The Link-a-Bord plastic raised beds are an ingenious modular raised bed system made in the UK from recycled black plastic, quick to build, maintenance free and with a 20+ year life expectancy.
Available in a choice of four sizes (0.5m x 1m, 1m x 1m, 1m x 2m & 1m x 3m), complete Link-a-Bord kits include the 15cm deep recycled black plastic double-skinned planks, straight/corner links, plastic dowels and cover caps for a perfect finish.
All the Link-a-Bord components are available separately allowing you to create your own raised bed layout, with 0.5m and 1m planks, straight and corner links, plastic dowels, cover caps and braces which we advise using on all beds over 1m long and 2 beds high to prevent bowing.
If creating a bed that is two or three tiers in height, do not cut the dowels flush with the boards as shown in the video. Leave the length of them as they are until you have added your required tiers. Once this has been done, you can then cut the dowels flush.
We recommend the 1m internal support braces - which are not included with the kits but are available separately - on assemblies of 1.5m and over and extra height beds to enhance the aesthetics of the product. If you do not wish to use the support braces there maybe slight bowing of the beds but this will in no way affect their functionality. The number of braces required:- 1m x 2m bed = 1 brace required, 1m x 3m bed -2 braces required.
Please Note: When using support braces you will need to drill a hole into the straight connector to hook the support brace through, these are not supplied pre-drilled.
Extra Value Sets – buy Link-a-Bord pack of 2 and save up to £5!
- Link-a-Bord is a UK made plastic modular raised bed system
- Simple to construct – connectors and planks simply slot together and are secured by dowels
- Maintenance free, fade, frost and rot proof
- Made from recycled black plastic
- Complete kits available in 4 sizes: 0.5m x 1m; 1m x 1m; 1m x 2m and 1m x 3m - All measurements are the internal bed dimensions
- Extra Value 2 packs also available – save up to £5
- Components are also available separately so you can create any layout
- Double-skinned planks provide a layer of air between the internal and external sides for great insulation
- Planks are just over 2cm thick
- Manufacturing process ensures boards will last indefinitely – 20+ year life expectancy
- Link-a-Bord beds can be stacked to increase the height of your raised beds
- Supplied in black to help absorb heat
- Insulates the root system of plants and helps prevent drying out
- Spare 1m dowels available separately
- This product is supplied as a kit for self assembly
- We recommend that Link-a-Bord beds are constructed to a maximum height of 45cm (3 tiers) and fitted with support braces to prevent bowing and board damage on all beds that are over 1 metre long. Please Note: When using support braces you will need to drill a hole into the straight connector to hook the support brace through, these are not supplied pre-drilled.
Please note: If you are looking to stack 3 beds on top of each other (buying a double pack and a single pack) you will need to purchase additional dowels to secure the beds as those supplied will not fit through all 3 beds when stacked. If you are unsure or want any more advice, please contact our Customer Services Team on 0333 400 6400 or email enquiries@harrod.uk.com
Product Reviews
We have very hard stony soil with clay underneath so raised beds are a good alternative. These were easy to install and were stronger than I expected. The plants are growing away happily, so overall I am really pleased to find something which makes gardening easier!
I have now four of these on my allotment - one of which is I reckon 20 years old. They are really easy to use and made of recycled plastics which is great - easy to move as well which is excellent. Cant recommend them enough and you can use them doubled up for a raised bed.
I feel churlish writing this review but there is a disconnect between the excellent quality of the product and the unhelpful instructions. I bought a self-assemble product and I am sure that experienced DIYers and gardeners will have no problems but at the end of the process I have two raised beds which look perfect and a bunch of long black poles which dont seem to fit anywhere. I really dont see why you dont use some relevant Youtube videos, I also bought a Mesh net kit and this came with no instructions and I am still experimenting trying to work out the setup. Great product disappointing instructions.
Many thanks for leaving your product review, your comments are greatly apprieciated and these have been passed on to the R & D dept. for further review.
LINK-A-BORD - SIZE MATTERS!
When purchasing your Link-a-Bord kits or components, it's important to remember that the actual dimensions of the assembled bed will be greater than the length of the boards. This is because the size of both the corner and straight links is added to the board length (which, incidentally, are exactly 0.5m or 1m in length). If you've plenty of space then you're probably not too bothered about a few centimetres here and there - but if you're trying to squeeze a bed into the tightest corner of the garden, it might make all the difference!
To help you plan you garden and ensure any kits you are interested in purchasing will fit, we've compiled this handy guide to the exact sizes of the four Link-a-Bord kits...
Link-a-Bord Bed Size |
Internal Dimensions |
External Dimensions |
0.5m x 1m |
0.54m x 1.03m |
0.58m x 1.075m |
1m x 1m |
1.03m x 1.03m |
1.075m x 1.075m |
2m x 1m |
2.05m x 1.03m |
2.1m x 1.075m |
3m x 1m |
3.07m x 1.03m |
3.12m x 1.075m |
We haven't forgotten those of you who might be planning a bed using the individual components! As rough guide, add on 20mm to the internal size for every corner and straight link, and 40mm for each corner on the external and you shouldn't go far wrong!
We recommend the 1m internal support braces - which are not included with the kits but are available separately - on assemblies of 1.5m and over and extra height beds to enhance the aesthetics of the product. If you do not wish to use the support braces there maybe slight bowing of the beds but this will in no way affect their functionality. To fit the support brace the straight connectors will need to have a hole drilled in them to hook the support braces inside.
We recomend that Link-a-Bord beds are constructed to a maximum height of 45cm (3 tiers) and fitted with support braces to prevent bowing and board damage.
If creating a bed that is two or three tier in height, do not cut the dowels flush with the boards as shown in the video. Leave the length of them as they are until you have added your required tiers. Once this has been done, you can then cut the dowels flush’.
PLANTING INFORMATION
We've also compiled a quick guide to the depth of raised bed you'll need to grow favourite Kitchen Garden crops. This list is by no means definitive but if you're unsure of how many tiers to go for, the over-riding advice is to go deeper - this gives you the flexibility to grow a wider variation of vegetables in the future and also helps with crop rotation.
Here's that list;
Vegetable Type |
Depth of Bed Required |
Number of Tiers |
Carrots |
30/40cm |
2 Tier at least |
Potatoes |
30/40cm |
2 Tier at least |
Parsnips |
30/40cm |
2 Tier at least |
Beans |
15/20cm |
1 Tier at least |
Peas |
15/20cm |
1 Tier at least |
Courgettes |
15/20cm |
1 Tier at least |
Beetroot |
30/40cm |
2 Tier at least |
What The Press Say
The Guardian WeekendJanuary 24th 2009
From 10 times Gold Medal Winner at Chelsea Flower Show, Medwyn Williams
"I grow my leeks for Chelsea Flower Show in Link-a-bord because I find all my plants perform better in Link-a-bord double walled containers."