Plan ahead

Building your structure

When you receive your WoodBlocX raised bed kit you will also receive a set of instructions that are bespoke to the design that you choose, simply follow the steps and you will have built your raised bed in no time at all.

If you need any extra help we have read a series of short how-to videos that are designed to answer all possible questions with a visual answer, and as always, if you need to speak to a human being, give us call on 0800 389 1420.

What can I sow in my WoodBlocX raised bed now?

February is the month to get started and there is plenty of veg that you can sow directly into the soil including garlic, shallots, board beans, carrot, parsnips, peas, spinach - loose soil is ideal for these crops so fresh bought-in soil used to fill the bed will work perfectly.

To get an instant price for a raised bed for your garden click here or if you would like something a little bit different and need to discuss your ideas with one of our designers click here to use our free design service.

Small gardens can be tricky spaces to work with and there are lots of raised beds and containers available that have been designed specifically for smaller gardens, however most are either made from plastic, poor quality materials or come highly treated with chemical preservatives.

Our raised beds and planters are long-lasting, each is guaranteed for 15 years thanks to the high quality wood we use and our water-based preservative which won't leach harmful chemicals into your soil, the structures easy to build, look fantastic and are ideal for gardens of all shapes and sizes, even the smallest of plots. Take a look at how some of our customers have used our modular timber system to transform their gardens.

Multifunctional

Tall planting

Get creative with the space you have available and think about ways you can incorporate different elements into the space. This bench is nestled within a raised bed providing a space to grow plants and herbs and place to sit and relax without taking up too much room. This design could also be adapted to include a small pond, or if your plot is on a hill switch the bench for steps.

Tall planters create the illusion of space, due to their height they free up floor space. Plus if you keep with width to a minimum, like the example above, you can still add colour and interest to small space, plus planting, weeding and watering is super simple thanks to the accessible height. WoodBlocX structures can be painted too if your plot is in need of a splash of colour.

Corners

Small section

Our modular system can help you to make the most of corners, choose from standard single-height raised beds or add some tiers and cascading plants to really add some interest to your garden. Corner raised beds take up less space too. Equally, if you small garden is angular use our free bespoke design service to get a shape that suits to the space perfectly.

By taking a small section of space from one side of the garden can really make a difference and won't impact too much on the entire space you have available. Installing a raised bed from one side of the garden to the other provides a large growing space without encroaching into rest of the garden, it makes a really nice feature too. Place your raised bed in front of a fence, wall or along the side of the house.

Our top three WoodBlocX planters for small gardens

A contemporary and stylish feature for your patio or decking, the Small Cubic Garden Planter is an ideal way to introduce a touch of nature into your living space. This smaller design is suitable to showcase a variety of small shrubs, heathers and even some hostas who enjoy more shaded areas.

With its modest design the Slender Garden Planter is ideal for more narrow spaces or fence lines and provides a sleek foundation for a trellis feature for climbing plants.

Unlike a square or rectangular shaped planter the Hexagonal Garden Planter offers a modern alternative design that can feature as a centrepiece in your garden. This multi-sided design can also prove as an effective shape to fit into less conventional shaped garden spaces.

Free bespoke design service

Use our free bespoke design service to ensure your raised bed fits the space perfectly, we can also take into account any slopes. Just send us your measurements and we'll do the calculations for you, to find out more about the service click here.

Our maintenance-free wooden planters are ideal for patios, driveways and balconies, made from high quality Scots pine, which is treated with a water-based preservative to make them hardwearing and long lasting.

If you’re looking to reduce the amount of plastic products you use in the garden a WoodBlocX planter is an excellent choice and it will look great surrounded by terracotta pots too. Here’s six reasons to choose a WoodBlocX planter for your next container purchase.

Make a statement

Doorways flanked with planters either side make for an inviting entrance, twisted bay trees, fragrant lavender bushes or shaped buxus. Our Large Planters are ideal for making a statement at the front and rear of the house or at the base of steps and in front of gates.

Small spaces

Our planters are available in range of shapes and sizes, they are ideal for gardens of all sizes. The square Small and Large garden planters are popular options for smaller gardens, patios and balconies, whilst the Slender Planter can run along a wall or be used to divide a space.

Versatile

WoodBlocX planters are really quick to build thanks to our unique modular system, the lightweight wooden blocks and the simple dowel system means that planters can be built really quickly, in less than an hour in some cases. The lightweight pieces make our planters idea for use on balconies as parts can be easily carried up stairs.

Indoor and outdoor planting

Our Small Garden Planters are not restricted to just being outdoors either, conservatories, garden, sun rooms even hallways and kitchens to bring natural planting indoors. Use as a pot for indoor plants such as yuccas, cheese plants, or for olive trees that can be placed outside during the warmer weather and brought indoors when the temperature drops.

Traditional and modern finishes

Tailor your planter to your garden style with a choice of capping options, the traditional capping overhangs the planter lightly and is our bestseller. The modern option finishes flush with the rest of the structure providing a more minimalist finish; our Contemporary Planter Bench is a great example of our flush capping.

Colour

WoodBlocX planters can be customised with colour, choose a paint colour to brighten up your outdoor space or simply plant them up with plants that provide colour through the seasons, add cascading varieties to really utilise the space.

Customer photos

We offer a free bespoke design service to all of our customers so if you need to tweak your planter design slightly to suit you and your garden simply call or email us ad we will be happy to help.

One of the most important garden trends of 2019 is natural gardening, to create a completely natural garden takes a lot of time and a lot of effort, but there are small changes you can make to help you become a little greener in your garden in 2019. We’re looking at pest control and some of the natural ways you keep them under control without reaching for the chemicals and if you do make sure you choose a good alternative that has good environmental credentials.

Ponds and water features

Ponds are magnets for attracting wildlife to the garden, especially the type that will eat some of your unwanted garden pests including birds and frogs. You could also install a birdbath or feeder to encourage more birds or a low-level bowl of water for hedgehogs to drink from. A WoodBlocX timber pond is not only made from natural and sustainable wood that is treated with a water-based preservative, but they can also include an extra inner-layer for planting, flowers or herbs around the edges to make the pond even more of a magnet for wildlife. To view our range or to get an instant price for a pond using your own bespoke sizes click here.

Crop protection

Pests will always find a way to get to your plants but crop protectors are a fantastic preventative measure for lots of different pests. If you’re growing vegetables caterpillars can be a big problem, butterflies tend to lay their eggs between March and April and good mesh will keep them from laying eggs on the leaves of plants in your vegetable patch, it will also stop slugs and snails slithering in, it will stop the birds from pecking at your freshly sprouted seedlings and keep the cats from digging up your nicely weeded, freshly dug soil. WoodBlocX crop protectors are easy to use and look great, simply stake them into the soil and add netting to keep the pests at bay.

Raised beds

If you have a rabbit problem in your garden and want to grow edibles you need a wooden raised bed, the extra height will prevent them from snacking on your produce. Slugs and snails will always manage to get to your plants but if they have further to travel up a raised bed you have more chances to catch them! Our raised bed calculator tools will indicate whether or not the structure is tall enough to keep rabbits out and it will also give you an instant price for a wooden raised bed built to your size requirements. In addition to specifying your own sizes, you can also use our free design service or browse the different shapes and sizes.

For a chance to win some great prizes including some alternative pest control products plus a battery powered multi-tool for the garden enter our Garden Detox competition.

Our guide to Retaining Walls

If all gardens were flat they would be very boring! That’s not to say a flat garden is boring, but many of us have gardens with challenging terrains, slopes and sheer drops to contend with.

This is where garden retaining walls come into play, and there are many benefits of retaining walls; from simply serving the purpose of retaining an area of earth or to landscape a garden creating flat platforms and interesting focal points.

There are already many styles of retaining walls in the UK so there are lots of different options you can go for. Our modular system has proved very popular with customers looking for an alternative to brick, stone, gabions and railway sleeper retaining walls. Below we’ve provided a rundown of the materials you can use to build retaining walls in your garden and how the WoodBlocX™ retaining wall stacks up against them.

Brick and Stone

Brick and stone retaining walls are a common choice, but these materials can prove very expensive and need regular maintenance. You will need to include foundations to build on to create a stable structure. To build it yourself would really be a challenge, you need to ensure the bricks are laid straight and level and the mortar mix is correct. If you’re not experienced in bricklaying it is best to enlist the help of a skilled tradesperson. This can be costly and is another added expense you wouldn't get with a DIY product.

Gabions

Gabion retaining walls are made using gabion baskets and cages. They provide a more industrial look and are generally used for retaining earth where water is close by and for extremely high retaining walls. No foundations are needed with gabions, but you will need some heavy individual stones to fill the baskets which can be very hard if you are building by yourself.

Railway Sleepers

Railway sleeper retaining walls are popular and single lengths of railway sleepers can be used to build a wood retaining wall for the garden; but the individual pieces can be very large and heavy. To secure the lengths in place you will need reinforcing bars and a large drill bit to create the holes for the bars. The old treated sleepers contain harmful chemicals too, which can have an unpleasant odour and leach into the soil. New untreated versions are available, but they will become susceptible to rot after only a few years.

WoodBlocX™

WoodBlocX™ supplies wooden/timber retaining walls for the garden. The quick-to-build retaining walls offer a fantastic alternative to brick, stone, gabion and railway sleepers.

Our retaining walls are the natural and beautiful choice for landscaping your garden, and with everything you need supplied directly to your door there’s no need for foundations or substantial groundworks to build the walls. The BlocX™ themselves are light and easy to handle and building requires no heavy lifting. WoodBlocX™ use wood from sustainable sources and we only use a water-based preservative. You can rest assured that your new easy to build retaining wall is eco-friendly, and suitable for organic growing too.

WoodBlocX™ can help you with your next project with our free design service; either speak to our team of designers who will work with you to create something that is totally bespoke to your garden or use our new retaining wall calculator which will give you an instant price for the size of retaining wall that you need. We provide a full retaining wall building design guide and general instructions with all purchases.

For retaining wall ideas and design guides and to see how to build a garden retaining wall using WoodBlocX™, simply head over to the retaining wall section on the website or speak to one of our friendly customer service team on 0800 389 1420 if you have any questions. 

For more helpful garden tips and inspiration check out our blog page, and to find out more about our timber raised beds, planters, walls, garden furniture, ponds and more all made in Great Britain, head to our home page.

January is the perfect time to make plans and simple changes that you will see the benefits of in the months to come, we’re not talking about the usual New Year fads of diets and exercise, not on this blog! We’re talking about detoxing your garden to create a healthier environment for relaxing and growing plants and veg.

Swap petrol to electric

Whilst petrol products including lawnmowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers are known to get the job done quicker and provide extra power, they’re heavy, smelly, noisy and need a lot of maintenance. There are some great battery and electric options available some that even offer the same power as petrol and are well worth researching next time you need to buy one.

Switch plastic for terracotta and wood

Use fewer chemicals

There will always be pests in the garden, so to reduce the use of your bug killer spray or treatment create little habitats for beneficial wildlife such as bug houses, they’re fun to make yourself or you can buy them. The more beneficial creatures that you can encourage to your garden the more aphids, white fly and black fly will get eaten! If you need to use a bug killer choose one that is neonicotinoid free which is better for bees.

Beds and borders

Compost

Save money on bags of compost and start making your own, this isn’t a quick fix though, if you start recycling your vegetable peelings, tea bags, egg boxes, newspapers and garden waste now into a small compost heap you may be able to start using it within six months to a year. However, you will reduce the amount of waste you throw away and by putting it back into the garden you will provide some great nutrients for the soil.

For more helpful garden tips and inspiration check out our blog page and to find out more about our timber raised beds, planters, walls, garden furniture, ponds and more made in Great Britain head to our home page

Lift

Mulch

Spreading a good mulch around sensitive perennials will provide insulation and protect their sensitive root systems, a hardwood mulch is the best option, scatter it in borders and raised beds, building up a good protective layer, you could also use compost or straw. Don't wait until it is too cold to apply your mulch, add it whilst the soil is still moist and slightly warmer.

Protect

Larger containers and timber raised beds can be protected from the wind, rain and frost by ‘overwintering’. Simply wrap a protective cover around the structure, different materials can be used from hessian to fleece, your local garden centre will stock a good selection and will be able to advise which is best for the plants you need to protect.

You can protect your crops all year round with WoodBlocX Crop Protectors. These attractive, rustic and functional rods enable to keep pests such at bay in the spring and summer with a covering of netting or to fix winter fleece or hessian protection too.

Grow

There are still crops that can be grown outside now in wooden raised beds, containers or open ground including onions, peas, broad beans and garlic. If you’re keen to get growing this winter check out our range of easy to build and hardwearing raised beds. Choose from all shapes and sizes to suit your garden.

With the hot summer days making way for the cooler autumnal weather, September and October are great months for making the changes in the garden that you didn’t get round to doing in the spring and summer. Here are few tips from us to get you started...

Tidy up

Update at your own pace

Maintenance 

For ideas and inspiration for your next garden update visit our website.

Uneven surfaces and paths

Flat, smooth and debris-free surfaces are a must for anyone with mobility issues, an uneven surface can increase the risk of falls, paved/hard landscaped areas are ideal as grass, mud and gravel surfaces can become dangerous after a spell of wet weather.

Ensure fallen leaves and other garden debris is cleared on a regular basis. Pathways need to be wide enough to suit the user.

Planting

Seating

Seating in one form or another is an essential part of any garden, creating an area to sit and enjoy the garden or to take a break from gardening. The positioning of garden furniture is key and of course it needs to be easy to access, if you prefer a sunny spot make sure you note where the sun falls at the time of day that you are most likely to use the space. Our timber garden benches and seating can be incorporated into a raised bed design or installed separately.

Storage and watering

Some sport of storage is a must for all gardens, some traditional sheds can be narrow and difficult to access for storing garden tools, watering cans, hose pipes and other garden essentials, a good option for anyone needing easy access is a lean-to shed that sits directly on the patio with wide double doors which can be opened up taking away the need to step inside.

For larger gardens a good irrigation system for the dryer months will not only save lugging a watering can around the garden, it will also save a lot of time too and ideal for dry summer weather.

Check out our accessibility page and the raised bed kits that we recommend

To celebrate the Soil Association’s Organic September, we’ve put some tips together for ‘healthy gardening’. Maintaining a garden is hard work and it can be easy to reach for the chemicals to control weeds and pests as a quick and convenient fix, but there some quick switches you can make to work towards creating a healthier garden...

The growing space

Many gardeners opt to grow plants and veg in wooden raised beds either at low level to clearly divide a space up or to add extra height, making the area more accessible. Railway sleepers are a popular choice but many are chemically treated and over time the chemicals can leach into the soil. WoodBlocX raised beds use sustainable wood that is pressure treated without chemicals making them a great clean option. 

Control products

There are lots of products available that offer alternatives to harsh chemicals, look for products in garden centres and retailers that show either the Soil Association or Organic Farmers & Growers logos, these products will include kinder alternative ingredients and generally work just as well as the chemical versions.

Weeding - If you’re lucky enough to not have too many weeds to deal with they can be controlled by hand, but it can be a thankless task so it's always good to have a treatment to hand. There has been lots of debate about the use of glyphosate in weedkillers recently due and its potentially harmful effects on our health, most weedkillers will clearly state on the bottle whether they are glyphosate-free, look for the products that feature natural active ingredients.

Pest control - Encourage natural pest control in your garden, make a bug hotel to attract beneficial insects which will feed on other insect pests. The tiny gaps between the blocks in our raised beds are also great hiding places for beneficial bugs. Birds and hedgehogs are great pest controllers, install feeders and baths for birds and make sure hedgehogs can get in and out of the garden. Chickens are also a good option but they can scratch and peck away at the plants and veg you've grown! If you do need some extra help in the form of a bug killer spray or concentrate look for neonicotinoid-free treatment, neonicotinoids are used in pest control and are harmful to bees.

Feeding - There are lots of organic solid and liquid fertilisers available or you can make your own compost, whilst this won’t be fully organic it is a great way to utilise kitchen waste and is much more sustainable than using shop-bought compost.

For made to measure raised beds for growing plants and edibles, made from clean and sustainable timber, head over to the website.