Have you ever looked at a part of your yard or garden that was so ugly that it made you cringe every time you saw it? It could be an old forgotten patch of weeds, an awkwardly placed utility box, an area that just doesn’t have any character, or even an old staircase that was partially torn down like mine. I have a solution for you: cover it up!!!
In my last post about the courtyard, I talked about how we cleaned it up at the start of spring. But I still needed to fix the corner that looked bad.
I decided to build a corner flower box over it to cover it up. It’s not crazy—more like a fake raised garden bed—and it’s a really smart way to solve the problem.
I then stacked them–The 8″ boards on the bottom and the 4″ boards on the top.
I decided to have a space in between for drainage and to help avoid rot. I used the 1×3 as a temporary spacer.
Then I cut the 2x2s into three pieces that were just a bit shorter than the two boards. These were used as braces in the corners and at the ends.
Next I placed the 1×3 on top as sort of cap design. I put these in place with nails and screws, and then I tried it on to see how it looked:
For urban gardeners and anyone dealing with a small yard, making the most of every bit of available space is a must An often overlooked area ripe for planting is the corner of your landscape With a little creativity, this underutilized spot can be transformed into a thriving garden bed. Raised beds are ideal for tucking into corners. They allow for proper drainage and prevent soil compaction. When designed well, corner raised beds can increase your garden’s aesthetic appeal while boosting productivity.
Benefits of Corner Raised Garden Beds
Corner raised beds offer several advantages over in-ground gardening:
-
Grow more in less space – Take advantage of every inch of available real estate by effectively using corner areas.
-
Good drainage – Elevated beds prevent waterlogging and allow excess moisture to drain away
-
Accessibility – Raised beds eliminate the need to bend down. They bring the garden up to you.
-
Weed control – Separating the growing area from surrounding soil keeps invasive plants at bay.
-
Soil amendment – Raised beds make it easy to enrich the entire planting area with compost and nutrients.
-
Aesthetic appeal – Corner raised beds can become an attractive focal point and design feature.
Corner Raised Bed Shapes and Sizes
When installing a corner raised bed, consider the shape and dimensions. Here are some options:
-
Small square – A 3×3 foot square works well for herb gardens and crops like lettuce.
-
Rectangle – For larger gardens, try a 4×8 foot rectangular raised bed.
-
Angled – Cut one or more boards at an angle to fit diagonally into a corner.
-
Curved – For a cohesive look, bend boards to create a curved raised bed.
-
Multi-level – Stack smaller raised beds on top of larger ones for a tiered effect.
-
Sprawling – Use multiple smaller raised beds extending from the corner.
Materials for Building Corner Raised Beds
-
Cedar – Rot-resistant cedar boards make attractive raised beds.
-
Redwood – Redwood is naturally durable and resists insects and decay.
-
Landscape timbers – These pressure-treated timbers are inexpensive but will need replacing every few years.
-
Brick or stone – For a permanent raised bed, brick, stacked stone, or concrete blocks work well.
-
Galvanized metal – Corrosion-resistant galvanized steel raised beds will last for decades.
What to Grow in a Corner Raised Bed
When planning your garden layout, choose suitable plants for your unique microclimate. Here are some options:
-
Herbs – Oregano, thyme, sage, parsley, chives, and basil make great raised bed herbs.
-
Leafy greens – Lettuce, kale, spinach, chard, and arugula can be densely planted.
-
Root crops – Beets, carrots, onions, radishes and turnips grow nicely in raised garden beds.
-
Tomatoes – Dwarf tomato varieties produce well in limited space. Use trellises to save room.
-
Peppers – Compact pepper plants, both sweet and hot, are well-suited to raised beds.
-
Eggplant – These heat-loving plants will prosper in a sunny, warm corner location.
-
Green beans – Pole beans produce heavily on trellises while bush beans stay compact.
-
Cucumbers – Grow cukes vertically on a sturdy trellis against a wall or fence.
Design Tips for Corner Raised Beds
Here are some ideas for making your corner raised bed an attractive addition:
-
Incorporate diagonal lines and asymmetry for visual interest.
-
Paint or stain the wood a harmonious color to complement your home.
-
Add trim, lattice, or trellises to raises beds next to walls or fences.
-
Include paths between beds to allow for maintenance and harvesting.
-
Use corner beds to create separate planting zones or “garden rooms.”
-
Add arches, obelisks, or bamboo teepees for vertical planting space.
-
Include blooming annuals and perennials around beds to attract pollinators.
With a little planning and imagination, overlooked corners can be put to productive use as garden hot spots! Raised beds maximize yield in tight spaces and become useful, beautiful garden features.
Finishing the Garden Box
First I had to sand down the annoying grade stamps. And then I was able to get staining. I should mention that I used non-pressure-treated wood. Even though this isn’t usually suggested, I needed to get this done and didn’t want to wait for pressure-treated wood to dry out, which could take weeks or months. So I used Pewter Gray Cabot Semi-Transparent Stain and Sealer and am just hoping for the best. I made sure to seal every side of the wood as well as the cut ends. I also used this stain on my address sign project.
Once I was done staining, I put the “box” in place. I didn’t attach it to the house, it’s basically just resting on the slab of concrete. 
We then began filling the raised garden bed. We filled it with mulch from the trees we had cut down last year. Once I had it in place, I realized it would look amazing with a second layer. So I quickly whipped u a smaller version of “the box”.
I didn’t plant the plants directly in the box; instead, I kept them in their pots and buried them in mulch.
I put stonecrop and a ground cover in the raised garden bed, but I can’t remember what they are called right now. I’ll have to remember that. Besides that, I put a boxwood in the corner for now, but I plan to put a water feature there over time.
But I love how this turned out, it’s so much better than looking at that ugly concrete hill.
15 Recycled DIY Raised Garden Bed Ideas That Are Super Budget-Friendly
FAQ
Is it cheaper to buy or build raised garden beds?
What do I put on the bottom of a raised garden bed?
Are raised garden beds a good idea?
If the sunlight is right, raised garden beds can be a great idea for your corner garden. If it’s near a fence, it can help protect your plants from animals. Just make sure it gets enough sunlight and isn’t too far from your house so it’s easy to take care of. Plant your favorite flowers, greenery, and shrubs.
Can you put raised garden beds in a corner?
Corner Raised Garden Bed Dedicate a corner in your backyard for raised garden beds. This is a smart way to use the often-ignored spaces. You can also place tiered garden beds in the corners. Add edging stones or bricks to differentiate the area from the rest of the backyard.
What is a corner flower bed?
A corner flower bed with super bold blooms will add a touch of color to any garden or front or backyard. A corner garden as a large flower bed, with grasses, blooms, a bird bath and some bird houses for attracting them here. A corner garden by the fence with greenery and bright flowers is a cool idea to add curb appeal to your space.
How to decorate a corner garden?
Plant your favorite flowers, greenery, and shrubs. You can even add a bird bath or a fountain. A corner garden with a green lawn, some trees, bright blooms and elegant topiaries is a great and chic space. A corner garden with a raised garden bed, some greenery, blooms and a fountain is a cool idea for a modern space.
What are the Best Backyard corner landscaping ideas?
Those looking for backyard corner landscaping ideas can also consider building a raised garden bed with a stone border. The natural stone color will offer a nice contrast against the green grass and colors of flowers and plants that you add to the garden. 11. Patio and Fire Pit
How do you make a corner flower bed?
If you’re looking for corner flower bed ideas, consider making things even more interesting with a water feature. Leave a few feet of garden space along the edges of a fence in the backyard, then add a square pond, surrounded by rocks, for a streamlined look with the 90-degree corner of the fence.