Wendy Wellnitz, La Crescent, Minn.: “Our latest best buy is galvanized metal raised garden beds. My husband, Jim, and I have gardened with raised beds for most of our 48 years of marriage. Some were simply beds of dirt raised above the surrounding surface.

“When we moved to our latest home, we tore down several old buildings and repurposed 2 by 6 and 2 by 8-in. boards for our new garden beds. We treated them with a non-toxic product called Eco Wood. It worked for a few years, but last year most of our 4 by 8-ft beds had succumbed to some degree of rot.

“Looking for replacement options, I focused on metal beds for greater longevity. There are numerous shapes, metal thicknesses and finishes, often from a single supplier. You can choose from simple galvanized to your choice of powder-coated colors. Prices are also all over the board.

“We settled on 12-in. high, 4 by 8-ft oval-shaped beds without bases from Land Guard (www.landguardgarden.com). The open floor allows for drainage and lets the roots go as deep as they want to better absorb nutrients. They’re made from Q195 galvanized sheet metal. Two center support rods prevent spreading, which was a problem even with wooden beds. The metal is 0.78 mm thick.

“Beds were delivered two per 33-lb box, with six curved panels for the rounded ends and four straight panels. Each panel had four predrilled holes, and each bed took about 15 to 20 min to assemble.

“The holes and the edges of the panels were accurate and smooth. The nuts and bolts, as well as the center support rods, were galvanized as well.

“One downside is that they’re easy to dent if a heavy tool is dropped or someone leans too hard. However, they’re equally easy to bend back. We’re considering slipping old garden hose that has been slit over the edges. That should provide protection for the beds and gardeners alike.

“The beds run close to $50 each, but try making rectangular, 12-in. deep, 4 by 8-ft beds out of wood for that price. Plus, we won’t have to replace them again.”