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Raised bed gardens are more popular than ever, but for years I thought it was just a fad that would eventually dwindle. I avoided raised bed gardening because these gardens do require more frequent watering. Watering a garden is a chore I did not want to spend extra time doing, especially in the summer. However, I’ve been dealing with lower back pain recently, and gardening hasn’t been as enjoyable an experience as it once was. Gradually (and somewhat reluctantly), I have turned to container gardening. When shopping for a raised bed, I specifically looked for taller containers to minimize the bending. I tested the Vego Garden 17-Inch-Tall 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit, and I’m now a raised bed garden convert.
Not only did gardening in these taller containers help alleviate my back pain, but the modular design of the Vego Garden kit allowed me to customize the layout and easily move the bed if needed. Now I can enjoy gardening without worrying about straining my back or spending excessive time on maintenance tasks.
Vego Garden 17-Inch-Tall 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit: At a Glance
Rating: 9/10
SPECS
- Material: VZ 2.0, a proprietary material made from a steel substrate coated in zinc, aluminum, and magnesium that’s finished with USDA-compliant paint
- Capacity: 14 to 25 cubic feet, depending on configuration
- Color: 4 color options: pearl white, olive green, modern gray, and British green
PROS
- Easily configurable to fit your needs, it offers 6 different options
- Made from corrosion-resistant, nontoxic steel
- Lightweight and easy to transport (unfilled) to anywhere you need it
CONS
- Assembly can be tedious; there are a lot of little parts to organize
Get the Vego Garden 17-Inch-Tall 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit at:
What is the Vego Garden?
Vego Garden manufacturers metal raised garden beds. They are made from a proprietary material known as VZ 2.0, which is a steel substrate coated in zinc, aluminum, and magnesium, and then topped with USDA-compliant AkzoNobel paint. This material ensures that the garden beds are durable and corrosion-resistant, and they have a lifespan of over 20 years. Additionally, the material is 100 percent nontoxic and eco-friendly, and it does not leach harmful substances into the soil.
One of Vego Garden’s standout features is its customization. The garden beds allow users to choose from multiple configurations and heights to suit their gardening needs and available space. The different designs make it easy to accommodate a person’s physical abilities and the layout of their dream garden.
Thoughtfully designed with rounded corners, smooth edges, and rounded cap nuts, these metal raised garden beds are safe for all gardeners, as well as children and pets. Various add-ons and accessories, such as trellises, covers, lights, compost bins, and other upgrades, are available from Vego Garden. These can enhance the raised beds’ functionality and aesthetics.
How easy is the Vego Garden to put together?
Assembling a Vego Garden raised bed is a straightforward process, but it can be tedious. The kit comes with clear instructions and all the necessary hardware. If you are a visual learner, there are well-produced videos on Vego Garden’s YouTube channel that show step-by-step how to assemble the company’s products. However, due to the modular design and multiple components (including a lot of screws, washers, and nuts), it took more time and patience to assemble than I thought it would.
The kit arrives in 10 pieces, and there are six straight panels and four curved panels. After unpacking and organizing all the pieces, you need to remove the protective film from the panels before you begin; this film protects the panels from getting scratched during shipping. I followed the video‘s advice and used a power drill with a socket attachment to tighten all the screws. Although one person could assemble the Vego Garden alone, it was much easier to do so with the help of a partner.
I also tested Vego Garden’s wall trellis system; this system had a lot of parts, too. I watched the assembly video because I found it easier to follow along with the video than the paper directions. I received the trellis system after I’d assembled the raised bed and filled it with soil first, and I found out the hard way that you must attach the trellis to the raised garden bed before filling it. The trellis system requires some of the screws from the raised bed in order to securely attach the trellis. I ended up having to scoop out about a third of the soil to access the screws needed—lesson learned.
Once it’s assembled, though, the durability and convenience of the Vego Garden make it well worth the effort.
What is a Vego Garden’s modular design?
Vego Garden raised bed kits feature a modular design, allowing the user to assemble the kit into various configurations. The company offers kits with 10-in-1, 9-in-1, 6-in-1, and 4-in-1 configurations. The 6-in-1 kit I tested offers six different combinations that can be used to meet a user’s raised garden bed design preferences. These combinations include options for different shapes and sizes, such as rectangular, square, oval, and round. And if you purchase several beds, you can configure them into larger L-shaped and U-shaped beds. This versatility allows you to customize your garden layout to fit your space and gardening needs. I used all 10 pieces to create a 5-foot-long by 3.5-foot-wide garden bed.
Is the Vego Garden easy to use?
The Vego Garden raised garden bed system is as easy to use as any other raised garden bed. The beds are available in 11-, 17-, and 32-inch heights. The 17-inch bed, which I tested, is the perfect height for using while seated on a stool. Configuring the garden bed at 5 feet long by 3.5 feet wide made it easy for me to access the surface area of the bed without too much stretching. One standout feature of Vego’s beds is the reinforced safety edging. This rubber material features reinforced metal, and it’s easy to install by slipping it onto the edges of the garden bed. I’ve used metal garden beds in the past without this edging, and it’s easy to cut yourself on the bare edges if you are not careful. I really liked the safety edging feature and did not worry about slicing my arm open whenever I reached into the bed. Additionally, the reinforced safety edging not only provides protection against accidental cuts but also adds durability to the overall structure of the garden bed. This ensures that the edges remain intact even after prolonged use.
Is the Vego Garden safe and durable?
These modular garden beds are designed to ensure the safety of all gardeners, and also children and pets. The most obvious safety feature is the lack of sharp corners on the beds; there are only rounded corners. The top two rows of each bed have rounded cap nuts to prevent cuts to hands and snags to clothing while gardening. Lastly, the safety edging on the perimeter of the bed features a steel mesh on the inside that grips the lip of the bed so it won’t slide around while you are leaning into the bed and working. Without it, you’d be dealing with a dangerously sharp edge. Unlike some other raised bed products I have tested, which don’t have these safety features, Vego Garden put careful thought into this safe design.
The metal beds are made from high-quality corrugated steel that is 0.6 millimeters thick and reinforced with a protective zinc, magnesium, and aluminum coating. The metal is finished with a food-safe USDA-compliant paint that is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions and resist rusting while still being nontoxic and eco-friendly. Vego Garden products are known for their safety and durability.
How much does it cost to fill a Vego Garden bed?
Vego Garden beds are bottomless. The company suggests using the Hugelkultur method to fill your bed. Hugelkultur is the process of layering organic garden waste inside a raised garden bed before adding soil. Why use this method? Well, my 5-foot-by-3.5-foot bed needed 17.5 cubic feet of soil to fill. My local home improvement store sold organic soil for around $10 per 2 cubic feet, so filling the container would cost $87.50. The Hugelkultur method saves you money by offsetting some of the space at the bottom of the bed. It also helps improve soil quality and water retention as the materials break down over the years.
Are the Vego Garden raised beds worth the money?
Determining whether the Vego Garden raised beds are worth the money depends on various factors. Raised garden beds made from wood are less expensive but do not last as long. Wood garden beds do require some building skills and may not provide a uniform aesthetic. Vego Garden raised beds are designed to last for 20 years with proper care and maintenance. Also, the beds are attractive and will give your garden a nice, uniform appearance, and the beds are available in four color options. Lastly, Vego Garden offers a plethora of accessories that you can add to your garden system. All the company’s accessories are made from durable materials that will last for years. Vego Garden’s modular systems are designed to let you add on as needed, so you can budget your add-ons as your garden grows.
Where to Buy the Vego Garden Raised Bed Kit
Get the Vego Garden 17-Inch-Tall 6-in-1 Modular Metal Raised Garden Bed Kit at:
Meet the Tester
Debbie Wolfe is a photographer, author, and freelance writer in various niches. She has contributed hundreds of home, garden, and crafting articles and DIY tutorials for leading media outlets and retailers, including HGTV, Real Simple, Forbes Advisor, The Spruce, The Home Depot, Walmart, and Mother Earth News. She is the author of two DIY books: Do-It-Yourself Garden Projects and Crafts and Crafting with Herbs from Skyhorse Publishing. Her testing approach is straightforward and budget-minded.