Do Metal Beds Heat Up More Than Wooden Garden Beds?

Last year, I knew I needed to replace some wooden beds that were falling apart. I had one Garden in Minutes metal raised bed, and I loved its durability, 17’ depth, and perfect fit with watering grids. However, I had one question, “Do metal beds heat up more than wooden garden beds?” I wondered if replacing wooden beds with metal beds was a good idea in my hot summer climate. I wanted to answer these questions before adding more metal beds to the garden. 

For the test, I took soil temperature readings from my metal Garden in Minutes bed and cedar garden beds for about four weeks. 

Note: The Garden in Minutes metal bed is made of coated steel that is less reflective than standard galvanized or Aluzinc garden beds. (Other metal garden beds may perform differently.)

Surprisingly, the temperature difference was not as significant as I thought it might be. The outer inch or so of the metal beds was usually (but not always) hotter by a degree or two, but the bed’s interior was similar for both beds. 

Incidentally, when taking additional measurements, I discovered that sun exposure, mulch, and watering made a bigger difference than bed type. For instance, beds in direct sunlight on the western side of the garden heated up more than those on the eastern side. I also found that the soil temperature in beds with more mulch stayed cooler for longer than those with less. Beds that were recently watered were cooler than if it had been a couple of days since watering. I didn’t record these measurements, but I plan to take additional readings next summer to document more soil temperature findings. 

After considering these results, I concluded that the benefits of the Garden in Minute’s metal beds outweigh the modest heat gain on the outer edge of the bed. These metal beds are durable, long-lasting, termite-free, and require little to no maintenance. 

Last fall, after conducting this test to see if metal beds heated up more, I replaced three of my wooden garden beds with metal ones from Garden in Minutes. I recommend these functional, durable, and long-lasting garden beds if you are trying to decide whether to use metal or wood garden garden beds.

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