Having to decide between raised garden beds vs. container gardens could be a little bit tricky, however, understanding the advantages and disadvantages, while you put some other factors into consideration will help in making the right and most suitable choice for you.

In raised garden beds, you have more flexibility in size, shape, and material, unlike in pots. However, pots are better if you want to easily move plants around the garden or bring them indoors for the winter. Below are some of the pros and cons of each of these options to help you in making the right decision.

Advantages of Raised Garden Beds

• Raise garden beds are easily customizable, you can customize them any way you want into your desired shapes and sizes, or even with cool accessories that make your life easier. For example, you can build a cover for your raised garden bed to protect plants from cold and pests. There are varieties of materials to choose from if you build from scratch.
• Another benefit of raised garden beds is improved drainage. Due to the elevated soil, water will easily drain out of the beds with the help of gravity. This could be helpful if you have clay soil, or if your garden gets flooded after rain. However, proper drainage can be achieved by improving the soil structure.
• Using separate raised garden beds for different plants can help to prevent the spread of diseases. Some diseases are common to different plants, hence, planting them in separate raised beds prevents the spread of diseases.
• Raised garden bed helps in preventing pests and weeds from taking over the garden. Animal pests, such as moles, will also have a more difficult time getting in if you use a raised garden bed liner.
• It also encourages less hunching, kneeling, leaning, and straining, which helps in reducing strain on your back and easier for people with mobility issues.

Disadvantages of Raised Garden Beds

• Unlike pot gardens, raised garden beds might be hard to move around once it is in place, especially if they are built with heavy materials like brick, rocks, etc. Although you might be able to disassemble a wooden or plastic raised bed and move it piece by piece. However, it will take some time and effort.
• Starting a new garden requires purchasing compost, good soil, mulch, amendments, young plants, gardening tools, and more. This makes setting up raised beds to be expensive.
• Raised beds are prone to damage in the long run. The combination of damage from insects, moisture, wet soil, and sunlight will combine to damage wood that is left outdoors.
• They are not suitable for plants with large root systems, like fruit trees, or artichokes.

Advantages of Container Gardens

In container gardens, plants are sown in garden pots of different sizes.

• Planting in pots also have their advantages. For example, pots are easy to move, so you aren’t stuck leaving them in one spot after you plant your crops. They can also be brought indoors for the winter, to keep them alive in colder climates.
• Plants in containers are also less prone to disease spread/outbreak as each plant is planted in its individual pot. Quarantine the infected plant is also easier by just moving the pot away from any others.

Disadvantages of Container Gardens

• Soil drainage may be difficult if the pots do not have drainage holes. Hence invest in good planters/pots with drainage holes or drill drainage holes yourself.
• As pots contain a small amount of soil, the soil temperature will fluctuate faster than the soil in a raised garden bed. Making it poor insulation against cold on cold nights when the temperature approaches freezing.

Conclusion

In choosing between the most suitable one for you between raised bed and container gardens, you should consider factors like; your budget, time, whether you'll have to move the plants around, and if you are worried about the spread of disease between plants.