Raised Garden Bed With Bricks: Building A Durable & Aesthetic Garden (2024)

A raised garden bed offers many benefits over traditional in-ground gardening. Building your raised garden bed ideas using durable, attractive bricks allows you to quickly build a planting bed that will stand the test of time. Brick-raised garden beds don’t rot or leech chemicals, providing a safe option for growing edible plants.

The modular nature of bricks makes it simple for DIY gardeners to build raised beds of various materials and sizes. Learning how many bricks high to stack and how to fill your bed with a quality soil mix containing compost for nutrition is half the fun. Discover tips like using brick edging, opting for larger wall blocks instead of standard bricks, and drilling weep holes for drainage.

Once your bed is built, you can start densely planting seeds and seedlings according to the recommended spacing. With proper maintenance, a brick-raised bed can easily last 5+ years. Beyond basic rectangles, we’ll look at creative ways to build custom shapes, terraces, pathways, and more with brick-raised garden beds.

In our guide, you can learn more about a raised vegetable garden and what you’ll need to build one. By the end, you’ll better understand the benefits of garden-raised beds compared to traditional gardens. You’ll see how you can quickly grab simple building materials to plant a flower garden or veggie patch in new raised beds. (Learn How Long Do Gnats Live)

What is a Raised Bed Flower Garden?

A raised garden bed is a planting bed sitting above ground level. The bed typically comprises a garden area surrounded by a wood, stone, or brick frame that holds in the soil. Raised beds improve drainage and give you more control over soil quality, making gardening more accessible. The soil warms up early in spring, which helps to extend the growing season.

Growing flowers, vegetables, herbs, and many other plant varieties on raised beds is beneficial. They let you pack plants and make the most of your garden area. In a variety of sizes to fit your space, you may easily build raised beds. Since you don’t have to stoop as far to tend to your plants, you can build your own raised garden bed to increase accessibility.

Why Use Bricks for a Raised Garden?

Bricks make an attractive and durable material for building raised garden beds. Red brick blends into any landscape design with a classic, timeless look. Brick raised beds stand the test of time and are safe around edibles.

Brick is one of the best options for raised beds because it:

• Long Lasting: No need to cut boards, and it also lasts longer than materials like wood, plastic, or other materials.
• Improved drainage: Raised garden beds have drainage holes in the bottom, which helps prevent water-logging and root rot. Now, no need to be sure to drill drainage holes as with other materials.
• Better soil quality:You can fill your raised garden bed with a high-quality soil mix for growing plants.
• Easier access:Raised garden beds are easier to reach and maintain than in-ground gardens.
• Pest control:Raised garden beds can be protected from pests with barriers like chicken wire or fencing.
• Aesthetics:Raised garden beds can add a touch of elegance and style to your large garden landscape.

One of the best materials for building small raised beds is brick. Bricks and layers of blocks are durable, long-lasting, and aesthetically pleasing. They are also relatively easy to work with, even for beginners. (Read The Benefits of Building Raised Garden Beds)

Design Ideas for Brick-Raised Garden Bed

When designing your raised garden bed, there are a few things to remember:

• Size:Choose a size appropriate for your space and the plants you want to grow.
• Shape:Raised garden beds can be made in various shapes, including rectangular, square, round, and even spiral.
• Height:Raised garden beds can be made at various heights, but most gardeners recommend a height of 12-18 inches.
• Drainage:Ensure your raised garden bed has drainage holes in the bottom.
• Location:Choose an area that receives full sun or partial shade, depending on the plants you want to grow.

Here are a few raised garden bed design ideas:

• Traditional brick raised garden bed:This is the most common type of raised garden bed. It is made by stacking bricks in a rectangular or square shape.
• Spiral garden:A spiral design garden is a unique and eye-catching raised garden bed. It is made by winding a brick pathway around a central point.
• Pallet raised garden bed: This is a budget-friendly option for raised garden beds. It is made by stacking repurposed pallets on top of each other.

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed with Bricks

To build a raised garden bed with bricks, you will need the following materials:

• Bricks
• Sand
• Gravel
• Soil mix
• Landscape fabric

Instructions:

1. Choose a level spot in your yard for your raised garden bed with good outdoor lighting.
2. Mark out the perimeter of your bed for growing with stakes and string.
3. Remove the sod from the area where your raised garden bed will be located.
4. Lay a layer of sand at the bottom of the area.
5. Cover with weed fabric or hardware cloth to stop pests like moles from digging up.
6. Place a layer the thickness of two bricks on top of the sand.
7. Continue stacking bricks until you have reached the desired height of your raised garden bed.
8. Fill with raised bed soil mix.
9. Water the soil mix thoroughly.
10. Start planting

Alternatives to Brick-Raised Bed Garden

While brick is a great choice, it isn’t the only material for building durable raised garden beds:

• Wood: Untreated pine, cedar, or redwood boards make attractive raised beds that blend into natural environments well. Opt for naturally rot-resistant wood or use preservatives.
• Stone: Use large stones or using planter wall blocks for a decorative raised bed. Granite, limestone, and sandstone are good options. Or try a pebble mosaic design.
• Concrete blocks: These are cheaper than bricks. To strengthen, use reinforcement bars inside the blocks.
• Galvanized steel: Corrosion-resistant metal raised beds are very durable, though they tend to be expensive. Best for modern garden aesthetics.
• Recycled plastic lumber: Made from recycled materials like plastic bags and milk jugs, this lumber alternative won’t rot or split.
• Stacked planters: Use manufactured raised garden planter boxes. These don’t require building but provide less height for plant roots. (Read Mulch Vegetables Guide)

Conclusion: Landscape Design With Spiral Garden

To start growing in raised beds is a simple weekend project that pays off all season long with improved growing conditions. Follow the steps above to construct a durable, maintenance-free raised bed from classic brick. Then, you can gain the advantage of raised beds and start growing your plants.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with size, shapes, materials, and configurations around the perimeter of your outdoor space. Raised beds help expand your garden to grow more plants and start growing vegetables. You will improve garden aesthetics and growing conditions by giving them plenty of room to thrive in a small space.

FAQs On Red Brick Garden Raised Beds

Here are answers to some common raised bed gardening questions:

What size should I make my raised beds?

For accessibility, bed building should leave a path of at least 2 feet wide between each beds retaining wall. Beds around 4 feet wide allow you to reach the center from either side. The desired length can vary – just ensure you can comfortably reach across the bed from one side.

How deep should the soil be in a raised bed?

Soil should be at least 12 inches deep for adequate root growth. 15-18 inches is ideal for most plants.

Do raised beds help plants grow better?

The premium soil, improved drainage, and warmer temperatures in raised beds combine to help plants grow stronger with higher yields.

What’s the best material to use for raised garden beds?

One of the best materials for edible gardening is brick, which is also safe and offers durability, attractiveness, and cost. Additional options include Stone, rot-resistant wood like cedar, and recycled plastic lumber. (Read Layouts For Vegetable Gardens)

How long do brick-raised beds last?

A well-built brick-raised bed can last 5+ years or longer. Adding mortar extends the lifespan. Proper maintenance will keep your brick-raised bed strong for over a decade.

Can I convert an existing garden into a raised bed?

Simply place materials like bricks to elevate an in-ground garden. Adding new soil mixed with compost gives plants the raised bed benefits.