Richard’s bespoke planter was designed specifically for his large patio area at his new-build home. As with most new build designs, the garden would have been completed with grass and paving but Richard wanted to be one step ahead before he moved in. Whilst the garden was still under construction he contacted WoodBlocX with his raised bed / water feature idea.
Richard’s bespoke long raised bed
The garden area where the raised bed was planned to be built was left as open earth. WoodBlocX structures can be built on any surface including soil, grass, paving, concrete or tarmac, so this was an ideal foundation.
For grass and soil (soft ground) we provide ground spikes which ensure the structure is pinned into the ground to avoid any movement. These are installed through the first layer of blocks – see our General Building Instructions for more information.
Planning the Garden
Richard’s design features a long slim planter, two rectangular planters and smaller planter between them all perfectly integrated to make one large structure. It features two different levels across the four planters and the entire raised bed follows the shape of the newly-built patio perfectly. Rather than adding plants to the middle square raised bed, Richard planned to use the space to add a water feature in his garden. A water pipe and electrical cables were installed prior to building WoodBlocX.
It was an unusual design, but this is never a problem for WoodBlocX due to its modular nature. We offer a Free Design Service for all bespoke projects – no structure is ever too big or too small!
Preparation and building
Richard’s planter design was built by two people in just one day! A compacted and level sand base was created before building the structure layer by layer (instructions are provided with every order). Building WoodBlocX is easy – no power tools are needed. It’s a great activity to involve the whole family.
Richard’s design used our modern capping style so the structure could sit flush with the garden fence. You can choose what type of capping you want when you use our Free Design Service. After the raised bed was built, a layer of gravel was added around the border to cover any earth.
Finished Garden
The water feature is the centrepiece of this bespoke raised bed design, its slightly raised position above the planters either side draws the eye straight to it and the sound of running water brings a calm atmosphere to the new patio area.
The long slim planter at the back is much longer than the front section of the design maximising planting space along the garden fence. It has been planted with a mixture of bamboo and other shrubs to provide a green canopy across the neighbouring perimeter. The front two planters, which are slightly lower, feature some colourful shrubs and bring some nice overhanging greenery.
Overall, Richard’s raised bed is a great design and some brilliant planting choices really brings everything together. As you’ll see from the final garden pictures, after this project, Richard ordered another slim raised bed to continue the planter the full length of his garden. Now that’s a sign of a happy customer!
Richard was delighted with his WoodBlocX raised bed
The unique way Richard incorporated water into his raised bed design is really cool to see. The fact that he ordered more WoodBlocX to complete his new-build garden says it all! Our design team knows how hard it can be to creatively redesign new-build gardens - that’s why we're here to help!
Bespoke long raised beds
Long raised beds are ideal for gardens of all sizes. They give the illusion of additional space and allow you to grow in tight / narrow spaces. On our website, you can use our raised bed calculator to design your own planter and get an instant price.
