Creating a gorgeous flower bed doesn’t have to be difficult if you use an easy formula for plant selection and follow these simple steps.
Location
If you’re starting a new flower bed, chances are you have a location in mind already. If not, spend some time exploring your yard and follow the sunlight patterns to find the best spot.
Once you have the location selected, you’ll need to experiment with the shape and size using a garden hose. Thanks to the flexibility of a garden hose, you can easily form the bed outline, step back to see if it will work, and change it if needed.
If the location you selected is next to your home, consider adding 1.5 to 2 feet of river rock between your home and the flower bed. This will allow you easier access to garden and prune your plants later and deter insects, like termites, from entering your home.
Preparation
If there’s existing turf where you want to place the new flower bed, you can use a sharp shooter shovel to remove the grass for easier maintenance later.
Or, you may choose to layer a few inches of newspaper as a barrier that will decompose over time and help destroy the grass and any other weeds underneath. Be sure to first mow this area as low as possible, then wet the newspaper well.
Build
Next, purchase bags of high-quality garden soil and compost or have a load delivered to your home. Mound the soil and compost combination about 6 to 8 inches deep across the entire flower bed you’ve created, making it higher in the top and middle so that it slopes down toward the edges.
Decorative Edge
Now you can line your new flower bed with moss stone, river rocks, brick, or any other type of edging material that suits your preferences.
Plant Selection
Finally, it’s time for plant selection! It’s a good thing you were already paying attention to the sunlight pattern while choosing the location of your new flower bed, because that information will come in handy when selecting plants too. While shopping, be sure to note the full growth potential of any plants you select to allow plenty of room in your flower bed.
When considering various flowers and plants, you’ll need to start with some foundation shrubs or trees. Then, follow this formula to fill out the rest of the bed: thrillers, fillers, spillers.
- The thrillers will go in back and should be your tallest and showiest flowers.
- Then, choose some fillers that will add bright, fun colors to your bed, but grow shorter than your thrillers.
- And finally, choose spillers (or plants that mound or stay small) to go in the front along the edge of your new flower bed.
While choosing your thrillers, spillers, and fillers, think about the color of your home and what might complement your exterior best. If you have a light brick or paint, consider dark vibrant flowers that will bring contrast to your landscape. If you have a dark exterior, perhaps try pastels or even white flowers to pop and create instant curb appeal.
As you plant your selections, you can add humates or mycorrhizal fungi in each hole you dig to give your new flower bed a jump start. If you prefer, you can also add 3 to 4 inches of mulch on top.
For more information about how to build a new flower bed or choosing plants, stop by the Garden Center or call 281-354-6111 to visit with our expert staff. We’ll get you growing!
