Gardening: Are Raised Brick Gardens Right for Your Landscape?

Although ground-level perennial flowers and native grasses enhance any landscape, hardscape elements make a significant difference. Raising gardens by employing brick, stone and other masonry products elevates a property’s aesthetic value and curbside appeal. But with wide-reaching landscape designs and assets available, property owners are sometimes tasked with difficult decisions. If you are considering raised brick flower gardens, the following information could prove valuable.

What Is A Raised Brick Flower Garden?

A raised brick or hardscape flower garden typically involves creating a four-sided or round masonry structure that stands upwards of two feet. The exterior hardscape materials may be secured in place by employing ready-mix concrete or mortar. Once the mix hardens, the interior is usually filled with topsoil or potting mixtures. Home gardens then plant desirable flowers and grasses to beautify the grounds.

What Are Benefits Of Installing Raised Brick Gardens?

Raised gardens are widely used for vegetables, and plenty of crossover benefits exist regarding flower beds. Along with the eye-catching appeal, perhaps the primary reason gardeners like elevation stems from weeding. Raised gardens rarely require people to bend low or get down on their hands and knees to remove weeds.

The following rank among other leading benefits of leveraging raised gardens.

• Improved water retention in areas with dense soil conditions.
• Loose soil improves growing conditions for plant life.
• Raised flower beds can be planted earlier in the season.
• Bricks allow gardeners to cover plants more easily in the event of a killing frost.
• Elevated gardens avoid inadvertent trampling by children and family pets.  

Heights tend to deter wildlife, such as rabbits, from nibbling on young plants.

Not every landscape lends itself to red brick, concrete pavers or stone materials for raised gardens. But property owners would be well-served to conduct some due diligence about these hardscape enhancements.

Are Raised Brick Gardens Cost-Effective?

Homeowners enjoy tremendous investment flexibility concerning raised flower gardens. Those on a tight monthly budget and some DIY motivation can install these hardscape elements without hiring a mason. Common bricks generally run 8 inches long and 2 ¼ inches high. These relatively lightweight products require a concrete layer of about 3/8-inches. By using a leveling line, trowel and cement barrel to mix the concrete, handy homeowners can build raised brick gardens.

Those who are not necessarily handy can purchase traditional brick or pre-formed concrete pavers and simply stack them to the desired height. Once in place, home gardeners shovel in the dirt and plant flora. Complex designs may require professional masonry skills to complete. This financial flexibility means homeowners can invest resources and sweat equity as they see fit.