Why would you want a modular raised garden bed? They have many advantages. Raised garden beds prevent grass paths from creeping into planting beds, prevent soil compaction, improve drainage, prevent erosion, and extend the growing season. Filling modular raised garden beds with high-quality soil is also less expensive and less labor-intensive than remodeling your entire garden to improve soil texture.
First, modular raised garden beds are not the same as planters. Unlike containers, modular raised garden beds are open at the bottom to allow roots to reach into the ground. The best modular raised garden bed for your garden depends on several factors, including aesthetics, ergonomics, and construction materials. The material used for a modular raised garden bed affects aesthetics and ergonomics, and is the biggest environmental factor. Modular raised garden beds are usually made of natural wood, composite materials, plastic or metal. Each of these materials has costs and benefits, and there may be no clear environmental winner in all cases.
plastic
While they may be made from recycled plastic and are technically recyclable, we will not be evaluating modular raised garden beds made from HDPE because very few communities actually recycle plastic and the effects of plastic on ocean pollution. role.
wood
Naturally decaying woods like cedar and acacia are great choices for modular raised garden beds. If you can find sustainable sources, mahogany is a good choice. With the EPA banning the sale of residential lumber treated with chromate copper arsenate (CCA), alkaline quaternary ammonium (ACQ) and copper nitride (CA-B) have become standard treatments. However, the organic standard does not cover any type of pressure-treated wood.
Composite material
Most composites are a blend of wood fibers and recycled polypropylene to provide UV radiation protection. Since composites are made from waste and won't rot, they're being hailed as a sustainable alternative to natural wood. However, wood/plastic composite lumber is not recyclable because they are made from two different wastes that cannot be separated.
Metal
Metal combined raised garden beds are generally made of galvanized metal or aluminum-zinc steel, which are recyclable and rust-proof, with a service life of 30 to 70 years. In humid air, a zinc and alkaline zinc carbonate film is formed on the surface, which is very stable, can block air and moisture, is not easily absorbed by plants, and has little effect on plant growth. Galvanized containers are generally considered safe because high levels of zinc and chromium can kill plants before they can be eaten.
In addition, the metal combined raised garden bed can slide through the keyhole locking mechanism, and can be assembled without tools, which greatly saves your labor and material costs, and it is available in a variety of colors; the galvanized steel metal combined type produced by our company The surface of the raised bed garden bed structure adopts special paint, no irritating smell, and it is harmless to the environment and health. It is an environmentally friendly coating with excellent adhesion and protection. The paint film is complete and not easy to foam, ensuring that the paint color will not fade or fall off all year round.
