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Texas Gardening

Galvanized Steel Raised Beds

8 years ago

Would it be ok to use galvanized steel raised beds in south Texas? I didn't know with our heat if using steel beds would be ok or if it would get to hot for the plants? Thanks! :)

Featured Answer

sylviatexas1

8 years ago

I had one once here near Dallas, & it got hot.

It also rotted at the bottom.

If you like the look of the galvanized containers, you might double-wall one;

set it on a concrete slab or landscape timbers or bricks...anything to get it off the ground-, pour mulch in the bottom, set another container inside, pour mulch between the inside & outside containers, & fill the inner container with whatever.

Experiment, & have fun!

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Comments (6)

Hareball
Original Author
8 years ago
Well to be honest it was just one of the less expensive options. A lot of the inexpensive options aren't very tall. This one was 8" tall so I just figured it was a good option. Does height matter? I figured it did if the soil underneath the bed wasn't very good. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Iowi, How did your galvanized water troughs work out? I'm a Seattle resident who would like to try the same but am utterly new to gardening (this is the first year I've owned a house with a substantial area in which to give it a try). We'd like to have one area with raised beds and another with galvanized tanks as beds. Not sure how to proceed with either but the tanks really have me stymied. Are small holes drilled in the bottom adequate drainage given our PNW rains? Or would it almost be better to cut out the bottoms of the tanks? Is it safe to grow food in galvanized metal? I know some zinc consumption is safe but I think the cadmium is a greater concern. Nila, Could you elaborate on your soil instructions? Are you recommending mixing these 2 components are layering them in some manner? Would you recommend this same mixture for other types of raised beds as well? Thanks guys! Hoping the GW community will take me under their collective wing and help grow a new gardener!
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I use galvanized wire in all 20 of my beds. I'd never be able to garden without it because of the gophers and moles. For several years I tried growing without wire, and it was a waste of my time. The trick is to line a hole at least 18 inches deep because your roots need room to stretch. Gophers and moles will dig all around the edges of the wire, and sometimes under it, so be sure you don't leave any open edges where they can squeeze in. Good luck. Lyn
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I love creeping thymes. They would be perfect for your cinder block holes. Creeping sedums would also be a good bet. There are also groundcovers like vincas and pachysandras that vine. The cinder block holes could be also like a propagation bed for cuttings of all manner of plants that you want to root up. Put sand in the block holes and then put in softwood cuttings dipped in rootone, Keep moist (covered with plastic, maybe) and your raised bed does double duty. I really think a little hypertufa on the outside to "rough up" the flat parts of the block and to soften the sharp corners would be easy and effective as a base for moss. With hanging plants cascading over the edges, no one would guess they were cinder blocks. Next year (or this fall) I plan on building more raised beds. You have me thinking about using cinder blocks. My raised bed cost $77 to make from cedar with the little copper caps and the decking angle irons. Nice for a front yard, but a little pricey for building several beds at a cost of $25 per bed more than cinder blocks! Recipes: Hypertufa is equal parts sand, portland cement and peat moss mixed thick enough to spread and form. Wear gloves because the heat can leave a burn on bare skin. The moss base is basically some buttermilk (I've never read about yogurt, but it's probably essentially the same) in a blender with a handful of growing moss. Blend to make a thin paste. With a thick paintbrush, paint it on the surfaces you want mossy. Keep moist (but don't wash off) to encourage the moss to grow. I've never done it, but I've read the same approach many times. Rather than "classically aged" what about some bold colors: royal blue or abstract art in bold colors along the edges? It could be interesting in the right setting. I sure wish we would get more pictures of other people's raised beds! I'm sure there are lots of plans out there. Maybe someone is already doing something interesting with concrete.
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One advantage to wood that I can think of is that you can lean on the edge as you work in the bed. I think with metal that would not be a good idea. As a bit of a klutz, I find myself doing that from time to time and at least I don't end up with lacerations. I think with metal, I might. I do think the metal looks cool (gardener's supply has some in their catalog), though, and would undoubtedly last a long time.
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mindshift
8 years ago
Eight inches is not very deep. That's not to say it won't work; it just won't work well for deep rooted plants. I don't think the metal will get any hotter than any other container. Most container plants in the south benefit from afternoon shade.

All potting soils dry out quickly, and can be difficult to re-wet. I always add 1 part coir (fine coconut fiber) to 3 parts potting soil as it absorbs water better than peat moss. In fact, most coir is sold in bricks or blocks that expand when water is trickled over them. Once sold only at hydroponics stores, you may now be able to find coir at local nurseries and home stores. Here is a LINK to an online site.

It depends on where in south Texas you live as to how long a galvanized container will last. Much of south Texas is semi-arid so rust is not as much of an issue. However, stock tanks are also available in plastic polyethylene with U.V. inhibitors. Black plastic does absorb heat, so look for other colors.
Hareball thanked mindshift
Hareball
Original Author
8 years ago
I was mainly wanting it to grow some veggies in my backyard. So I guess it would depend on what I grow. Our yard is pretty small and has a tree and you see it's roots through the yard. That's why I wanted the raised bed. :)
Lin barkingdogwoods
8 years ago
I have used a galvanized container for herbs with great success <east Texas, zone 8a>, but it was much deeper so I filled it with mulch to about 10", then topped with compost. I am moving it this year to my driveway to try to capture more sunlight, as I live in a woodlands.

If you're worried about heat buildup, perhaps you can line the inside of the galvanized tub with cardboard (as they do with keyhole gardens) and then put your potting medium inside that.

Good luck!

Lin
Hareball
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for the tip! :) It's crazy what they charge for raised bed kits. It's just wood people lol I was even thinking of maybe some cinder blocks but we'll see. A lot of the stuff I wanted to plant in the yard needs warmer weather so I still have a little (not much) time to decide.

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