The Complete Guide to Composite Raised Garden Bed Kits

For any gardener looking to start a new garden bed or expand their current garden a composite raised garden bed kit is an excellent option to consider. Raised garden beds provide many benefits over traditional in-ground gardening and composite kits are one of the easiest ways to get a durable and long-lasting raised bed installed in your yard. In this complete guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about composite raised garden bed kits so you can decide if they are right for your gardening needs.

What Are Composite Raised Garden Beds?

A raised garden bed refers to any planting bed that sits above the level of the surrounding soil, essentially creating an elevated planting area. The “raised” aspect helps improve drainage, reduces compaction and makes the garden more accessible and easier to tend.

Composite raised beds are constructed from composite lumber, which is made by combining wood fibers with recycled plastics. The result is a product that looks and feels like natural wood but has enhanced durability and weather-resistance. Composite is a great choice for raised beds because it won’t rot, split, or warp like wood can.

When you purchase a composite raised bed in kit form, all the composite planks and connectors are included for easy assembly. Kits come in various sizes and shapes to suit any space. Many include useful accessories like built-in trellises, greenhouse covers, and more.

Benefits of Using Composite Raised Garden Beds

There are many excellent reasons to choose composite raised beds for your vegetable, flower, or herb garden:

• Improved drainage and airflow: Elevating the soil improves drainage and prevents waterlogging. The loose, uncompacted soil also allows better air circulation to plant roots.

• Warmer soil in spring: Raised beds warm up quicker in spring, allowing for earlier planting and harvests. The surrounding sides retain heat to keep soil warmer.

• Extend the growing season: Warmer soil means you can start planting earlier in spring and keep growing later into fall.

• Deeper soil: Raised beds allow you to provide over a foot of enriched gardening soil, much deeper than typical in-ground gardens.

• Easier access: The increased height makes gardening tasks like planting, weeding, and harvesting simpler, without having to bend over as far. This makes raised beds very accessible for gardeners with mobility issues.

• Space maximization: The vertical sides of a raised bed allow you to grow more in less space compared to a flat garden plot. You can also install multiple beds in geometric patterns to optimize planting space.

• Pest and disease control: By starting with fresh, sterile soil, raised beds help reduce soil-borne disease. The defined edges also deter the spread of some pests like slugs.

• Weed prevention: Separating the growing area from surrounding soil helps suppress weed growth. Maintaining the bed with mulch or cover crops further limits weeds.

• Erosion control: Raised beds prevent soil loss from erosion and contain the enriched soil and amendments. This is especially helpful on slopes.

• Customization: Raised beds allow complete control over the soil mix, letting you create the ideal growing medium for specific plants.

• Aesthetic appeal: Raised garden beds lend a clean, tailored look to gardens and landscaping. Composite kits come in neutral wood-tone colors to complement any yard.

Key Considerations When Choosing Composite Raised Garden Bed Kits

If you’ve decided to install a composite raised bed, there are a few key factors to consider as you select the best kit:

• Size – Raised beds range in length from just a couple feet up to dozens of feet long. Consider how much space you have and what you want to grow. Long, narrow beds maximize reach and access. Smaller square beds are good for herbs and veggies.

• Shape – Rectangular is the most common and efficient use of space, but you can also find corner, circular, and multi-level tiered options. Measure your site and look for beds to make the most of the layout.

• Height – Standard composite bed heights are around 11-12 inches, but some kits are shallower or taller. Make sure you can comfortably reach across the bed width to tend plants.

• Frame thickness – Composite boards come in 1-3 inch thicknesses. Thicker boards provide more rigidity and durability. 2-inch frames are a good compromise of stability and cost.

• Accessories – Some kits include handy additions like trellises, covers, wheels for mobility, self-watering reservoirs, and more. Decide if any integrated features will improve your garden.

• Assembly method – Most composite kits are simple to assemble with either clips, brackets, or interlocking stakes and slots. Look for designs that don’t require screws or glue.

• Appearance – Composite lumber comes in different wood-mimicking colors. Darker “aged” colors blend into landscapes while light tones stand out.

• Budget – Composite kit prices run approximately $100 to $600 depending on size and accessories. Measure the space to get accurate sizing, then compare options in your budget range.

How to Assemble Composite Raised Garden Bed Kits

One of the best features of composite raised bed kits is how quick and easy they are to put together. Here is the basic process:

1. Clear and level the installation area of debris, plants, and rocks. Plan for a footprint slightly larger than the bed dimensions to allow working space on all sides.

2. Lay out all the composite boards and connectors. The kits are packaged with everything precut for each side. Refer to the instructions for diagrams if needed.

3. Slot the corner posts onto the ends of the long side boards. Tap them gently into place with a mallet.

4. Add the short end boards into the connectors on the long boards. Make sure the boards are fully seated.

5. Insert any additional support stakes, trellises, or accessories as shown in the instructions.

6. Confirm that the entire frame is squared up and level before filling with soil. Adjust corners if needed.

7. Fill slowly with your prepared soil mix, tamping down periodically to avoid settling later. Don’t fill all the way to the top edge – leave about an inch from the rim.

8. Let the soil settle for a day or two, then top up to the rim. Your composite raised bed is ready for planting!

Many kits can be assembled in under an hour with just a mallet and screwdriver. No construction experience necessary!

Filling and Maintaining Composite Raised Beds

The real benefits of raised bed gardening come from the soil inside the frame. Follow these tips for the best results:

• Use a high-quality soil mix – Avoid native soil which can harbor pests and weeds. Amend ordinary garden soil with compost and organic materials to improve drainage and nutrients. Commercial soil blends are also excellent options.

• Enrich annually – Replenish nutrients each year by mixing a thin layer of finished compost into the top few inches of soil before planting.

• Mulch between plants – Cover bare soil with 2-3 inches of organic mulch like wood chips, shredded leaves, or straw. This retains moisture, suppresses weeds and improves the soil as it breaks down over time.

• Water thoroughly – Raised beds drain well and may require more frequent watering. 1-2 inches per week is typical depending on climate, plants and weather.

• Control pests organically – Raised beds allow easy use of row covers and organic sprays. Handpick pests or use organic insecticidal soap.

• Stay on top of weeds – Keep beds weed-free with mulch and manual weeding before unwanted plants go to seed.

With raised composite beds, your garden has excellent drainage, amended loose soil and adequate nutrients to grow thriving plants year after year. A small amount of annual maintenance keeps the beds in optimal condition.

Best Plants for Composite Raised Beds

While raised beds support growing just about any type of plant, some categories especially benefit from the loose, fertile soil. Try these top picks:

Vegetables – All types of vegetables thrive in raised bed conditions. Some of the best include lettuces, spinach, kale, carrots, onions, tomatoes, peppers, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, and peas.

Herbs – Herbs love the good drainage provided by raised garden beds. Great options include basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, parsley, cilantro, dill and mint.

Cut flowers – For pretty bouquets, go for sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, dahlias, calendula, asters, dianthus and gladiolus.

Berries – Raised beds make fruit production easy. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries can be grown in frames or containers set inside the beds.

Root crops – Get large, well-shaped roots from carrots, radishes, turnips, beets and potatoes in raised beds.

Vegetable vines – Grow vining crops like cucumbers, melons, squash and pumpkins vertically