Gardening is a marvelous hobby that encourages physical activity, provides food for yourself and your family and can be a side-gig if you are selling your extra harvest.
Raised beds are perfect for gardening because they go into smaller areas, provide good drainage, and have less chance of disease.
Most raised beds are made of wood. However, it may be difficult to find the most suitable wood for your backyard garden.
Continue reading to find the best wood for your raised garden beds.
Black Locust
Black Locust is a great choice because it is decay and rot resistant!
In addition to raised gardens, the timber is gaining popularity for use in outside structures such as decks and fences because of its ability to withstand extremely harsh environmental conditions.
On the downside – black locust is not abundantly available. Since they are classified as an endangered species in some states, propagation and sales are restricted, and depending on your location, finding black locust may be difficult, if not impossible.
If you are in the latter, prices tend to be high as there’s a high demand.
It’s probably a good idea to check with some professionals to determine both the availability and legality to have a Black Locust in your area.
If you can locate Black Locust, it is worth more than any wood, due to its superior hardiness.
Pine
Pine is probably the most plentiful type of wood for constructing raised beds and you probably can’t beat the price.
In spite of being a softwood, pine is dimensionally stable, so it is reasonably easy to work using lathing, router, and saws.
You can use it on a number of outdoor structures.
What to Expect? The problem with pine is that it is prone to decay, rot, and insect attacks, making it understandable why you will have to replace it every five years.
If you’re working with a limited budget, a novice, or just want a temporary structure, this is your best choice.
Cedar
Many individuals view wine cedar as one of the best woods, both indoors and out.
The most common versions are;
- the Alaskan Yellow Cedar
- the Western Red Cedar
The best part about cedar is it is naturally rot and insect resistant.
You don’t have to treat cedar for it to last more than 10 years outside.
It holds water as well, which inherently makes it a better raised garden bed.
Cedar will improve with age. Your build will start to turn grey or silver in the elements and will only add more style to your yard.
On the negative side – Cedar is expensive and has complicated maintenance.
Don’t even think about it if you don’t have time to clean it.
Cedar also burns quick, and I don’t recommend smoking around your garden.
Redwood
Similar to cedar, redwood is a high-grade species with a proven track record for durability.
A redwood garden can last over a decade if maintained correctly!
Additionally, redwood will withstand poor weather conditions and insect attacks.
The tree produces oil to protect it from decay and rot and lessens susceptibility to bad weather.
The tree can last for 100+ years.
Redwood is tough but light, so you can haul several planks without getting tired.
This makes it a great material for garden structures you want to move around.
The downside – Redwood is expensive and requires more maintenance then other woods.
You still need to put the proper finish on the wood to protect the integrity of the wood because it is softwood.
Cypress
Cypress is a more economical choice than cedar and redwood, and offers greater resistance than pine.
It’s also easier to source than Black Locust, and its natural good looks will “patina” in time and is usually seen as more attractive as it ages like cedar.
On the Downside – Cypress usually takes longer to mature than pine. It also won’t be in climate in some locations.
In those spots, expect to pay for transportation in getting your wood to your location.
Juniper
Juniper is a very stable and durable wood species and it lends itself well to building raised garden beds.
If you are thinking about aesthetics, you can use the less finished rustic types.
Juniper will outlast cedar and redwood providing much better strength and reliability with a lower price tag.
This letting you save money to use for improvements to other aspects of your home.
Juniper is also resistant to decay and rot which is beneficial for building outdoor structures.
It generates natural chemicals that repel insects and pests.
This means it’s protective of the earth, not to mention it is an economical move since you will not need to use chemical insecticides.
Heads up! The biggest con with juniper is that it is very hard to cut. There is no way to cut a log piece without a power saw.
Also, there are voids within the stem which make it difficult to join pieces of wood together and won’t join without gaps.
Yew
Though yew is mostly used in commercial applications, the hardness and durability means that it is suitable for home-raised gardens.
In addition, the tree has an attractive brown trunk and a consistent texture that provides a stunning incorporation into your landscape.
Because of its appearance, you can quickly consider yew a softie; conversely, it pairs its stylish look with the best durability of any product.
Yew products can take an extreme amount of impact, harsh weather and last thirty plus years.
With yew’s natural durability, you do not need to concern yourself with issues of rotting and insect infestations.
So, what’s wrong with yew? First of all, the same substance it uses to fend off predisposed insect attacks is also toxic to human beings, so you should always have protective gear when dealing with this species. Second, the oil on the surface does impact the quality of finish.
Chestnut
Another appealing species is chestnut.
However, it is durable enough to withstand the heartbreak of exposure to the elements outside, in fact Decay resistance is the best quality of chestnut.
A tree produces tannins to keep it insect and parasite free and to combat the weather.
You don’t need much skill to create things with this species.
It has excellent workability, in other words you do not have to work very hard at joining pieces with glue and nails.
While workability is a positive to working with chestnut, it is also the largest con.
For Example – You have to inspect your piece more often because the glue and nails do not hold well and the chestnut pieces may separate.
Another negative is depending on where you live you may not be able to find this species.
Hemlock
If you want an enduring raised garden using one of the toughest hardwoods, you might want to think about hemlock.
A piece of hemlock takes an amazing 11,300psi of pressure in order for it to bend which tells you how much resistance it has for high impacts.
Also because it’s really easy to stain or varnish on hemlock, you can apply whatever finish you like. Because the logs are smooth, it easily absorbs all paint, and medications, allowing you the option to pick your finish to suit your taste.
From Experience – it’s so strong that it would make hardly any sense to use hemlock on a small project.
Other concerns that you may have about this wood is its toxicity as well is its high susceptibility to insect attacks.
Spruce
If you’re looking for a species that is good value for money spruce is suitable for this.
It will require painting and sealing to extend it’s life 10 years or more but it is cheaper than the cost of hardwoods and the maintenance.
When it is young spruce is very attractive and has a yellowish brown colour when it gets older.
This guarantees a great looking garden all year around. Likewise spruce is light weight and easy to move.
What Woods Should You Avoid?
If you want to avoid crying over lost $$, it would be a good idea to refrain from purchasing recycled woods and used railroad ties.
Recycled woods usually have harmful chemicals for staining, finishing, and treatment.
One of these chemicals is penta, which is hazardous to plants and animals, and will kill your plants and human health if it leaches into the soil to use in your garden.
On the other hand, used railroad and utility poles have creosote, which is a known carcinogen used for preservative purposes, not to mention those precious poisons taking up your garden space.
Some flowers can survive a some creosote, but most well just die.
Wrapping Up
What is the best single type of wood for a raised garden according to your budget and other considerations.
The best choice provides for near term goals, but also keeps in mind longer-term goals.
Like most other home installations, gardens can be upgraded. You can start with an economical option and get a more expensive unit down the road when the budget allows.
Lastly, residential care of a garden, increases its longevity.