Last year, I needed to replace some wooden garden beds that were falling apart. Earlier that year, I added one Garden In Minutes metal raised bed to my garden. I love the durability and 17″ (43cm) depth, and it’s a perfect fit with my watering grids.
However, given my location in a region with hot summers, I was uncertain about the practicality of replacing wooden beds with metal ones. Questions like “Are metal beds too hot for Arizona?” and “Do metal garden beds heat up more than wooden beds?” loomed large. I wanted to answer these questions before adding more metal beds to the garden.
Note: The Garden In Minutes metal bed is made of Aluzinc Magnesium coated steel. This type of steel is less reflective than standard galvanized or Aluzinc garden beds. (Other metal garden beds may perform differently.)
Soil Temperature Readings
Date
Time
Metal Middle of Bed
Metal Near Edge
Cedar Middle of Bed
Cedar Near Edge
9/4
5pm
70°F / 21°C
74°F / 23°C
70°F / 21°C
73°F / 22.7°C
9/8
6pm
69°F / 20.5°C
72°F / 22°C
70°F / 21°C
72°F / 22°C
9/17
6pm
64°F / 17.7°C
69°F / 20.5°C
65°F / 18°C
71°F / 21.6°C
9/19
5pm
65°F / 18°C
69°F / 20.5°C
65°F / 18°C
68°F / 20°C
9/26
5pm
64°F / 17.7°C
68°F / 20°C
64°F / 17.7°C
67°F / 19.4°C
Surprisingly, the temperature difference was not as significant as I thought it might be. The outer inch of the metal beds was usually (but not always) hotter by a degree or two. However, the bed’s interior was similar for both beds.
Incidentally, when taking additional measurements, I discovered that sun exposure, mulch, shade, and watering made a bigger difference than the bed type.
For instance, beds in direct sunlight on the western side of the garden heated up more than those on the eastern side. I also found that the soil temperature in beds with more mulch was lower than in those with less. Recently watered beds were cooler than if it had been a couple of days since watering. I didn’t record these measurements, but I plan to take additional readings next summer to document more soil temperature findings.
Do metal beds get too hot? My conclusion:
After the test, I concluded that the benefits of the metal beds outweigh the modest heat gain on the outer edge of the bed.
Durability: Metal garden beds are typically more durable than their wooden counterparts. They resist rot and insect damage.
Ease of Maintenance: Metal garden beds are easy to clean and maintain. Metal does not absorb moisture or bacteria, which reduces the risk of disease in your plants.
Longevity: Galvanized metal is much more weather-resistant than wood.
After conducting this test to see if metal beds were too hot for Arizona, I decided to use metal beds. I replaced three wooden garden beds with metal ones from Garden In Minutes.
Choosing the right raised bed can be tricky, but consider Garden in Minutes’ metal beds. Their durability, longevity, and ease of maintenance make them an outstanding choice. Even in hot climates, these beds stay cool enough for your plants.
Results of testing to see if metal garden beds heat up more than wooden beds. Surprisingly, the temperature difference was not as significant as I thought it might be. The outer inch of the metal beds was usually (but not always) hotter by a degree or two. However, the bed's interior was similar for both beds.
Weight: Metal raised garden beds can be heavy, making them difficult to move once they are in place. This can be a disadvantage if you need to move your garden beds to a different location or if you need to reposition them in your garden.
Metal garden beds are better than wooden raised garden beds in terms of durability, longevity and pest prevention. However, wooden raised garden beds are more affordable and easier to customize.
Unlike in-ground gardens and wooden raised beds, metal beds prevent waterlogged soil, averting issues like poor plant growth and root diseases. Metal-raised beds act as a robust barrier against weeds. Unlike their wooden counterparts, they don't decompose over time, ensuring a weed-free environment for your garden.
Depending on your budget and gardening goals, you can line the bottom of your raised garden beds with wide-mesh hardware cloth, stainless steel mesh, landscape fabric, burlap sack, or newspaper/cardboard.
One of the greatest disadvantages of metal beds is their tendency to creak. This, paired with a stiff sleep, can start to impact sleep quality and even cause quarrels with your sleep partner. That said, poorly made wooden beds can also cause the same problems.
Build your raised bed with a decay-resistant type of wood, such as cedar, black cherry, oak (bur, chestnut, post, white), black locust, Osage orange, or redwood. (Source: USDA Forest Products Lab) Use a non-wood material such as stones, concrete blocks, bricks, or synthetic lumber.
Metal garden beds usually last at least 30 years, assuming they are well maintained. The biggest factor affecting the life of metal garden bed is the type of soil it often contacts. High acid soil will destroy the zinc layer around the metal garden bed, which will shorten the service life of the bed itself over time.
One slight disadvantage to picking metal as your material of choice is that these planters can get searingly hot when left out in the glaring sun, burning your plants, drying out the soil, and increasing the chance of root damage.
Yes, zinc and cadmium can leach due to long-term exposure to water and changes in soil acidity levels. However, it only leaches a small amount, which is actually safe.
Expert Response. the short answer to your question is no, the galvanized containers will reflect heat - you would have more of a heat issue with black containers which absorb heat. That said, galvanized containers have a zinc coating (which can contain cadmium) which prevents the underlying steel or iron from rusting.
"You CAN plant houseplants in metal containers. Metal is durable, stylish, and long-lasting, but is prone to rust. Make sure you have adequate drainage, plant in plastic or fiber pots before setting in metal, and keep metal containers out of direct sunlight to avoid burning the plant and soil."
You can't get much more durable or strong than steel. Steel raised beds can last for decades if their exterior is treated with a rust protectant. Most of the metal raised beds you'll find available online today are made with rust-resistant steel.
A: Galvanized troughs make excellent gardening containers. Plants grow well in them, and they save a lot of bending over in the garden. The only problem when growing vegetables is that over time small amounts of zinc and cadmium can leach out from them.
Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
