are usually open on the bottom so the plant roots can access soil nutrients below ground level. What Is Hügelkultur?
How do you build a raised bed?
There are several ways to put together a raised bed. Here is one of the simplest methods. To build one garden bed that measures eight feet long, four feet wide, and six inches deep, here is what you need. Cut one 2x6x8 in half, making two four-foot sections. If you don’t have a saw at home, then ask the lumber company to cut it for you.
What are the benefits of raised bed gardening?
Here are some of the benefits of raised bed gardening: Traditional, in-ground, row gardening takes up a lot of space, and often, due to soil compaction and lack of nutrients, fails to deliver a stable yield. If you don’t have a lot of room to garden, you want to make sure your space is as productive as possible.
Do raised beds work on slopes?
With proper construction, raised beds enable successful vegetable and flower gardens even on the most challenging terrains. Here are some key design factors to consider for raised beds on slopes: Alignment – Orient the length of the beds across the slope, not down the slope. This prevents erosion within the beds.
Do you need a raised garden bed?
No, it’s not mandatory. However, the horizontal garden bed provides the best conditions for your plants to thrive. If the land is uneven, it should be a little sloppy, not too sloppy. The terrain where you want to erect the raised garden bed is crucial. How to plant a vegetable garden on a slope?