For DIY gardeners looking to elevate their backyard food production, raised garden beds can provide higher yields and easier access than traditional in-ground planting. Two popular options on the market are the Vego Garden and Birdies raised beds. But how do these products stack up against each other? Keep reading for a detailed feature-by-feature comparison.
Durability and Longevity
One of the top concerns for raised bed shoppers is durability – how long will the bed last before needing to be replaced? Both Vego Garden and Birdies make longevity claims. Vego Garden states their beds are designed to have a 20+ year lifespan, while Birdies boasts 13+ years for their oldest beds still in customer use.
The exact materials and construction used in the beds support these impressive lifespan estimates. Both utilize thick 22-24 gauge corrugated galvanized steel as the main structural component. The rippled steel sheets provide strength while allowing flexibility to prevent cracking. Galvanization protects against rust and corrosion.
For edge support, the Vego Garden uses steel lattice while Birdies opts for thicker plastic lattice edging. The Vego steel may prove more resistant to degradation over the very long term. However, both materials should hold up reasonably well to environmental factors like sun exposure and freeze/thaw cycles.
Advantage: Vego Garden due to full steel construction, though Birdies likely comes quite close in anticipated real-world performance and longevity.
Assembly and Installation
Easy DIY assembly is also important for raised garden beds aimed at home gardeners. Complicated multi-hour construction projects with pages of instructions can quickly dampen one‘s enthusiasm for upgrading the backyard!
Both the Vego Garden and Birdies beds earn positive marks when it comes to the assembly process. Most users report 1-2 hours from box to fully planted raised bed. The primary difficulty mentioned is installing screws along the bottom edge of the beds, which can be physically demanding in a squat position.
Having an extra set of hands helps speed up the process considerably for both products. But a single person can manage the full assembly solo in a reasonable timeframe with some reasonable effort. All necessary tools and hardware come included. The instructions provided get high ratings for both clarity and usefulness from the majority of owners.
Advantage: Draw. The assembly process clocks in very similar for both raised beds. An extra helper makes things easier, but it‘s entirely possible to DIY with just the included components.
Materials and Construction Quality
In addition to basic structural soundness, small details in materials and construction quality impact aesthetics, pricing, and overall product appeal. Here‘s how the Vego and Birdies beds compare based on typical owner experiences:
- Primary material: Both utilize thick 22-24 gauge galvanized corrugated steel for strength and rust resistance
- Edge/corner reinforcements: Vego = coated steel lattice plates, Birdies = thicker black plastic lattice
- Assembly hardware: All stainless steel screws/bolts
- Manufacturer attention to detail: Vego Garden arrives with cleaner edges, tighter uniformity in corrugation alignment, and less frequent dents/defects from shipping and handling based on customer inspection upon unboxing.
The biggest visible difference comes down to the sidewall edge reinforcements used by each manufacturer. Vego Gardens maintain a consistent steel construction look with their galvanized steel lattice. Birdies opts for the cost savings of thick black plastic. Functionally these plastic edge guards seem to perform nearly the same as steel, though cosmetically some users note a more DIY appearance.
Advantage: Vego Garden based on slightly more attention to fit & finish details as well as consistent steel construction for enhanced durability and aesthetics. However, these differences come at a premium price which not all buyers may value.
Packaging and Unboxing Experience
First impressions matter – even for DIY raised garden beds! When purchasing anything sight unseen, the unpacking and inspection process leaves a lasting mark (sometimes literally) on the product‘s perceived quality and value.
Here the Vego Garden gets high marks for decent packaging and arriving in near pristine condition. The thicker corrugated cardboard holds up well to shipping, with comments of only minor scuffs and dents upon opening. Given the long narrow shape of raised beds prone to flexing damage without proper support, this is impressive.
Birdies receives more complaints around packaging insufficiencies and resulting damage. Some owners report entire warped corners or partially crushed sides that hamper an otherwise straightforward assembly. For the price, complaints emerge of a perceived skimping on proper packing material by Birdies.
Advantage: Vego Garden. Their combination of durable construction and improved packaging helps units arrive in flawless shape for smooth assembly. While Birdies likely functions just fine long term, initial unboxing proves underwhelming for more buyers.
Cost Comparison
With significant overlap in materials, construction, and performance, pricing often steers savvy shoppers toward one option or the other. Here‘s how they stack up based on common configurations:
- Dimensions: Both offer beds in 2‘, 3‘, 4‘, 5‘, 6‘ lengths; 12" or 18" heights; 24" width standard. Fully customizable dimensions available.
- Price: Roughly $150-$600 range for common sizes. General cost comparison breakdown:
- 24"W x 12"H:
- 2‘ Length – Birdies $20 cheaper
- All other lengths – Vego Garden $30-$90 cheaper
- 24"W x 18"H
- All lengths – Vego Garden $30-$100 cheaper
- 24"W x 12"H:
Advantage: Vego Garden wins on cost for most typical size configurations, especially for taller 18" garden beds. The price difference ranges from moderate to substantial. Birdies competes closely on smaller beds under 4‘. Worth weighing specific dimensions and prices during decision process.
Aesthetics & Design Options
Both brands offer just a single color option: galvanized steel. No additional colors or finishes available. This helps durability and cost savings but limits aesthetic flexibility.
In terms of size customization during ordering, both offer broad flexibility on length, width, and height configurations to suit garden design needs. Prices scale up incrementally as dimensions increase.
No additional decorative accessories or add-ons available for either Gardies or Vego beds currently. Owners seeking to increase visual flair need to handle aftermarket with 3rd party trellises, netting, or decorative edge borders.
Advantage: Draw. Basically identical on aesthetic considerations. Those desiring color choice or decorative bolt-on upgrades will need to look at other brands or handle customization themselves after purchase.
Key Feature Comparison
Beyond the major factors above, here is a quick look at how Vego Garden and Birdies stack up across some other potentially important buying considerations:
- Built-in irrigation channels: No, both require DIY or aftermarket add-ons
- Wheels for mobility: No, both are stationary once assembled
- Trellis/plant support accessories: No first-party options, requires separate 3rd party purchases
- Side shelf attachments: No side shelf accessories available
- Cedar or composite liner: No liner options included, bring your own or purchase separately
- Raised feet for better drainage: Yes, both use raised perforated galvanized steel feet
Overall the two product lines focus exclusively on the raised bed structure itself with limited accessory support or add-ons. Those wanting advanced features will handle aftermarket based on personal gardening needs and setup.
Advantage: Draw. Essentially identical in key features outside the core raised bed offering. Shoppers must assess whether the baseline durable steel garden box meets needs versus requiring purpose-built enhanced add-ons.
The Verdict: Which is the Better Buy?
Bottom line – how do these two popular raised garden beds compare overall based on the comprehensive analysis above? Let‘s summarize the key advantages and disadvantages:
Vego Garden
- ✅ Longer 20+ year durability
- ✅ Sturdier full steel edging reinforcements
- ✅ Significantly cheaper for most sizes
- ✅ Better protection against shipping damage
- ❌ No accessory options or configurations
Birdies
- ✅ Still very durable at 13+ years
- ✅ Clean logo branding on corners
- ✅ Cheaper for beds smaller than 4‘
- ❌ More frequent unboxing defects
- ❌ No accessory options
The Winner: Vego Garden
For the majority of home garden setups, Vego Garden‘s higher attention to construction quality and durability pairs with significant long term cost savings for the best overall value. The lack of accessories is no worse than the Birdies offerings. Meanwhile better packing and materials edge out the competition for an expected extra 5+ years of usable lifespan.
Birdies works best for smaller spaces needing just 1-2 short raised beds. Their costs stay very close to Vego for beds in the 2-3‘ range. Yet most buyers will realize greater return from Vego Garden beds that seemingly withstand wear and tear impacts better over their impressively long 20 year rated lifespan.
So for gardeners seeking maximum yield from their investment through durable low maintenance construction, superior protective packing, and cumulative pricing advantages as beds grow in size, Vego Garden claims the decisive win for best raised garden bed. Their customizable beds transform backyards at pleasing price points for decades to come.