Green Tips From The Community May 2025

 Shou Sugi Ban Garden Beds: A Backyard Experiment in Burnt Beauty



Walking around the Haller Lake neighborhood, it’s hard not to be inspired. So many beautifully maintained gardens and thoughtful landscaping—each one a small expression of creativity and care. After countless walks soaking in the sights, I couldn’t shake the urge to create a little garden nook of my own. Last year, I finally decided to take on the project.



Designing a garden can be overwhelming. There are so many factors to consider. Some questions are well-documented—like understanding your soil, sunlight, and microclimate. Others, not so much: Should I build raised beds or plant directly in the ground? What material should I use—wood, metal, concrete, stone? And what size should the beds be?



My garden journey started small, and honestly, with a bit of luck. I stumbled upon some 4” x 8” Douglas Fir beams on sale and, on a whim, decided that wooden raised beds sounded just right. I bought them—and then… did nothing. For quite a while.



Here’s why: I knew untreated wood breaks down quickly when in constant contact with soil. I’m not a fan of using painted or treated lumber near edible plants, and in past projects, I’d tried using plastic liners as a barrier. But plastic often doesn’t hold up well to the elements either. It breaks apart and eventually fails to protect the wood.



I felt stuck. I wanted something that would last—a garden bed material that was beautiful, natural, and durable. Concrete blocks, metal, and stone all came to mind, but they didn’t quite fit the look I was going for. Then one day, an idea struck me: Shou Sugi Ban garden beds.



I did a quick internet search and, surprisingly, found very little about using this traditional Japanese technique for garden beds. That sealed the deal—it was worth a try.



What is Shou Sugi Ban?

Shou Sugi Ban is an ancient Japanese wood preservation technique that involves charring the surface of wood to protect it. It’s most commonly used on cedar and has been practiced in Japan since the 18th century.



We had used this method on our home’s siding, and I loved the results. The charred surface forms a protective carbon layer that naturally resists insects, moisture, rot, decay—and even fire. By removing the organic material and sealing the wood’s surface, it becomes more resilient, like the charcoal left behind in a fire pit—weather-resistant and slow to ignite again.



The best part? It’s an ideal method for climates like ours in the Pacific Northwest, where long rainy seasons tend to wear down unprotected wood. There's a wealth of info online about its history and techniques, but for now, I’ll walk you through how I used it to build my own garden beds.

Steps to Build Shou Sugi Ban Garden Beds

1. Choose the Right Wood
Use untreated wood—burning treated or stained lumber can release harmful chemicals. Cedar and Douglas Fir are great choices that are both accessible, native, and budget-friendly.

2. Prep Your Materials
To make sure every side of the wood was evenly charred, I pre-cut my beams to size. I went with 2½’ x 5½’ beds and doubled the beams to create beds around 16” tall—high enough to keep most bunnies from hopping in too easily.

3. PPE and Work Zone Safety
Before you start burning, prep your space. I had a hose with running water nearby, plus PPE: gloves, eye protection, and fire-resistant shoes (I used my leather hiking boots). Make sure to work away from anything flammable. I set up on a gravel driveway away from my house.

4. Burn the Wood
I used a flamethrower attached to a propane tank to char the surface. When the wood started to catch, a quick kick would smother it. I moved the flame across each piece until I achieved a textured finish—raised grain and a bit of cracking, especially around the knots. The propane tank might get cold over time and reduce the flame’s intensity—a great excuse for a coffee break.

5. Cool, Rinse, Repeat
After burning, I hosed each piece down and let them cool overnight in a spot away from anything flammable. The next day, I pre-drilled holes, screwed the beams together, and set the beds in place.

Final Thoughts

This project has been a fun and rewarding experiment, driven by curiosity and a bit of trial and error. I’ve planted my beds this year and am excited to see how they perform. So far, I’m loving how sleek and dramatic they look in the garden—the natural black finish is cool.

Will they prove to be the most durable wood garden beds out there? Only time will tell. But I’m already looking forward to building more.

Mattie Wheeler

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