Hardscape Design Ideas

Steps, Slopes and Structures: Combining Beauty and Function

Raised beds, steps and other structures must be weight-appropriate, easy to construct and weather-resistent. But that doesn't mean they can't be beautiful. Here, find inspiration in color, texture and pattern for natural and modern design.

Excerpted from Garden Design
Filed under: Materials and Supplies, Gardening

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Contemporary Raised Bed

Essentially low retaining walls, raised beds do not need to be as strong or as heavy as larger structures. They can also be more beautifully designed, rather than serving a purely functional purpose. Line beds with heavy-duty plastic (with drainage holes punched in the bottom) to retain soil moisture and avoid leakage and staining.

Although susceptible to knocks and dents, metal lends a contemporary note to raised beds. Pick lighter colored and galvanized metals over darker metals; they conduct less heat and are therefore less likely to scorch plant roots.