Trend Alert: Black-Stained Raised Beds

While using untreated lumber to construct raised beds is still the gold standard of edible gardening health and environmentalism, we’ve noticed stained and painted raised beds in gardens lately–and we like what we’re seeing. The Swedes have been painting their garden beds a rich, glossy black and stateside we’ve spotted subtle grays, greens, and blues.

Later this week, Meredith will report on eco-friendly stains that are safe to use on edible beds, but for now we’ve compiled a little bit of raised bed eye candy to inspire your springtime garden planning.

Above: Towering dill in Victoria Skoglund‘s black raised beds in August. Photograph courtesy of Victoria Skoglund.

Above: A solid wood VegTrug Patio Garden stained charcoal gray is $279 from Gardener’s Supply.

The planter’s V-shape allows you to grow plants with deep roots (such as tomatoes) in the center, and shallow-rooted herbs and lettuces along the perimeter. The planter comes with plastic feet to protect the wood legs from wet surfaces.

Above: Photograph by Sandra Pettersson. Swedish designer and entrepreneur Agneta Enzell’s black raised beds. Be sure to use eco-friendly stains and paints that are safe to use on edible beds (for more detail see our 5 Favorite Eco Friendly Stains).

Above: In Alamo, California Kriste Michelini “wanted to create a simple vegetable garden with raised vegetable boxes that would act as sculpture and look just as good in the winter months.” See more in Gardenista Awards 2014: Best Edible Garden Finalists.

Above: Meredith built three DIY Black Window Boxes to frame the view from her San Francisco apartment. Photograph by Liesa Johannssen.

Inspired to paint the whole garden? See Trend Alert: Black Fences. Hoping to take the look inside? See Color-Stained Furniture, the Next Big Thing? on Remodelista.