Add Beauty and Functionality to Your Garden with Corner Tiered Raised Beds

Gardening is a rewarding and relaxing hobby that allows you to get in touch with nature. However traditional gardens can be difficult to manage and maintain. This is where raised garden beds come in – they make gardening incredibly easy even for beginners!

Raised beds provide better drainage, require less bending, prevent soil compaction, and allow you to control the soil quality. But corner tiered raised beds take the functionality even further by maximizing limited space while adding visual interest to your garden.

What Are Corner Tiered Raised Beds?

A corner tiered raised bed refers to a stepped or terraced garden bed design that is placed in the corner of a yard or garden. The beds are stacked, with each level or “tier” a few inches higher than the one below it.

This creates a layered pyramid-like shaped garden space allowing you to plant different flowers, herbs, vegetables, or other plants on each level. The tiers and corner placement take advantage of every inch of available space for growing.

Tiered raised beds are typically triangular or pie-shaped with two outer walls coming together in a corner. But they can also be U-shaped with an open side. The tiers connect securely using brackets, overlapping wood, or other sturdy materials.

Benefits of Using a Corner Tiered Raised Bed

There are many excellent reasons to use a corner tiered raised bed in your garden

• Maximizes planting space – The tiered levels double or triple your planting area compared to a regular single-level bed.

• Convenient access – The stepped design ensures you can easily reach all areas of the bed without too much bending or stretching.

• Attractive appearance – Corner tiered beds create a focal point and provide visual interest to gardens.

• Boosts drainage – Excess water readily drains down through the levels. This prevents soggy soil and plant roots from getting waterlogged.

• Customizable design – Tiered beds can be made from wood, stone, concrete blocks, composite materials, and more to match your garden style.

• Grows different plants – Each tier provides a unique microclimate and conditions best suited to certain plants.

• Saves space – Fits snugly into wasted corner areas without needing extra garden space.

• Extends the growing season – Sunny southern corners allow you to plant earlier in spring and later into fall.

Things to Consider When Choosing a Corner Tiered Raised Bed

There are a few things to keep in mind when selecting a tiered raised bed for your corner space:

• Size – Consider the footprint so the bed fits nicely in the corner without jutting out. Standard sizes are 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 feet.

• Number of tiers – Two or three tier designs are most common. Allow 16-24 inches between levels. More tiers can hold more plants but may require a wider base.

• Height – Standard raised bed heights are between 12-24 inches. Make sure you can comfortably reach the top tier for planting and maintenance.

• Materials – Long-lasting cedar, redwood, plastic composite lumber, concrete, and galvanized metal are popular options.

• Style – Choose a material and color that complements your home. Curved beds add extra flair.

• Budget – Wood beds are more affordable than stone or block options. DIY kits help lower costs too.

Best Plants for Corner Tiered Raised Beds

One advantage of a layered raised bed is that it allows you to create different microclimates suited to an assortment of plants. Here are some top choices for corner tiered garden beds:

Full Sun Lovers

• Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, herbs – best on top sunny tier

Cool Weather Crops

• Spinach, lettuce, kale, cabbage, broccoli – plant on bottom tier

Climbing Vines

• Cucumbers, beans, peas, melons – install trellises on sunny upper tiers

Ornamental Plants

• Petunias, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos – add color to each level

Shade Loving Plants

• Begonias, ferns, impatiens, coral bells – ideal for shaded bottom tier

Succulents

• Sedum, echeveria, aloe vera – drought tolerant plants for sunny tiers

Plant Families

• Group tomatoes, peppers, pole beans by family on separate tiers

Building a DIY Corner Tiered Raised Bed

Want to build your own tiered raised bed? Here are some simple steps to follow:

Choose a Sunny Corner

Pick a corner that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight, especially the top tier where you will grow veggies and herbs. Face the tallest tier south or west.

Decide on Size

Measure to find the right dimensions that will fit your space. Allow room to walk between the tiers. Standard sizes are 3×3 feet up to 5×5 feet.

Select Materials

Use rot-resistant cedar, redwood, or composite boards that are 5-6 feet long. Or make a concrete block or brick corner design.

Build Bottom Tier Frame

Cut four boards for the bottom tier. Assemble into a square or rectangular frame shape with corner posts.

Add Middle Tier(s)

Stack second tier frame on top, overlapping corner posts. Add 16-24 inches of height per tier. Build as many tiers as desired.

Attach Tier Boards

Use brackets or overlap tier boards in corners. Check the frame is square and levels evenly.

Add Finishing Touches

Stain or seal wood to protect from weathering. Add gravel, landscape fabric, or weed barrier before filling with soil.

Fill Beds and Plant

Shovel quality gardening soil into each tier. Mix in compost or fertilizer. Plant seeds or transplants and enjoy!

Where to Buy Corner Tiered Raised Beds

Looking for a quick and easy corner tiered raised bed option? Here are some places to find quality beds for your garden:

• Big box stores – Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart stock affordable raised bed kits and materials for DIY projects.

• Online – Amazon, Wayfair and Overstock have a wide selection of small to large, multi-tier raised beds shipped to your door.

• Garden centers – Local nurseries often sell assembled raised beds along with plants, soil and supplies.

• Specialty sites – RaisedBedGardenKits.com, GardensAlive.com and FrameItAll.com focus specifically on tiered garden beds.

• Local craftsmen – Custom ordered cedar beds made by carpenters and woodworkers can provide a one-of-a-kind heirloom piece.

Get Creative With Your Corner Tiered Raised Bed

One of the best parts of installing a multi-level raised bed is deciding how to arrange your plants! Here are some ideas to maximize the unique shape and levels:

• Plant sun-loving vegetables and herbs on the sunny top tier, with shade plants and flowers below.

• Alternate flower and veggie plants on each tier for an edible and ornamental design.

• Grow different plant families – tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens – on each individual tier.

• Use one level for root crops like carrots and radishes, another for cucumbers and beans trellised vertically.

• Allow vining crops like squash, melons and cucumbers to trail attractively over the edges.

• Try geometric patterns with colorful annuals or succulents for visual appeal.

• Grow a carnivorous bog garden on the shady bottom level.

• Add arches, obelisks, strings or wires between corner posts for climbing plants.

• Incorporate paths between tiers to easily maintain and harvest your plants.

With a corner tiered raised bed, you can create a stunning three-dimensional garden filled with your favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers! And you’ll have the convenience of raised bed gardening with a uniquely terraced design. Add a touch of beauty and maximize your harvest by installing a multi-level raised bed in your underutilized corner space.

The German raised bed method, also known as Hugelkultur, involves creating a raised garden bed by layering wood and other organic materials to decompose and enrich the soil.