25 Creative Corner Raised Garden Bed Ideas to Maximize Your Outdoor Space

A raised garden bed tucked into a corner of your yard is a great way to grow vegetables, herbs, or flowers even if you don’t have a lot of space. Corner raised beds allow you to take advantage of unused areas and add visual interest to boring spots.

You can turn dull, unused corners into beautiful and useful garden spaces with a little imagination. If you want to make the most of your corner raised garden beds, check out these 25 interesting ideas.

Benefits of Corner Raised Beds

• Utilize unused space Corners are often overlooked and end up collecting junk Turn them into useful growing areas instead!

• Easy access. The sides of a corner raised bed allow you to reach in easily to tend plants from multiple angles.

• Good light. Along the course of a day, angled corners get more sunlight than flat beds.

• Add height. When you plant, weed, and harvest in raised beds that are higher off the ground, you don’t have to bend over as much.

• Improve drainage. Elevated garden beds prevent waterlogging and let you control the quality of the soil mix.

• Define boundaries. Corner raised beds create an attractive border and make a natural separation between spaces.

• Vertical gardening. A corner is the perfect spot to add vertical layers with trellises, poles or trailing plants.

• Customizable materials. Build your raised bed from wood, stone, bricks, metal or other materials to match your style.

Corner Raised Bed Shapes and Sizes

When planning a corner raised bed, think about the size and shape. Here are some options:

• Small square. A 3×3 or 4×4 ft. square works well for herbs or flowers. Easy to reach across.

• Rectangle. Long rectangles look nice against fences or walls. Go for at least 3 ft. wide.

• Large L-shape. An L shape raised bed hugs two adjoining fences or walls. Maximize planting space.

• Small L-shape. A little L is good for narrow corners. Make it at least 18 inches wide.

• Angled or curved. Use angles and curves for a modern, organic look.

• Multi-level. Stack smaller beds on top of larger ones to expand your growing area.

• Wide wedge. A wide wedge shape can hold several rows of vegetables.

• Narrow triangle. For tight corners, a narrow triangular bed looks neat. Plant with low herbs.

Material Options for Building Raised Beds

You can construct attractive raised garden beds for corners using all kinds of materials:

• Cedar wood is naturally rot-resistant and aesthetically pleasing. Stain or treat first.

• Redwood and pine are inexpensive softwoods. Use preservative or plastic liner.

• Landscape timbers are an affordable and sturdy choice. Look for non-toxic.

• Stone or brick can create elegant raised beds. Use mortar to join masonry units.

• Concrete blocks are inexpensive but heavy. Get lightweight versions.

• Galvanized steel is strong, durable and rodent-proof. Look for food-safe finishes.

• Aluminum frames or edging are lightweight and won’t rust. An expensive option.

• Recycled plastic lumber is made from HDPE or composite wood and lasts many years.

• Straw or compressed earth can form casual rustic raised beds. Line with landscape fabric.

How to Enhance a Simple Corner Raised Bed

Even the most basic raised garden bed can be enhanced with these easy additions:

• Add a trellis or plant support for vining crops and flowers to grow upwards.

• Incorporate a bench or ledge to create seating next to the garden.

• Attach decorative brackets under corner posts for a pretty touch.

• Paint or stain the raised bed structure in a cheery color.

• Add a skirt around the base from wood trim, stone, etc. to hide the sides.

• Put down weed barrier fabric before filling with soil, to keep weeds at bay.

• Use drip irrigation and a timer to efficiently water your corner garden.

• Install decorative accent lighting to highlight the garden at night.

• Place fun garden art like gazing balls, sculptures or ceramic pieces.

Unique Raised Garden Bed Ideas for Corners

Take your corner raised bed to the next level with these innovative design twists:

• Make a two-tier raised bed with a higher narrow bed on top of a lower wide bed for vertical growing.

• Construct a spiraling bed that curves inward, following the corner angle. Pretty!

• Try a sunken bed with the soil level dug out about 6 inches below the frame.

• Attach a cold frame greenhouse lid to turn your raised bed into a season extender.

• Add a wire trellis panel shaped to the corner for climbing plants. Customize the size.

• Stack concrete or stone blocks without mortar to form a casual corner raised bed.

• Make a hexagonal corner bed for a change from standard rectangles.

• Use two short metal troughs together to create an L-shaped raised bed with clean lines.

• Create fun height variation with a corner stacked stone pyramid raised bed.

• Use reclaimed wood in varying widths and colors for a rustic, eclectic corner garden.

What to Grow in a Corner Raised Bed Garden

Once built, it’s time to decide what to plant! Here are some great options for raised garden beds:

Vegetables: Leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, radishes, green onions, beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, herbs

Flowers: Petunias, marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, nasturtiums, snapdragons, violas, asters, mums

Vining Plants: Cucumbers, peas, beans, tomatoes, melons, squash (use trellis)

Shrubs or Dwarf Trees: Blueberries, raspberries, lavender, rosemary, dwarf crape myrtle

Ornamental Grasses: Maiden grass, sedge, fountain grass, pampas grass, Japanese forest grass

Succulents and Cacti: Hens and chicks, aloe vera, echeveria, prickly pear cactus

Maintaining a Thriving Corner Raised Bed Garden

Follow these tips to keep your corner raised bed looking fabulous all season:

• Enrich the soil annually with 2-3 inches of compost mixed in to provide nutrition.

• Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to easily water the garden bed.

• Weed weekly to prevent competition with crops. Weed barrier fabric helps reduce this chore.

• Watch for pests like slugs, snails and cabbage worms. Remove by hand or use organic methods if needed.

• Rotate vegetable families each year to prevent soil diseases. Don’t plant tomatoes in the same spot as last year’s.

• Fertilize throughout the growing season to replace nutrients used by plants. An organic vegetable fertilizer is ideal.

• For woody shrubs or perennials, trim and shape overgrown plants in spring or fall to keep looking tidy.

Enjoy Your Productive and Beautiful Corner Garden Bed!

Adding a raised garden bed to a forgotten corner is an easy way to expand your growing space and create an ornamental focal point in the garden. With so many possibilities for constructing customized corner raised beds from beautiful materials, let your imagination run wild! Plant with gorgeous flowers, tasty vegetables or aromatic herbs and enjoy this new garden retreat for years to come.