7 Reasons to Choose Cedar For Your Garden Beds

Large Cedar Raised Bed

Large Cedar Raised Bed 47″ x 91″ x 15″

• Natural longevity
• Convenient top-sill
• Deep 15″ volume for root space
• Easy assembly

Buy at Epic Gardening Shop

Raised beds provide garden solutions to several site challenges, including poor soils, inadequate drainage, small spaces, or spots with no soil at all. They offer a streamlined way to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, and showy ornamentals. Raised beds provide accessible options for above-ground gardening, harvesting, and seasonal rotations.

Starting a raised planting requires simple planning, but the process is fun and straightforward as you curate a new garden zone. From pollinator-attracting plants to kitchen gardens to cut flowers, the right bed in the right location unleashes versatile growing opportunities.

When it comes to bed materials, cedar is the benchmark. Its naturally long-lasting qualities make it a worthwhile investment of time, cost, and labor. In a variety of sizes and configurations, cedar boxes suit any garden space. As a bonus, their natural aromatic qualities lend a fresh, earthy scent while deterring pests.

Control Growing Conditions

The main reason to employ any raised bed is to increase optimal growing conditions for healthy, vigorous plants. The designated bed space lets us determine soil quality, siting, and water requirements. Pairing plants with similar cultural requirements sets the foundation for productive and beautiful arrangements.

Elevated beds also make weed control more manageable and create functional growing spaces in any location, from sun to shade and rocky to paved.

Location and Exposure

When placing the beds, consider sun exposure for what you plan to grow. Many herbs, vegetables, and flowering plants prefer full sun, with at least six hours of daily sunlight for best growth. Morning sun is ideal, and, depending on your climate, light afternoon shade or dappled light may help protect plants from scorching in direct afternoon rays. Plenty of shade-loving plants will perform in shaded bed locations.

Another consideration in raised bed placement is sheltering plants from strong winds, which can topple taller stems and cause plants to dry out more quickly. Also, plan how you’ll move about the space. Prepare the ground and level the site. Create sufficient pathways to access the beds easily with materials in tow.

Soil Drainage and Quality

Part of the beauty of cedar raised garden beds is what lies within—the high-quality, organically rich soils. Soil depth, organic richness, and good drainage are key components for success and often why we opt to use raised plantings in the first place. Start with a well-draining soil mixture formulated for raised beds. These hold appropriate materials for aeration. Continue to build and nourish soils over time.

Moisture Regulation

Access to regular water is another consideration in bed placement. To make it easy, place the frames near existing irrigation lines or hose fixtures. 

Watering depends on several factors, including seasonal conditions like rainfall, climate, and species requirements. As with in-ground plantings, watering evenly at the base of plants promotes the healthiest conditions. 

Natural Longevity

Cedar wood raised garden beds are a sustainable option, whether you purchase them as a kit or build your own. For natural, untreated options, use cedar planks. Cedar naturally repels water and insects, making it less susceptible to decay than other woods. 

The material is strong enough to contain heavy soils and endure consistent moisture exposure. It is more expensive than other options, but it is much longer-lasting and offers additional benefits.

Cedar produces tannins and acids that benefit the tree and protect the wood. Scientifically, they are polyoxyphenols and include thujaplicin and plicatic acids. The natural oils defend the trunk against fungal decay, climatic elements, and pest infestation.

Weather Resistance

Cedar is famously impervious to damp conditions and withstands winds. Cedar shakes, shingles, and planks conjure images of coastal villages, where durable building materials are a must for longevity in harsh conditions. You’ll often find contemporary outdoor structures and furniture made of this softwood, not to mention entire houses, roofs, closets, and even saunas. 

Cedar oils resist water. Planks last longer than other woods at ten or more years before beginning to break down. They resist decay and rot by preventing moisture infiltration. Boards won’t shrink, bow, warp, or swell under wet conditions.

Cedar raised garden beds also have insulating properties, allowing you to plant earlier in the spring and later in the fall. The dry wood lacks pitch and resin and is fine-grained with a straight, uniform texture. It has a low density and air pockets that reduce the heat transfer between spaces. 

Pest Resistance

The characteristic cedar scent with fresh, earthy notes is easily recognizable. The tannins and acids emit the fragrance.  A well-adapted plant defense, the aromatic oils protect the trees against insects. 

In the larval stage, some insects, like moths and carpet beetles, die upon exposure to the oils. Oil repels insects in their adult phase. This ability to repel, along with moisture resistance, is the draw of a cedar closet to protect and preserve fibers. It’s also the draw of the cedar garden bed!

Minimal Maintenance

Because of its weather and pest-resistant properties, cedar raised garden beds need minimal maintenance. Planks turn silvery gray with sun, UV, and weather exposure, but it doesn’t affect performance.

An optional treatment is wood oil, which preserves coloration and protects the wood. Oils offer natural preservation of surfaces and can be applied safely to the bed’s interior and exterior. Use natural sealants to permeate the wood fibers. These are non-leaching, non-peeling substances safe for soil contact. Look for approved plant-based sealants and always choose something food-safe.

Another optional layer of protection from continual exposure to wet soils is to line the interior with landscape fabric. With the bed in place, cover the base with cloth, running it up all sides, and infill with soil and plants. The fabric allows drainage but protects the boards from persistent moisture. It also suppresses weed intrusion from beneath the bed.

Place the baseboards on gravel or plastic sheeting to protect them. Gravel is a beneficial base layer to the entire bed because it promotes drainage while creating a buffer between the subsurface and the raised soil. If using plastic sheeting, trim the sheet with a blade to meet the bed edge after the bed is in place.

Accessibility and Ease

Cedar beds are available at varying heights and depths. Elevated planters allow gardeners to stand or sit, depending on the structure’s height. The planter box rises on a sturdy frame to improve mobility and accessibility around the box. Elevation makes it easier to tend to regular maintenance tasks, harvest vegetables, and clip blooms without kneeling, bending, or extreme reaching.

Raised beds are ground-level frames that rest on the existing surface. A depth of 15 inches is ideal for most annuals, vegetables, herbs, and perennials. Raised beds require less bending than in-ground garden arrangements. Seasonal turnovers are easy to pull and replant. Soil quality improves over time with added organic materials like compost.

Range of Scale

Build or buy raised planters in various sizes, scales, and configurations. Cut boards to size based on your specifications. For easy setup, source a high-quality, ready-to-go, no-tools-required kit. Assembly takes less than an hour, and cedar is relatively lightweight and easy to arrange.

Beds are usually rectangular to maximize length while minimizing reach. The goal is to access interior plants from both sides without trampling perimeter growers. Use planks at least two inches thick for durability and to hold the heavy soil. 

Avoids Pressure-Treated Woods

Wood that is pressure-treated uses chemicals to preserve it for different end uses. Pressure-treated wood labeled “ground contact” is suitable for raised beds, but it can be challenging to discern what chemicals are present. Salvaged wood (over 20 years old) may contain arsenic and copper. While modern processes do not contain arsenic, they rely on varying forms of copper to preserve and treat wood.

Conflicting information surrounds pressure-treated wood for garden use. To avoid any concern about leaching chemicals, especially in food production, opt for untreated lumber and hardy types like cedar, redwood, and cypress. The wood in our Epic beds is 100% untreated, natural, and food-safe.

Aesthetics

Cedar is a natural material where form meets function. It complements various garden styles, from contemporary gardens with clean lines to overflowing cottage or potager themes. The variations in grain and texture add interest, while the frame itself becomes the backdrop to the planted display. A wooden raised bed blends with the surrounding context. Let plants spill and cascade to soften the look even more.

If your space and budget allow, repeat a series of beds for an organized, pleasing layout (and, of course, to promote healthy plant growth). Even one raised planter provides vertical interest, especially with plants of varying heights and forms. Add an arch or trellis to expand the planting area with upright growers.