Should You Line the Sides of a Raised Garden Bed?
May, 8 2025
Ever stood in your backyard, shovel in hand, and wondered if you really need to line the sides of your raised garden bed? It’s one of those questions that seems simple, but once you dig into it (pun intended), things get interesting.
The whole idea is pretty straightforward: some folks want to keep pests out, stop weeds from creeping in, or maybe get a few more years out of their wooden beds before rot sets in. But then you hear other people swear that liners can wreck drainage or mess with your soil’s breathing room. So who’s right?
If you’re setting up a new bed or reworking an old one, taking a closer look at what lining does—good and bad—can save you hassle down the line. Let’s get to the real talk about when to line, what to use if you do, and how those choices could make or break your next harvest.
- Why People Consider Lining Raised Beds
- The Pros and Cons of Lining the Sides
- Popular Liner Materials (And What Actually Works)
- How Lining Affects Soil Health and Drainage
- Dealing With Pests, Rot, and Weeds
- Smart Tips From Everyday Gardeners
Why People Consider Lining Raised Beds
Most gardeners like the idea of lining their raised beds because, honestly, who wants to rebuild them every couple of years? Weather, bugs, and time all eat away at untreated wood, which is still the most popular material for home gardens. Adding a liner can put that problem on pause.
Another big reason comes down to keeping stuff out that doesn’t belong. Burrowing critters like moles and voles, and even sneaky weeds, are known for creeping in from the sides. A proper liner acts as a barrier. Some folks even use metal mesh at the bottom and sides to keep animals out but still let roots get enough air.
- Wood rot is a major headache—especially if you’re using untreated pine or fir. A liner keeps soil and moisture from sitting right up against the boards, slowing down decay.
- Many people live in places where contaminated soil (think lead, arsenic, or old chemicals) is a worry. Lining the sides makes sure your garden soil doesn’t touch anything nasty hiding in the ground or old railroad ties.
- If you’ve ever had weeds creep up between your raised bed boards and take over, a liner can help block them out for good.
Some gardeners also line the beds just to help hold in water a bit better, especially when they use porous wood or live in hot, dry places. Others do it just for peace of mind, knowing they’ve done everything to make their raised garden bed last longer and give the harvest a fighting chance.
The real question is whether every raised garden bed needs a liner or if it’s just extra work. Not everyone will see the same problems, but these are the main reasons this debate never seems to go away.
The Pros and Cons of Lining the Sides
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to whether you should line the sides of your raised garden bed. It really boils down to what problems you’re trying to solve—and what kind of setup you’ve got. Here’s the straightforward rundown, minus the fluff.
Pros of Lining Raised Garden Beds:
- Slows down wood rot. Lining the sides helps keep moisture out of wooden bed frames, which is handy if you want your frame to last longer. Even pressure-treated wood can rot eventually, so a physical barrier helps stretch out its lifespan.
- Keeps out burrowing pests. Ever found a mole or vole tunneling through your beans? A liner can help block these critters from getting into your soil from the sides, not just the bottom.
- Stops soil from escaping. Sometimes, rain or watering can wash soil through the cracks in wooden or stone beds. A liner helps hold everything in place, so you’re not topping off your beds every spring.
- Prevents direct contact with toxic materials. If your bed is built from questionable lumber, like railroad ties or old pallets, a liner acts as a barrier. That means fewer worries about chemicals leaching into the soil.
Cons of Using a Liner:
- Drainage can take a hit. Some liners, especially plastic, trap water. Root rot’s a real risk if your raised bed doesn’t drain freely. Plants need air and water to move easily—if the liner turns the bed into a bathtub, nothing thrives.
- Can mess with soil health. Good soil has to breathe. If the liner’s too tight, soil life slows down. Microbes, worms, and other tiny helpers can’t do their jobs.
- Pests can still get in. Mice and voles are creative. Unless the liner is heavy-duty and properly installed, determined pests might chew right through thin plastic or landscape fabric, especially at the corners.
- Extra upfront work and cost. Lining isn’t free. Quality material, whether it’s heavy landscape fabric or sturdy plastic, adds to your budget and the setup time.
If you’re the type who likes hard numbers, consider this: in a Carolina State University extension study, raised beds with liners showed wooden frames lasted about two years longer on average. But here’s the kicker—beds with poor drainage liners reported up to 30% more root disease problems.
| Benefit | Potential Downside |
|---|---|
| Longer wood life | Poor drainage if material isn’t breathable |
| Blocks some pests | Can be chewed by determined rodents |
| Keeps soil in | Extra upfront cost and setup time |
When you boil it down, lining can solve real problems, but it can create some too if you pick the wrong material or don’t install it right. The raised garden bed you’re building matters—different climates, materials, and what you plan to grow all play a role in your decision.
Popular Liner Materials (And What Actually Works)
If you’re looking at the huge shelf of garden supplies and feeling lost, you’re not alone. There are a handful of materials people use to line the sides of raised garden beds, but not all of them are smart choices. Here’s what you really need to know before you grab anything.
First up, heavy-duty plastic. Builders’ plastic or pond liner comes up a lot, but there’s a catch: plastic blocks water movement. If you line the sides with thick plastic, moisture can get trapped, which might rot your wood or make roots unhappy. If you do go for plastic, poke a bunch of holes in it near the bottom for drainage and only line the sides, not the bottom.
Landscape fabric is another favorite. It’s made to let water through, but keeps dirt and pests out. This is probably the most common liner because it protects the wood (or metal) from direct soil contact, stretches easily, and usually lasts a couple years. Landscape fabric won’t stop termites, but it does cut down on weeds and helps with moisture control.
Some folks try cardboard or newspaper because it’s cheap or even free. It works at first, but breaks down quickly. That’s great if you just want protection for one growing season or want to smother weeds in the short term. After a rainy winter, though, it’ll be gone.
Wire mesh (like hardware cloth) is a must in areas with burrowing critters like moles or gophers. Most people actually pair hardware cloth on the bottom and fabric on the sides for the best mix of protection and drainage. If you have a serious pest problem, this combo is your safest bet.
Let’s see how some of these options stack up in real-life gardens:
| Liner Material | Water Drainage | Lasts Multiple Seasons | Pest Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | Low (unless perforated) | Yes | Mediocre |
| Landscape Fabric | High | Sometimes | Good for weeds |
| Cardboard/Newspaper | High | No | Short term only |
| Hardware Cloth | High | Yes | Excellent (for burrowers) |
If your goal is to extend the life of your raised garden bed and make maintenance easier, most gardeners vote for landscape fabric on the sides and hardware cloth underneath. Plastic liners get mixed reviews, especially in wet climates. Skip carpet remnants (they can contain chemicals) and avoid using anything treated with harsh pesticides or herbicides, since those can leach into your soil.
How Lining Affects Soil Health and Drainage
Here’s the thing: lining the sides of your raised garden bed can really change how your soil holds up and drains water. If you get it wrong, you could end up with soggy, compacted soil that never dries out—or soil that dries out way too fast. When you use non-breathable liners like thick plastic, it traps water against the wood and in the soil. That’s a recipe for root rot and fungus, because plant roots need air just as much as water.
Breathable liners, on the other hand—like landscape fabric or burlap—let air and water pass through, but still offer some protection. These types of liners won’t block water or oxygen, which keeps roots healthier, especially in deep beds where drainage is tricky. And for folks using untreated wood, a liner slows down wood rot but doesn’t trap too much moisture under the surface. That balance is key.
Let’s make it concrete: your raised garden bed is basically a big container. Without any liner, water and nutrients will leave through the sides and bottom, especially if you’re using really loose soil mixes. Some people like this because it stops water from pooling. But if your area gets loads of rain, liners can actually help prevent soil from washing out through gaps in the wood.
| Liner Type | Impact on Drainage | Effect on Soil Health |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic Sheet | Slows or blocks drainage, can cause pooling | Can cause root rot, less airflow |
| Landscape Fabric | Allows drainage, keeps soil in | Roots get air, helps prevent wood rot |
| No Liner | Maximum drainage, soil loss risk | Soil may dry out quickly, wood rots faster |
If you use a liner that lets the bed breathe, you’ll probably see fewer problems with fungus and root diseases. Just make sure water can still drain out, because standing water in any garden bed is begging for trouble. And if your garden is in a spot that floods or pools water, skip the solid liners or punch holes in them before using.
Dealing With Pests, Rot, and Weeds
Pests, rot, and weeds are the big three headaches for raised bed gardeners—so you might wonder where lining the sides fits in. Here’s the deal: lining can actually help with some of these issues, but it’s not magic. Let’s break it down.
If tunneling critters like moles, voles, or gophers keep showing up in your garden, lining the sides and bottom with hardware cloth (wire mesh) can make a difference. Some folks use 1/4-inch mesh to keep out just about anything that digs. Here’s a pro tip: the mesh should extend slightly up the sides so critters can’t just wiggle in from underneath.
What about rot? If your raised bed frame is made of regular untreated wood, it’ll break down faster when it’s in contact with damp soil. A physical liner stops that soil from sitting directly against the wood. Heavy duty landscaping fabric or even thick plastic (like pond liner) can throw an extra couple years onto your bed’s life. Just watch out—some plastics don’t let the wood “breathe,” which can lead to hidden moisture problems or mold if you’re not careful.
Let’s talk weeds. Most weeds sneak in from the top, carried by the wind or dropped by birds. Lining the sides doesn’t do much against those, but it does block weeds that try to creep in from lawn edges. If you use something like landscaping fabric along the sides, it stops grass roots and weeds from worming through gaps where the bed meets the ground.
Here’s a look at how lining impacts each problem:
| Issue | Does Lining Help? | Common Materials Used |
|---|---|---|
| Pests | Yes (if using hardware cloth/mesh) | Wire mesh, hardware cloth |
| Rot | Yes (with plastic or heavy-duty fabric) | Pond liner, thick plastic, landscaping fabric |
| Weeds | Somewhat (blocks edge invasion, not airborne) | Landscaping fabric, cardboard |
One last thing: only line the sides, not the bottom, if you have heavy clay or poorly-draining soil. Roots and water need a way out—otherwise, you’ll just swap weeds for a swampy mess. For most people, picking the right side liner stops a bunch of future drama without making things complicated. You don’t need to take an all-or-nothing approach—focus on the areas where pests or rot have been a real issue in your own garden.
Unless you’re dealing with a major critter problem or using cheap untreated wood, the average raised bed doesn’t need a liner that wraps it up like a present. Keep things practical and address issues one by one, and you’ll be a step ahead of most gardeners.
Smart Tips From Everyday Gardeners
People who actually get their hands dirty every spring have plenty to say about using liners in their raised garden bed. Their advice comes from trial, error, and the occasional miracle harvest. Here’s what’s working right now in backyard plots across the country.
If you’re lining for rot protection, a lot of folks go for landscape fabric or thick plastic sheeting, but with a twist—poke a bunch of holes. This keeps water moving so you don’t end up with a soggy, smelly mess. Some swear by old carpet scraps for the sides. It lasts years and shields wood from wet soil. Just make sure it’s not the type with chemical treatments.
Want to stop burrowing critters? Wire mesh (like hardware cloth) is where the pros land. Cut it to fit the sides and even line the bottom six inches. That way, you block moles or voles but roots still get space to spread.
- Use stainless steel staples or screws to keep liners tight and in place. This helps stop the material from bunching or sagging over time.
- If you garden in a spot with heavy rain, always leave a two-inch gap at the top so liners don’t act like a water dam and drown your beds.
- Skip treated wood or plastic bags for liners; both can leach chemicals into your soil, which is the last thing you want near tomatoes and salad greens.
Friends running big community gardens often check for signs of trouble a couple of times a year. If they see roots circling at the edges or water pooling up, they pull back liners and adjust. According to a 2023 community garden survey in Chicago, beds with breathable liners needed 15% less maintenance compared to those with solid plastic—less weeding and almost no rot.
Last tip—and maybe the most important—don’t forget to replace liners every few years. Most folks swap fabric or mesh every 3-4 seasons. It’s a quick fix that keeps things fresh and avoids scary surprises in the middle of summer growth.