Ridiculously expensive. Inefficient use of space.

gekkodojo ...

Far stronger than a square of the same volume because there are no corner fasteners or walls to bulge.

That may be true and may or may not be relevant. However my point was that a series of circles in a row doesn't use space as efficiently as one long rectangle, where the width of the rectangle = the diameter of the circle.

I have built a number of raised beds using lumber commercially available and when comparing the price of those with the beds in the article the cost is very comparable. Whether that would be an efficient use of space is up to the gardener.

kimmq is kimmsr

That's not a fair comparison. I could construct the same type of circular raised bed with the same material for probably 1/5 the cost.

More specifically: they're charging $70 for a 2' high, 5' diameter circle of what looks to be welded wire and landscape fabric. 5' diameter is approx 15' circumference. I can buy 5'x100' welded wire for $100. Cut to half the height, that is 50 cents per foot. $7.50 for one cage. I can buy 50' of 3' high landscape fabric for $10. $3.30 per cage. So roughly $11 to build one myself vs $70 plus shipping.

Total rip off.

they look like grow bags....

"I can buy
5'x100' welded wire for $100. Cut to half the height, that is 50 cents
per foot. $7.50 for one cage. I can buy 50' of 3' high landscape fabric
for $10. $3.30 per cage. So roughly $11 to build one myself vs $70
plus shipping."

Nope. That first cage cost you $110 for the bulk wire and the landscape fabric. The cost of that wire and fabric doesn't vanish off your credit card when you build the cage.

Two cages = $55 each

Three cages = $37 each

(Here you need another roll of landscape fabric, for $10, because you can only get 3 cages worth out of 50 feet. and I don't feel like figuring out what that does to the cost per cage.)

You can get to $11.67 per cage as a materials cost only if you make all 12 of them.

Or if you find an equally valuable use for the remainder of mesh and landscape cloth. Stashed in a garage doesn't make that first cage cost less.

Wow - you're right. $11.67 per cage not $11 based on my example. I stand corrected. And you're right, it won't work if I buy a 100 foot roll and only use 15 feet. Very insightful.

Let me try to make the point again with a different example (because we all know how difficult it is to find uses for welded wire fencing in the garden!)

i can buy a 28" x 50' roll of wire fencing for $19 plus the 50' of landscape fabric mentioned above for $10. So even if I only make one cage and throw away the remaining 35' of each roll, it comes out to $29 for that one cage. Still much cheaper than the $70 plus shipping to buy one on line.

let me do the math on the fabric: It is $10 per 50' roll, so $3.33, $6.66 or $10 per cage depending upon if you build 1,2 or 3 cages.

I double dug & used a round raised bed that need no walls at all.

I have some concrete blocks & clay bricks that are 60- 100 years old, so they are pure & leached out by now. I could use these, but have found no need with my beds.