Best wooden planters [UK] for the best raised garden beds: troughs, and square wooden planters reviewed and compared

Specification: Material: Wood, Total Size: 90cm length x 22cm wide x 22cm high, Pre-drilled holes: No

We’ve all heard the saying ‘less is more’, but perhaps not Oscar Wilde’s beautiful assurance that ‘Life is simple, and the simple thing is the right thing.’ But I know what you’re thinking – we’re talking about raised planters here, where does literature and philosophy come into it? Well, Wilde was spot on, the simple thing very often is the right thing, and for this very reason, he would have loved the Ruddings Wood set of 2 Wooden Trough Planters.

Simplicity in its finest form, these planters get the job done with no bells and whistles to distract you from the essence of a planter’s job – to hold plants. Measuring 90cm x 22cm x 22xm (Length x Width x Height), this product comes in a set of two planters, so the sky really is the limit with these planters, as each one provides you with tonnes of growing room, and the fact that you get two planters for the price of one doubles your growing potential! Speaking of price, this product is in the mid to high range of the typical price for a raised wooden planter. It won’t totally break the bank, but it likewise is not going to be appropriate for everybody’s budget. It’s an investment, but a high quality one at that, so I wouldn’t let the slightly higher price put you off – unless of course the price is a dealbreaker. One thing which may help to justify the price is the fact that, unlike many raised wooden planters on the market, the Ruddings planters come pre-assembled, which is a good send if you are a stranger to a screwdriver.

Made from sustainable and sturdy timber, you don’t have to worry about weather damage with this product, as the wood is pre-treated for ultimate protection from the elements. They also come with slats of wood along the bottom of the planters, to act as feet to raise the box off the ground. Whilst this does not give the planter much height, it does provide a little lift. However, if you are looking to add a serious level of height to your garden, you may want to look for a planter with taller feet, or even legs.

Another issue I have come across with the Ruddings planter is the fact that it does not come fit with pre-drilled drainage holes, meaning you will either have to drill them yourself or put up with the fact that your soil may need changing on a seasonal basis. However, there are small gaps between the planks of wood on the bottom of the box so, permitting you do not overwater your plants, a level of drainage should be possible with this product.

Specification: Material Wood ,Total Size: 60 cm wide x 60 cm deep x 25cm high, Pre-drilled holes: Yes

The next planter is a little different to the products that we have been looking at so far. The WoodShed Ltd Corner Garden Wooden Decking Planter Pot sets itself aside from its competition largely due to its super interesting design. It is as if the planter thought to itself ‘In a world where you can be anything, be different’, and different is certainly a good way of describing it.

Essentially, the product is made up of three different pieces; a long rectangular planter, a mid-size rectangular planter and a small box planter. The small box planter comes pre-attached to the top of the long rectangular planter, and WoodShed pre-drilled pilot holes into the side of the separate planter to make assembling it simpler for the customer. So, sure, you could say that this product requires assembly, but most of the hard work has already been done by WoodShed, so they won’t be losing any points on assembly.

This interesting design means that you have the opportunity to create a visually stunning display, as you have unlimited design options with the three separate compartments. I also love the way in which this product incorporates the use of levels, to make this planter (and your garden) all the more visually interesting.

Aesthetics aside, this planter is also really well made. Constructed from Tanalith E Treated, PEFC and FSC certified wood, this planter is not only made to last but sourced responsibly, causing minimal damage to the environment. In addition to this, even the screws are weather resistant, made to be protected from rust, adding years onto the lifespan of the product. That gets a big tick from me.

With its unique design and sturdy and responsible use of materials, you would expect the WoodShed planter to cost you an arm and a leg, but no! Sure, it will cost you more than the GEEZY planter, but considerably less than the Ruddings planter, so it’s high quality and relatively low priced.

Once again, I know what you’re thinking – there must be some downsides to this product. And you would be right, of course there are – no one is perfect, after all. The primary downside with this product is its size. It may look deceptively roomy, but in reality, the approximate dimensions of the entire product are just 60cm x 60cm x 25cm (Width x Depth x Height). Yep – you heard me right, the entire product, not just the individual boxes. This may explain its low price, as this planter size does limit how much, and what type of vegetation, you can fit in the boxes. Still, for those who don’t care about size, this is pretty much the perfect planter.

Specification: Material: Wood, Total Size: 80cm high x 78cm length x 58cm wide, Pre-drilled holes: No (base is slatted)

It is time now to take a look at the Vegtrug Herb Garden planter which, like WoodShed, throws a metaphorical curveball in the race to find the best raised wooden planter.

The Vegtrug planter takes ‘raised’ to a new level (pardon the pun), with its long 80cm legs towering above the competition when it comes to height – I challenge any slug to try and climb those legs! The actual box part of the planter measures 78cm x 58cm (Length x Width), but all is not as it seems. The box of the Vegtrug planter is in fact separated into 8 mini compartments, hence the ‘Herb Garden’ title. These little compartments are perfect for growing different varieties of herbs or flowers, making for a super useful, and gorgeous looking raised garden. The compartments come in especially handy if you need to care for each individual plant in a different manner, as you can separate the soil and give your plants the unique nutrients that they require. However, the separate compartments do limit you somewhat, in that you can only plant small batches of flowers or herbs. If you wanted to plant larger vegetation like, for example, potatoes or squash, you would struggle with this raised planter. Certainly something worth bearing in mind.

There are a couple of clever added features which really make me love the Vegtrug herb garden planter like, for example, the storage tray at the base of the planter. It’s a simple added feature, but it really sets the product apart from its competitors, showing that Vegtrug clearly has their customers at the centre of their ethos. Their focus is on usability and performance, and this is once again exemplified in the inclusion of a plastic liner, making potting and planting a walk in the park. Of course, this means that draining isn’t possible with this product, but you can’t win them all. Another simple but super successful added feature is the covers on each foot of the planter, designed to protect the wood from the ground up. It’s these small touches which seem inconsequential, but when used together make for a well-rounded and thoughtful product.

So, where is the catch? Well, as previously mentioned it’s the compartments which are my biggest gripe with this product. On the one hand they are a clever and unique feature, but on the other hand, they simply limit the usability and potential of the product. In addition to this, it is worth mentioning that the Vegtrug herb planter is on the expensive side and is actually one of the most expensive planters I have come across in my search for number one. Still, if your budget can stretch, satisfaction is guaranteed with this raised planter.