PSA: Don't bother with those cheap plastic raised bed kits

I spent $80 on one of those flimsy plastic raised bed kits from the hardware store back in March. By July, the sides were already bowing out and cracking from the sun and soil pressure. Ended up having to take it apart and replace it with some cedar boards I found for $45 at a lumber yard. The plastic kit was a total waste, and the soil I had in there was a mess to move over too. Has anyone else had better luck with a particular material for raised beds that actually lasts?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_fisher2816d ago

I read somewhere that those plastic kits are basically a scam unless you live somewhere with no real sun. The UV rays just destroy them. A buddy of mine tried one of those galvanized steel troughs instead and said it held up way better, but he had to drill his own drainage holes. Cedar is definitely the gold standard though. I saw a YouTube video where a guy tested four different materials and the plastic one was the only one that didn't last a full season. The initial cost for cedar might be a little higher but you save so much headache not having to redo everything. Hope you got your money back at least.

cora40015d ago

Exactly what @julia_fisher28 said about UV rays destroying those plastic kits. I had one myself and it got brittle and cracked by the end of the first summer. The galvanized steel idea is solid if you live in a wetter climate where rust isn't as big a problem. Cedar really is the way to go if you want something that'll still look good a few years down the road.