by Olle Gardens
The metal garden bed is a kind of convex bed, which is highly valued because it can bring various benefits to the garden. But some gardeners worry about how long a metal garden bed can be used and whether it is worth buying compared to all other types of raised beds. I did a lot of research on this topic and wrote this blog as a guide for anyone who wants to know how long metal garden beds will last.
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.
As mentioned above, how long your metal garden bed may last depends largely on the acidity of its surroundings. The biggest concern is the acidity of the soil. Anyone who wants to buy metal garden beds in the near future should be very interested in this.
How durable is the metal garden bed?
Metal garden bed, also known as galvanized steel garden bed, is a kind of raised garden bed, which is more and more popular because it can prevent weeds and maintain perfect soil quality.
Galvanized steel is a very popular material. Due to its durability, it is used for various horticultural products, such as water storage containers, sheds, roofs, etc. They are also very easy to maintain and durable
As metal garden beds can be very expensive, it is in the best interest of any gardener to ensure that they take full advantage of the life they purchase. One of the key ways is to understand what zinc leaching is and how it affects your metal garden bed.
When the soil in your garden is too acidic, the zinc layer covering the metal garden bed will start to decompose. Although the decomposition process is relatively slow, it will reduce the service life of the metal garden bed for a long time. Moreover, the stronger the acidity of the soil, the faster the decomposition.
This is why anyone seeking to use a metal garden bed should first consider the acidity of their soil. The pH value of garden soil varies from neutral to weak acid, which will affect the durability of metal garden beds. It is recommended to use pH neutral soil or neutralize any acidic soil before using with metal garden beds.
You may also want to consider using pH neutral water for your plants. Natural water sources, such as faucets or wells, may not be pH neutral, or may contain other substances that may affect soil acidity (such as chlorides or calcium). Avoid using highly acidic water sources or any untreated water to neutralize the pH value, as this will accelerate the decomposition of zinc in the metal garden bed.
Also, remember the preferred acidity level for plants in your garden. The biggest mistake a gardener can make is to assume that all the plants he grows like pH neutral soil.
Although yes, many plants do grow best in pH neutral soil, but there are some common exceptions, including azalea, camellia and hydrangea.
When preparing the metal garden bed, neutralizing all the soil and water may have adverse effects on the growth of acid loving plants, so please ensure that you conduct appropriate research in advance.
How can I make my metal garden bed last longer?
Galvanized steel covering metal garden beds may last long enough to meet your long-term gardening goals. However, those of us with limited budgets may wonder if there is a way to squeeze more life out of our metal garden beds.
As mentioned earlier, the most important thing to remember is to observe the acidity level of the environment, especially the soil. Some types of compost and manure are generally more acidic than others (such as fresh chicken manure) and should be avoided.
Gardeners with a large number of acid loving plants may need to reconsider using metal garden beds or heavy plastic linings to prevent acid soil from contacting zinc linings. When doing so, avoid using plastic linings under the bed as this will mess up the drain.
Metal garden beds or galvanized steel garden beds are excellent containers that every gardener should consider adding to their tool library.
If set correctly, a metal garden bed of a certain height can save a lot of time bending in the garden. They can also prevent weeds from growing, effectively drain water, and help maintain soil quality for a long time.
The best part is that the average metal garden bed may last at least 30 years, enough to meet any long-term gardening goals. However, care must be taken to prevent excessive decomposition of zinc, which is usually caused by the use of too acidic soil.
If you take the right steps to minimize the impact of zinc leaching, then in terms of gardening tools, metal garden beds can be one of your most durable purchases.
