Up to several days, depending on project complexity
Cost
$500–$3,000
You’ll spend a lot on supplies, but you may still save money by DIYing.
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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Shovel
SUPPLIES
Soil
Mulch
Wood planks
Landscape edging materials
Various plants
Flower bed kit (tools will vary depending on design)
Nothing increases your yard’s wow-factor like a colorful flower bed. The best part: You don’t have to make anything over-the-top to have an extravagant centerpiece for your yard, so DIYing your own bed is a great project even for amateur horticulturalists.
You can hire a local professional gardener if you want to expedite the process. But if you want to save money (and love that feeling of fresh soil in your hands), you can break ground yourself bylearning how to make flower beds.
Prepping to Build a DIY Flower Bed
Before you get started on your DIY flower bed, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
Decide on a Location
You can place a flower bed just about anywhere, from your front entryway to a tucked-away corner of the backyard. But keep in mind: You may want to choose an area with low foot traffic to protect the flowers from being accidentally trampled.
Here are some other factors to consider as you pick the perfect location for your flower bed:
Always be mindful of plant height: If you’re planting near a driveway or curb, will the fully grown plants impact driver safety?
Where you live: Do you live in an area that gets icy during winter? If so, salt spray runoff can kill plants, so plan around it. Also, take note of any winterization prep you will need to do.
Sunlight access: How much sun does the location get? Many types of bedding plants require six full hours of direct sunlight per day. You can choose a shady area, but this may limit what you can plant.
Soil quality: What’s the soil like? Most flowering perennials and annuals prefer loamy soil with plenty of compost. Perform a soil test and add any deficient nutrients to improve overall plant growth.
Watering: You may want to place a flower bed near a readily accessible water source, such as a garden hose.
Decide on the Size, Shape, and Type
This is the time to really let your creativity shine—the sky's the limit here. Want to place a small flower bed around your mailbox? Do it. Want to focus on tall flowering plants to help block unsightly areas of your yard? You can definitely do that.
“It is also important to take maintenance into consideration when determining the size of your garden,” says Tara Dudley, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Plant Life Designs. “The bigger it is, the more weeding, dead-heading, and planting will need to be done.”
Go geometric: A tightly sculpted geometric shape, such as a triangle, will be jaw-dropping.
Line your front walkway: Place flowers on either side of your front walkway to welcome visitors with style.
Put some color under the trees: Make small flower beds underneath trees in your yard to create a calming atmosphere.
Surround porch risers: Make circular flower beds around each porch riser for a quick DIY flourish.
You should also consider the benefits of a raised flower bed. You can purchase raised flower beds as a kit, making setup an absolute breeze. Additionally, a raised flower bed can be a great way to circumvent any nutrient deficiencies you may have in your soil, as the plants in this type of bed will primarily feed off of store-bought garden soil.
Photo: ArtistGNDphotography / E+ / Getty Images
Prep the Area
Now it’s time to break ground—literally. Here are some tips to get your lawn prepped for a flower bed quickly and efficiently.
Outline the Area
Plot where your flower bed will go by making an outline in your yard. You can use yard marking paint or a garden hose. If you are going with a geometric pattern, be sure to use a measuring tape or ruler to perfect those straight lines.
If You’re Planting on the Ground, Dig Up the Grass
Use a shovel to slowly and carefully dig out any grass. Remove one small section at a time, beginning at the center of your future bed. Make your way to the edges from the center, removing turf and grass as you go. Finally, lift and peel away the sod. Be careful to leave the soil intact as you clear away vegetation.
If You’re Planting in a Raised Bed, Prep the Ground
If you are placing a raised flower bed over grass, be sure to cover the turf with some newspaper and a high-quality planting mix. Finish it off with a generous layer of compost. This will keep the grass from coming through. However, make sure the turf grass is completely dead before applying new soil as there could be issues down the road with weed control. This could take up to two weeks.
If you are placing a raised flower bed over concrete, pavement, or another hard surface, start by making a protective bottom layer out of plywood planks, landscape fabric, or heavy plastic sheeting. This will help protect the original hard surface from discoloration.
Prepare the Soil
Once you’ve prepped your space, it’s time to prepare the soil. Start by clearing out any obvious debris you encounter, such as rocks and sticks. Apply a bag of soil to the treated space and add some water so it’s damp but not fully wet.
Then use a flat shovel, garden spade, or tiller to work the soil and turn it over. Try to get down at least 12 inches when turning the soil for optimum nutrition. Add a thick layer (about 2 to 3 inches) of compost and turn the soil over again. Finally, rake the surface of the soil to level it.
Personalize
Once the grass has been removed and the soil prepared, you have a flower bed. Consider it a blank canvas to create any blossoming nirvana you desire. To spruce it up a bit, add some personal touches before you add flowering plants.
Put down some quirky materials to create unique landscape edging. Cover the outline you made in step 3 with plastic, stone, brick, wood, glass bottles, seashells, or anything else you think will look great.
Get to Planting!
Photo: Jasmina007 / iStock / Getty Images
Congratulations—you have successfully made a flower bed. Now you get to fill it with any plants that catch your eye. Choose whatever flowers you love most, though there are some plants that tend to work best in flower beds, including:
Low-growing annuals such as lobelia, impatiens, and sweet alyssum are a good choice for entryways.
Taller-than-average flowers, such as hollyhocks, cosmos, and sunflowers, will look gorgeous along a property fence.
Colorful plants, including snapdragons, marigolds, and zinnias, will add elegance and serenity to a backyard.
Raised flower beds could do with a border of cascading flowers, including bacopa, moss rose, calibrachoa, and ivy geranium.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Making a flower bed is a relatively inexpensive DIY project, though it can be time-consuming. If you already have the necessary lawn care tools, you’ll just be paying for mulch, compost, and whatever plants you desire. A decent flat shovel will cost around $30 and a raised flower bed kit will cost anywhere from $80 to $1,500, depending on the complexity of the design.
If you are going to hire a pro, expect to pay $300 to $3,000, depending on the size. Gardeners will also charge extra for creating a clearly delineated border. Putting in a bed with borders will cost $1,000 to $3,000 for each garden.
As a technology enthusiast with a professional focus on smart home appliances and accessories, Lawrence Bonk keeps a keen eye on the home improvement innovation space. He is constantly searching for new and convenient ways for homeowners and renters to make the most of their domiciles and has written for publications such as Huffington Post, Engadget, CBS, and many more.
As a technology enthusiast with a professional focus on smart home appliances and accessories, Lawrence Bonk keeps a keen eye on the home improvement innovation space. He is constantly searching for new and convenient ways for homeowners and renters to make the most of their domiciles and has written for publications such as Huffington Post, Engadget, CBS, and many more.
Tara brings over 15 years of residential landscape design experience to her customers as she owns, and operates a residential landscape design company in central Iowa. Her hobbies include spending time outdoors with her friends and family and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
Tara brings over 15 years of residential landscape design experience to her customers as she owns, and operates a residential landscape design company in central Iowa. Her hobbies include spending time outdoors with her friends and family and creating beautiful outdoor spaces.
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