Wheels or castors on a raised garden bed — what's the difference?

Short answer: wheels are bigger and roll best over grass, gravel and uneven ground; castors are smaller, swivel in any direction, and shine on smooth, flat surfaces like a deck, patio or concrete. Which one suits your raised garden bed comes down to one question — what surface will it live on?

When should I choose wheels for a raised garden bed?

Choose wheels if your bed lives on lawn, pavers with gaps, or anywhere the ground isn't billiard-table flat. Their larger diameter rolls over bumps and soft patches instead of digging in. Wheels are usually fixed in direction, so you steer like a wheelbarrow — fine for the "chase the winter sun across the yard" move most gardeners actually do.

When are castors the better pick?

Castors swivel 360°, so you can nudge the bed in any direction without a three-point turn — perfect on a balcony, deck or courtyard where space is tight and the surface is smooth. The trade-off: small swivelling wheels struggle on grass and gravel, so on soft ground they're the wrong tool.

Can a full raised garden bed really be moved?

Yes — that's the whole point of our portable garden beds on wheels. The wheels are rated for the job: bed, moist potting mix, full-grown plants and all. Renters love them (the garden moves out when you do), and sun-chasers love them more — in winter you roll the bed to the warm north-facing spot, in a brutal February you roll it into afternoon shade. If a storm's coming, the whole crop can shelter under the eaves.

Can I add wheels to a bed later?

You can — wheel kits suit any Corrogarden planter box or raised garden bed, and they bolt to the timber frame with the steel fasteners included. It's much easier to fit them before the bed is full, so if you think you might ever want to move it, add the wheels on day one.

More garden guides: how deep should your bed be? · what grows on a trellis? · common raised-bed mistakes

What should I plant right now? Our free garden calendar shows what suits your postcode this month — and which pests to watch for. Ready to grow? Browse our garden beds on wheels or design yours with the garden bed builder.