Metal beds: types, features and manufacturing technology

For a long time I had ordinary garden beds at my dacha. But this did not suit me, since I constantly had to weed the paths, and digging such beds caused a lot of difficulties.

Therefore, I decided to fence the beds with wooden boards. This was already much better, but the boards rotted quite quickly. This was during the period of perestroika and then good impregnations were not yet sold or they were very expensive. And even now I would not use chemically treated boards for garden beds.

Then I decided to make beds from slate sheets. They served me faithfully for about 10 years. But their downside was that they had to be leveled every year, so they were secured with ordinary wooden pegs. Gradually the sheets began to burst and it was decided to get rid of them. In addition, the plants did not really like the slate fencing, which did not greatly depress them, thus reducing the yield. And on top of everything else, the row spaces in our garden were filled with ordinary sand and overgrown with grass. Every year they had to be weeded, and during the rains the dirt was constantly spread throughout the area.

Therefore, it was decided to make the beds from galvanized corrugated sheets and line the row spacing with paving slabs.

Beds made of metal with polymer coating: product characteristics

Many owners of summer cottages have already been able to appreciate the effectiveness and practicality of raised beds. Most often, to make structures, gardeners and gardeners use scrap materials that remain after repairs or construction. However, ready-made versions of metal products are in many ways superior to beds that you can create yourself.

The metal bed for growing vegetables has a convenient and durable design.

Manufacturers offer the following types of metal products:

• beds made of galvanized steel;
• structures made of galvanized steel coated with polymers;
• beds made of galvanized steel with polyurethane coating.

On a note! You should not refuse to buy steel beds because of their high cost.
If we take into account the costs of maintaining such a vegetable garden and its service life, then the actual price of the products is no more than that of beds made from less durable materials.

Decoration

Since gardeners often use metal fencing for their garden beds in their yards, some have begun to decorate them using:

1. Spunbond, which is stretched onto a frame, is sold in various shades. This also reduces overheating of the frame walls.
2. You can make a fence from a vine, when the branches are stuck into the ground vertically, and longer vines are wrapped around them horizontally.
3. You can put up a plastic fence, which looks very nice when decorating flower beds.

Whatever decision the gardener makes, it will not only create a unique flavor of the garden, but also protect the beds from wear and damage.

Advantages of ready-made galvanized and polymer-coated metal beds

The use of ready-made metal structures on a summer cottage has its advantages:

• there is no need to dig up the soil in the garden bed. Organic farming makes a lot of sense. To make it easier to care for the beds, it is recommended to mulch the bulk soil and it is advisable to apply EM preparations;

Metal beds can have different sizes, which is convenient when placed on the site.

• the optimal dimensions of the structures allow for convenient access to the plantings. You can freely approach the garden bed from any side;
• The water consumption spent on watering plants is significantly reduced. This became possible due to the fact that moisture accumulates locally, exactly where it is needed;
• possibility of saving fertilizers. The dosage calculation is carried out only taking into account the area of ​​the garden bed, and not the entire garden;
• Depending on the type of protective coating, the structure can be successfully operated for 20-30 years. Polymer, zinc and polyurethane coating will prevent corrosion and premature deterioration of the material;

The protective covering of the metal bed can be of any color, which allows you to fit the structure into the overall design of the site.

• simple installation system and the ability to move the bed to another place;
• the structure of the structures allows the installation of additional sections to increase the size of the bed in height or length;
• arcs for organizing a greenhouse can be easily attached to a metal bed;
• the possibility of creating a neat and decorative vegetable garden on the site.

Ready-made designs, price, manufacturers

If you have the opportunity to buy metal beds, it is worth doing so because of the following advantages:

1. The frame is completely metal and nothing needs to be changed.
2. The edges are curved in such a way as not to injure a person.
3. It only takes 30-40 minutes to assemble the frame.
4. The kit contains everything you need to assemble the frame, and there is no need for a second trip to find the component parts.
5. Ready-made metal fences for garden beds are available in various sizes, so you can choose what a specific person needs.
6. A matching greenhouse frame can be added to any type of frame.
7. There is no need to dig up the entire garden; only take care of the fenced areas.
8. The finished frames have optimal dimensions and therefore caring for the garden is not particularly difficult.
9. Noticeably less water is needed to water the garden.
10. Fertilizer dosage is applied to smaller areas of land.

The table shows several manufacturers of ready-made metal beds and prices:

All structures are easily assembled in a short time and installed on marked ground.

Features of galvanized metal products

Metal beds are suitable for growing vegetables in a greenhouse or outdoors. The products are made of durable steel frame. The thickness of the sheet material is most often 0.5-0.55 mm. The surface is coated with a thin layer of zinc or polymer.

The installation process of such beds is very simple. The side parts of the product are bent inward, thereby eliminating the possibility that a person will be injured during installation of the structure and its further operation. For the manufacture of modern metal fences for garden beds, special machines are used, so the edge line of the parts does not have irregularities and burrs that can injure a person.

It is better to immediately choose the optimal place to place the bed, since it is undesirable to frequently disassemble and reassemble the structure.

Note! Despite the fact that the process of dismantling and installing beds is very simple, it is not recommended to remove galvanized products every year after the summer season ends.

Regardless of the quality of the product and the manufacturer, the frequent process of assembling and disassembling the structure leads to deformation changes in the parts. Each time the connection between the elements of the bed will deteriorate. There is also a possibility that the surface of the profile will be damaged and the protective coating will be damaged, which will lead to corrosion. The most optimal solution would be a competent choice of location and a stationary type of placement; only in this case will the beds last for many years.

Where to use and how to install

Most often, polymer-coated metal beds are used for growing vegetables, but galvanized steel is also perfect for setting up shaped flower beds.

From the blanks you can organize a front garden, a heated greenhouse, make a barbecue, lay out paths, build a playground and equip a recreation area for adults.

Installing beds made of galvanized metal is quite simple; to do this, just connect all the purchased parts using the fasteners included in the kit. During the installation process, you may need your own hammer or screwdriver.

The structure should be assembled in the garden, carefully planning future plantings. This is a very important stage of installation, since “alterations” can damage the product and render it unusable.

Ready-made designs

Many gardeners prefer to buy ready-made border kits in specialized stores due to their advantages. The finished products are very convenient to install and use, and installing an arc makes it easy to create a greenhouse, and the garden will bear fruit all year round. The procedure for assembling finished structures:

• determine the location of the bed, plan the location of paths and irrigation systems, and mark;
• bury the corner and intermediate pins the entire length into the ground (standard 20-25 cm). If necessary, they can be extended using inserts.

How to make a garden bed from galvanized steel with your own hands

The garden bed can be decorated using alternative materials - wood, brick, slate, even plastic bottles or car tires. True, you will have to spend a lot of time on the arrangement process, but the final quality and decorative properties of such a fence raise serious doubts. And some of the listed materials will not only not be able to withstand environmental challenges, but may themselves become toxic when exposed to high temperatures, high humidity or periodic disinfection.

A completely different matter is beds made of galvanized metal. You can make a metal bed with your own hands, following the following algorithm of actions.

1. Manufacture and install the sides from galvanized steel; you can also use corrugated sheeting.
2. Build a frame from a wooden beam or a metal corner.
3. Using self-tapping screws, attach the sides to the manufactured frame.
4. Secure the edges of the structure so that they are not sharp and do not lead to hangnails or other injuries.

Despite the fact that galvanized beds (purchased or made independently) are similar in many ways, store-bought structures have some advantages:

• the lightness of the designs allows you to install everything yourself;
• speed of arrangement of plots at the dacha and, if necessary, transfer to another location;
• thanks to the properties of metal and special coatings, plants are protected from pests;
• additional coating increases service life;
• you can recreate the fit of various shapes and purchase sides in the color you like;
• easy to convert into a greenhouse.

Finished products also have a disadvantage compared to self-assembled beds. Purchased goods are more expensive.

Types and dimensional parameters of metal fencing for garden beds

The classification of galvanized beds with a protective coating can be carried out based on various criteria:

• type of coating;
• type of construction;
• polymer color;
• dimensional parameters;
• metal thickness;
• method of fixing parts, etc.

The wooden frame serves as a convenient container for the metal walls of the bed.
Some modifications have special legs. These elements prevent the structure from moving when filling soil or weeding plantings. The legs are buried in the ground, thanks to which the bed is well fixed. The polymer coating can have different colors, due to which the buyer has the opportunity to choose almost any color scheme that will fit well into the surrounding landscape.

There are high and low structures made of galvanized steel on sale. The most popular among land owners are beds with a height of 15-18 cm and 36 cm. In addition, products with a height of 50 cm are popular.

On a note! For greenhouse houses of non-standard sizes, very narrow or, conversely, wide modifications may be required. If you buy beds directly from the manufacturer, you can order structures with any parameters, which the market for standard products cannot offer.

Diagram of metal bed dimensions.

Designs may differ from each other in length. Some modifications provide the possibility of installing an extension and extending the bed by purchasing additional elements.

Galvanized beds: consumer reviews

Customer reviews from the forum reflect the advantages and disadvantages of the designs:

Olga Samoilova, St. Petersburg “I have had Volya galvanized beds in my greenhouse for three years now. Excellent quality, they look like new. Not a hint of rust or other troubles, very practical. I am quite pleased with my purchase and recommend it to everyone.” Sergey Svyatozarov, Moscow “Finally, my old dream came true, my husband and I bought galvanized beds and organized a vegetable garden in a greenhouse. The design turned out decent. We chose the Grandbox company. Green structures with polymer coating fit perfectly into the space. They have held up well in the greenhouse and, I hope, will not let you down over time.” Kristina Listyeva, St. Petersburg Galvanized beds are an excellent alternative to structures made from natural materials. Thanks to the variety of sizes offered by manufacturers, you can choose designs for any greenhouse. Read also:

• Beds made of plastic boards: photos, videos, advice from summer residents
• Types of beds: photos of modern garden beds
• Beds for lazy photos: interesting ideas, advice from summer residents

Which is better to buy metal beds: recommendations for selection and rating of manufacturers

Manufacturers bring to the market models of metal beds with various parameters and characteristics. These factors have a direct impact on the service life of products, as well as their cost.

Main criteria for choosing optimal designs:

• steel thickness;
• thickness of zinc coating;
• the presence of polymer coating and its features;
• the production technology used to make the beds;
• level of quality of parts for installation;
• the presence of stiffeners with a central type of placement.

When choosing a metal bed, you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the material.

Assembly and self-production of structures

It is very simple to assemble and install a metal bed with a polymer coating. Anyone can handle this task. Depending on the modification, the manufacturer may provide various types of connecting units. Most often, the groove/tenon method is used to assemble the product. In addition, additional fasteners in the form of self-tapping screws will be required.

Most summer residents use a bolted type of connection. This method is considered more reliable. To assemble the structure using this method, it is necessary to bend the sides located at the upper edge line on the metal strips. The width of these elements is about 1.5-2 cm. You will need to make holes in them. There are also French beds. To assemble these expensive structures, you only need to connect the elements by snapping them together.

Bed assembly diagram: 1 - corner, 2 - transverse element, 3 - longitudinal element, 4 - connecting profile, 5 - tie, 6 - junction of the profiles of the longitudinal element and tie

Technology for self-production of metal beds

If you plan to make your own structure, it is very important to choose high-quality material. Even corrugated metal will do.

Step-by-step manufacturing technology:

1. According to the markings, it is necessary to dig 4 boards into the ground. They must have a strictly vertical position, because this is where the corners of the bed will be located.
2. At the top and bottom of the supports, a wooden frame made of boards should be nailed.
3. Fix the broken galvanized steel on the resulting structure. It is recommended to use electric scissors to cut the material. Metal parts are secured with a slight indentation from the edge of the frame using bolted connections.

It’s easy to make a metal bed with your own hands using suitable materials

Helpful advice! As an alternative to polymer coating, powder dye can be used.

Technology for making beds with fencing in the form of gabions

Gabions look just as aesthetically pleasing as beds made of stone. However, unlike masonry, such structures are much easier to assemble and are much cheaper. This is due to the fact that the construction of gabions does not involve fixing the filler. The frame part of the bed is simply filled with stones or other types of material. Metal mesh can withstand heavy loads. Due to this, natural stone with a large fraction can be used as a filler.

A bed made of gabion structure will be an excellent addition to the composition of the site

Instructions for assembling a gabion bed:

1. The foundation for construction is cleared of debris and leveled.
2. The racks are being installed. For this purpose, pillars equipped with flanges at the bottom are used. For these purposes, it is recommended to take a rod whose diameter is 0.8-1 cm. In this case, you need to install 8 supports so that 2 rectangles are formed: large and small. The smaller rectangle should be located inside the larger one at an equal distance.
3. To form the grid, a galvanized rod is used, the recommended diameter is 0.5-0.6 cm. The cell size is selected taking into account the size of the bulk material so that it does not spill out and voids do not form inside the product.
4. If large bulk material is used, it is worth taking care of the stiffeners. For this you can use double rods.
5. The pillars should be fixed as rigidly as possible, since they bear the main load.

It’s easy to make a gabion garden fencing yourself

The frame part is fixed on supports. The result should be 2 mesh boxes. The space between them is filled with stone or brick. The inside of the small frame is filled with soil, where the plants are planted. Some manufacturers offer ready-made designs to order, which greatly simplifies the gabion assembly process.

How to decorate the structures of metal beds on the site

Steel beds are a great way to create a beautiful and neat vegetable garden on your property. To decorate such structures, you can use not only color coating, but also other means. For example, cover the bed with spunbond. You can find agrofibre in various shades on sale. White canvases are recommended for use in the vegetable garden. This surface reflects the sun's rays well, eliminating excessive overheating. For woody arrangements and flower beds, you can choose any shade, the main thing is that it matches the landscape.

Metal structures braided with vines look quite decorative. Using this method allows you to get a natural and beautiful garden bed design on the outside and a durable metal base on the inside. There are other design options. The design of a vegetable garden depends solely on the imagination and budgetary capabilities of the owner of the site.

Recommendations for choosing beds based on material quality

Designs with a zinc coating exceeding 25 microns are considered optimal. The zinc layer on beds of smaller thickness can be easily damaged, which will start the process of gradual destruction of the metal under the influence of corrosion. A protective coating in the form of a polymer significantly increases the service life of products.

This type of spraying performs two functions at once:

• provides protection for galvanizing from destruction due to contact with moisture, fertilizers and soil;
• eliminates the possibility of mechanical damage to the zinc coating during soil cultivation using garden tools.

Metal thickness is one of the most important criteria for product quality. There are configurations on sale with steel thickness in the range of 0.35-1 mm. For arranging a vegetable garden inside a greenhouse house, structures made of metal 0.5 mm thick are suitable. Outdoor beds should be more durable and reliable, so for these purposes it is better to take products with a steel thickness in the range of 0.7-1 mm. The same applies to the construction of high beds (more than 35 cm), which have increased requirements in terms of strength.

One rule to remember: the greater the height of the bed, the thicker the metal sheets should be.

On a note! For comparison, you can compare the parameters of the beds with the parameters of the metal from which the car body is made. The thickness of the latter is 1-1.2 mm.

Installation of beds.

First, one side of the bed is marked with a rope, then a row of pipes is driven in. For fastening, I used scraps of used metal water pipes with a diameter of ¾ and a length of at least 80 cm. The distance between the pipes is 1 meter. The corrugated sheeting is cut lengthwise by a “grinder” into 3 parts / corrugated sheeting width is 99 cm/, so that the waves coincide with each other and the sheets have the same profile. Wider corrugated sheeting can also be cut into 4 parts, which will slightly reduce the height of the bed to 24-25 cm, but will not affect the ease of use.

The corrugated sheeting is fastened to the pipes using short /25 mm roofing screws, 3 pieces for each pipe. You can also use a profile pipe, for example measuring 20 by 40 mm. With such a frequency of fastenings, the beds do not need transverse ties and do not have to be adjusted.

For safe use, I plan to cover the upper edge of the bed with a galvanized profile.