UPDATED: March 2025NEWS

Raised Beds and Planters

Raised bed frames and planter boxes are very useful accessories for your garden, but one question that might spring to mind is what is the difference between raised beds and planters?

Essentially, a raised bed has no floor or bottom, while a planter will have a bottom to it.

Zoning Off
A bottomless raised bed allows roots to grow further down into the soil below, while a planter box could be viewed as a way to separate the plants from the ground underneath.

Both options allow you to make self-contained zones - using different soil to the surrounding area while creating less weeds and enabling better drainage.

The Right Height
A planter box can also come in a range of styles, including tall ones that are table height - making them easier to use with no bending over, and allowing you to experience those sweet scented plants better.

The Anywhere Accessory
Being self-contained, planters can go anywhere - popular locations include patios, decks, porches and balconies. Raised bed herb gardens are quite common these days.

Styles to Suit
Planters and raised beds come in a variety of styles and can be wooden, metal, plastic or even recycled rubber. A timber, sleeper style effect is quite common, while more contemporary metal ones (in various shades) are also catching on particularly in small, urban gardens.

Some are simple squares or rectangles, while others may be more complex with tiered levels and hexagonal shapes that can be expanded and linked together.

Accessorise
It is possible to buy liners for raised beds to effectively contain your plants in the same way that a planter will, and this will also allow you to use them on hard ground such as patios.

Other raised bed accessories include netting and mesh covers for protection, and metal or wooden corner posts, edging, cappings and other decorative items.

Here is our pick of the crop of planters and raised beds:

Raised Herb Planter

This attractive timber planter is ideal to show off in a small space like a patio or balcony. The bed is 122cm wide and 60 cm deep.

The sturdy legs raise the planter bed to 85cm tall, making it very easy to work on, particularly for those with limited mobility.

It is divided into 10 separate compartments, while a lower shelf is handy to store watering cans and other accessories.

Around £160 from Crocus

Agriframes Zinc Planters

These attractive zinc planters are lightweight, weather-resistant, and versatile, making them perfect for creating either a contemporary or traditional classic look in your garden or patio. The galvanised finish will naturally age to a soft grey patina.

Available in both square and trough form factors, the Tuscany range features a stylish olive leaf motif, evocative of Tuscany landscapes of rolling hills, vineyards and olive groves.

Square planters (approx sizes 46 - 71cm) are ideal for formal planting for box balls or roses or small trees. Trough planters are ideal for defining a space, adding interest to the edge of a patio or softening a wall or boundary.

From £144 from Agriframes

Crocus Raised Bed System

Made from recycled plastic, these Quadro square modular beds make it easy to create a bespoke tiered bedding system limited only by your imagination!

They simply click together and require no maintenance so are a great alternative to timber beds.

You can stack them to make a tall bed if you wish, and you can also build them side by side depending on the layout you want to achieve.

This is classed as the small version and each square is 60x60cm and 25cm tall with a capacity of 25 litres. Medium and large options are also availble, as too is a Hexagonal shaped range.

£55 from Crocus

Rowlinson Tier Planter Set

Here is an attractive solution to maximise space - this two tier timber planters are in a modern slatted style and are in fact part of a family of similarly styled screens and planters.

Although designed to be stacked, if preferred you can use this set as two standalone planters. Approximate capacities: lower planter 58 litres, upper planter 30 litres.

Supplied in a natural finish these planters are pressure treated against rot to ensure longevity with a 5 Year Manufacturer's Warranty, and can be painted or stained to a colour to suit. Flat packed for easy self-assembly, the also come with a porous lining, but note the rear screen panel in the image is not included.

£149 from Gardenchic

Forest Garden Linear Planters

Part of the "Linear" range of contemporary slatted timber planters, this is the popular double size and measures 80cm wide and 44cm high with a 40cm depth.

It is made by Forest Garden from responsibly sourced smooth planed timber and is guaranteed against rot for 15 years.

A single square planter and a wider planter (120cm) are also part of this range, as is a set of 3 square planters of different heights.

These planters come complete with a porous lining, and are supplied flat-packed for easy self-assembly.

Around £100 from Gardenchic

Sonata Rubber Planters

If you've ever wondered what happens to old car tyres, then here is your answer.

It is hard to believe that these stylish square planters are actually made from old tyres.

Their rubber construction means that they are very weather resistant and can withstand extreme freezing conditions which can cause traditional pots to crack or disintegrate.

There are many sizes and styles available, in two different colour options and they are very reasonably priced.

Planters and Your Garden Arch

One of the risks with garden arches, certainly with cheaper tubular steel arches, is their susceptibility in stormy weather - strong wind is definitely their number one enemy. Secure installation of your arch is of paramount importance.

One option is to concrete the legs into the ground, but another one to consider is to securely fix the arch to some planters - the weight of two full planters either side will keep your arch nice and secure as well as adding some further interest when the plants are in bloom.

Alternatively, take a look the Huntingdon Metal Arch by Greenhurst (pictured). As you can see it incorporates two planters either side and features some nice scroll work on the side panels. It is also very reasonably priced for what you get.

Around £146, Greenhurst Huntingdon Arch