What Is The Difference Between A Plant Container And A Raised Bed?

Raised beds and pots/planters come in a wide array of shapes sizes and materials. But when is a raised bed a raised bed and not a pot? And what are the pros and cons of each?

Pots v Raised beds
The most obvious difference between a raised bed and a pot is that the former tends not to have a base, while the latter does. That said, it is quite possible to have a bottomless planter that could be called a pot by some people.

The other chief issue is size: pots tend to be smaller and portable, whereas raised beds are not portable (not when full of plants anyway!) and are usually (not always) larger, although probably not as tall, as pots.

Materials are another factor that is often important. Pots are frequently made of terracotta – whereas have you ever seen a terracotta raised bed? Of course, some materials work well for both, and metal, particularly types of steel, is one of those. Metal garden beds are great for growing your own food, while metal pots make a statement on your patio.

Wood, meanwhile, tends to be used more in raised beds, while concrete and plastic are more likely to be used for pots. Metal, though, can be seen as a better value as it is likely to last much longer than some of the other materials. Wood is likely to rot, especially if it's not treated, while terracotta pots often crack in frosts, and plastic often goes brittle and breaks up over time.

Metal could also be seen as the more environmentally conscious option as, although quite energy-intensive to produce, it will last longer. Corten steel also won't need treating with any chemicals to preserve it. There is also increasing awareness of the environmental impacts of plastic.

Another area where they traditionally differ somewhat is what people choose to plant in them. Raised beds are very popular for growing vegetables, while pots are great for displays of spring bulbs and summer bedding. Of course, this is far from a hard and fast rule; particularly as grow-your-own becomes more popular by utilizing pots in new ways.

Advantages of raised beds and pots
Both raised beds and pots raise plants off the ground and allow you to customize the type of soil or compost you have to grow those plants in. This can be important if you have poor soil, soil that is full of tree roots or stones, or the wrong type of soil for a particular plant. For example, if you are growing a blueberry bush you may wish to grow it in a pot of ericaceous compost as it likes acidic soil, which you may not have in your garden.

Another advantage is that they often look better. Whether that be an ornamental steel planter in a contemporary garden, a terracotta pot on a patio, or a wooden or galvanized steel raised bed in the veg garden they somehow look much more pleasing to the eye than just soil. Of course, you can spruce up your borders with edging, but pots and raised beds still look classy.