The Ultimate Guide to Composite Raised Garden Bed Kits

A raised garden bed kit is the perfect way to start a productive and beautiful garden in your backyard. Composite raised beds in particular offer many advantages over traditional in-ground gardening. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about composite raised bed kits – from how they work, to tips for choosing the right one, to recommendations for getting the most out of your new raised bed.

What is a Raised Garden Bed Kit?

A raised garden bed kit contains all the materials you need to put together a freestanding gardening bed that sits on top of the ground. The “kit” typically includes boards made from wood, plastic or a wood-plastic composite material that slide together to form the frame. Most kits are modular and expandable, allowing you to customize the shape and size.

The main components of a composite raised bed kit are

• Composite boards or planks for the sides
• Corner pieces or connectors
• Stakes or pins to anchor the bed
• Optional accessories like trellises, covers or wheels

Once assembled, you fill the enclosed bed with soil and can begin planting directly into it. The entire bed sits above ground level, elevating your garden for easier access.

Benefits of Raised Garden Beds

Using a raised bed kit offers many advantages over traditional in-ground gardening:

• Better drainage and fewer weeds since the bed doesn’t contact the ground
• Warmer soil temperatures in spring, allowing earlier planting
• Easier on your back since there’s no digging required
• Customizable soil mix optimized for what you want to grow
• Flexible layouts – raised beds can go anywhere in your yard
• Accessibility for gardeners with mobility issues
• Can deter pests like slugs and snails
• Increased yields in the same amount of space

Raised beds create the ideal environment for your plants. You have full control over the nutrients in the soil, how well it drains, and other things in that small area.

Advantages of Composite Raised Beds

Composite raised bed kits have all the benefits of gardening in raised beds, plus some extra benefits that other materials don’t have:

• Durability – Made from a mixture of wood fibers and recycled plastic, composite boards are weather, rot and insect resistant. They won’t crack, splinter or degrade over time.

• Affordability – Composite kits are competitively priced with cedar or redwood while being more durable. They’re an economical choice.

• Low Maintenance: Composite beds don’t need to be sealed, stained, or fixed every year like wood beds do. Just an occasional hose-down is all they need.

• Customizable Design – Many composite kits use a modular system that lets you expand and create unique shapes.

• Soil Heat Retention – The composite material retains heat better than wood, giving your soil a boost in spring.

• No Chemical Leaching – Untreated wood can leach chemicals into your garden soil over time. Composite beds contain no chemicals.

For raised garden beds that will last for years with minimal upkeep, composite kits are the way to go. The material is perfect for the constant moisture and soil contact beds receive.

Raised Garden Bed Kit Materials

The main options for raised bed construction materials are:

• Cedar – Pretty and fragrant but requires frequent re-staining. Decays over time.

• Redwood – Naturally rot-resistant but expensive and limited availability.

• Treated Pine – Risk of harmful chemicals leaching. Requires re-sealing every 2 years.

• Recycled Plastic – Budget option but can fade and become brittle in sunlight.

• Composite – Blend of wood fibers + plastic creates durable, weather-proof beds.

Composite wins when it comes to combining durability, price, and performance. The blend varies by brand, but it’s usually 70% recycled wood and 30% HDPE plastic.

HDPE is food-safe, BPA-free recycled plastic used for things like milk jugs. It gives composite materials superior weather resistance.

What to Look for in a Raised Bed Kit

With so many composite kits out there, here are the key factors to consider:

Height

Match the height to your needs – standard sizes are 6 to 12 inches for accessibility, 12 to 24 inches for vegetables, and taller for root crops.

Size

Bigger isn’t always better. Start with a 4×4 or 4×8 kit for flexibility. For vegetables, 4×8 is a common size.

Modular Design

Look for kits with interlocking boards and corner pieces that allow expanding later.

High % of Recycled Material

At least 70% recycled content is ideal. This includes plastic and wood fiber.

Stainless Hardware

Stainless steel rods, pins, nails and screws prevent rusting and decomposition.

Manufacturer’s Warranty

5-year or longer warranties ensure the product is built to last.

Price

Composite is more affordable than cedar or redwood while outlasting plastic kits.

Brand Reputation

Established brands have proven track records and rave reviews.

The best raised garden bed kits check all those boxes above while giving you the freedom to customize features like size, shape and accessories.

Top Composite Raised Bed Kits

Based on the criteria above, here are my top recommendations in different price categories:

Budget

• Frame It All One Inch Series (4×4, 4×8, etc)
• VegTrug Raised Garden Bed Kit

Mid-range

• CedarCraft Triple Tier Kit (stone appearance)
• Lifetime Composite Garden Bed Kit

High-end

• Greenes Cedar Poly Roman Raised Garden Kit
• Copper Creek Walk-In Bed Kit

Best Expandable

• Smart Pot Garden Bed Kit (build up to 48 feet long!)
• Palram Hybrid Modular Bed Kit

Best Self-Watering

• Emsco Self-Watering Bed Kit
• EarthBox Elevated Bed Kit

Best Styles & Shapes

• Frame It All (curved, corner, tiered and special shape beds)
• Poly-Tex Hexagon Bed Kit

Do some browsing online to find the size, style and price range that appeals to you. Focus on the criteria above to make sure you get a quality composite raised bed that will last.

Setting Up Your Raised Bed

Once you’ve assembled your raised bed kit, follow these steps to get your garden up and growing:

• Level the soil – scatter compost and rake the soil flat across the bed
• Add fertilizer or compost – mix in a 2-4 inch layer to enrich the soil
• Decide on plants – pick veggies or flowers suited to the bed size
• Space plants properly – follow the seed packet directions
• Water thoroughly – moisten soil before and after seeding
• Use grids – divide bed into organized rows with plastic grids
• Mulch – top with bark chips, straw or leaves to retain moisture
• Manage weeds – stay on top of unwanted sprouts in bed

Raised beds drain well and may need more frequent watering. Aim to provide around 1-2 inches per week.

Raised Garden Bed Ideas and Tips

Here are some additional pointers to get the most from your raised bed kit:

• Maximize growing space by going vertical. Add trellises and cages for climbers like beans, cucumbers and tomatoes.

• Use companion planting. Herbs like basil, parsley and oregano repel pests from vegetables.

• Interplant tall crops and short crops to optimize sun exposure. Radishes and lettuce work with peppers and eggplant.

• Include flowers! They attract pollinators and add color. Marigolds deter nematodes.

• Don’t walk in the beds. Step around or use kneeling pads to avoid soil compaction.

• Rotate crops each season to replenish nutrients. Grow heavy feeders like tomatoes one year, then beans or lettuce the next.

• Cover unused beds in the off-season. A cover crop of clover improves the soil while tarps prevent weed growth.

Raised garden beds make gardening accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Composite kits are the ideal choice – you get the benefits of longevity and low maintenance coupled with design flexibility. Considering the factors outlined here will ensure you select the perfect composite raised bed kit for your needs. In no time, you’ll be growing a thriving raised bed vegetable or flower garden!