Question 1

How much does it cost to build a raised garden bed in South East London?

Accepted Answer

A built timber bed is typically £40-£350 and a brick or stone one £150-£900 depending on size, market estimates across UK, not our rate, and London sits 10-25% above national figures. Our own beds are quoted after a free survey, with the written quote within 3 business days.

Question 2

How deep should a raised bed be on London clay?

Accepted Answer

30cm minimum, 45cm if you want root vegetables, fruit bushes or shrubs. On clay we also break up the subsoil under the bed, which gives roots another spade's depth without paying for more timber or more soil.

Question 3

Do I need to dig out the clay underneath, or can you build straight on top?

Accepted Answer

Straight on top works if the garden drains at all. We still dig out a spade's depth and fork the base, because clay left intact under a bed acts like the bottom of a bucket. Where a garden properly floods, we say so rather than building a bed that will sit in water.

Question 4

What is the cheapest material for a raised bed that still lasts?

Accepted Answer

Pressure-treated softwood sleepers, around £15-£40 each from UK suppliers, market estimate, not our rate. The UC4 treated ones are rated for ground contact with a 15 year service life. Scaffold boards and fence boards are cheaper and bow apart within two or three wet winters.

Question 5

How much topsoil and compost do I need to fill a raised bed?

Accepted Answer

A 2m x 1m bed at 45cm deep takes 0.9 cubic metres, which is about one and a half bulk bags. Mix seven parts topsoil, three parts compost and two parts sharp sand, and order 10% extra because it settles.

Question 6

Are raised beds worth it in a small terraced garden?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and in a small garden they are usually the single best thing you can do with the budget. One 2m x 1m bed at a comfortable working height grows more than a whole clay border does. Our guide to growing your own vegetables in a small London garden covers what to put in it.

Question 7

Can you build raised beds on a patio or on decking?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The bed needs to be 45cm deep because roots cannot reach the ground, and it needs drainage holes through the sides at the base. On decking we check the frame first, because a full bed weighs over a tonne and a half.

Question 8

How long do timber raised beds last before they rot?

Accepted Answer

UC4 pressure-treated softwood sleepers carry a 15 year ground-contact service life and that matches what we see. Untreated softwood can go soft in 7. Oak lasts longer than both with no treatment. A liner between the timber and the soil buys you a few more years.

Question 9

Can a raised bed go right against a neighbour's boundary?

Accepted Answer

It can sit against your side of the boundary, but do not fix it to a fence that is not yours and do not let wet soil press against the panels, because that rots them from the bottom. We leave a 5cm gap, or build the bed free-standing. If the fence is already going, our garden fencing service sorts that first.

raised beds

Raised Garden Beds in South East London: What They Cost on Clay Soil (2026)

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