Planting raised flower beds
A Quick-Start Guide to Elevated Raised Beds
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Elevated raised beds can be used to grow vegetables or flowers.
By growing in a raised bed, you can have a productive, abundant vegetable garden — even in just a few square feet. Even better, the elevated styles put the garden right at your fingertips. Here's how to make the most of your elevated raised bed:
Use soil that's blended for planters.
Soil
- Fill your bed with potting soil that's formulated for raised beds and planters, such as our potting mix. Don't use ordinary garden soil; It won't drain properly. To figure out how much soil you need, use the Soil Calculator. If it's a Gardener's Supply bed, you'll find the soil quantity listed with the product details.
- When you're filling the beds, be sure to mix in some granular fertilizer, which will get the plants off to a good start. Follow up later in the season with regular application of liquid fertilizer.
Choose a sunny site.
Site
- Pick a sunny site; vegetables need at least eight hours of sun each day.
- Make sure you have easy access to water.
Select compact varieties.
What to plant
- Because elevated raised beds are compact, choose varieties that are known for their compact habit.
- Try to include at least one vegetable that's new to you. Discovery is half the fun.
- If you're new to gardening, check out the Kitchen Garden Planner, where you can find pre-planned gardens that are designed to fit elevated raised beds.
- For more ideas, browse the Vegetable Encyclopedia.
Find out your frost date.
When to plant
- Wait until danger of frost has passed. Check with your county's Cooperative Extension Service to get the dates, or use an online resource. Better yet, ask the best gardener in your neighborhood or a Master Gardener.
- If you're starting from seed, create a seed-starting schedule. Use the information on the seed packet to guide you.
- Crops that are tolerant of cool weather can be planted earlier, using season-extending techniques.
Monitor moisture levels every day.
Watering, Fertilizing
- Use your finger to check moisture levels throughout the season. The soil should be moist but not water-logged. Allow it to dry out a bit between waterings.
- During the heat of summer, you might need to water every day — if rainfall is insufficient.
- To automate the process, install a timer and a watering system, such as Snip-n-Drip.
- The granular fertilizer added at the beginning of the season gives your plants a great start. Keep the show growing with regular applications of liquid fertilizer, applied at the rate recommended on the package.
Trellises make use of vertical space.
Accessories
- Use compact trellises to maximize the space in your bed.
- Add frames that support covers for frost and pest protection.
- Recharge last year's soil with concentrated compost and fertilizer.
Last updated: 11/21/2022
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Tips on spacing, sowing, and growing
You’ve built your raised beds, or upcycled an old item into the perfect veggie garden. Now comes the fun part: filling it—and then enjoying your bountiful harvest later in the season, of course. We’ve teamed up with Eartheasy, a company that provides info and products for sustainable living, including natural cedar raised garden beds, to offer some tips on planting a raised bed.
One of the benefits of gardening in raised beds is you can reach in to them to plant and weed. You’re not walking through the garden, compacting the soil. This means your garden soil remains nice and loose and friable.
Choose the best soil you can afford to fill your raised beds. I ordered a truckload of good-quality triple mix formulated for vegetables when I built all my raised beds. You can also mix your own special soil for veggies, too.
I top-dressed all my filled raised beds with about two inches of organic compost. I’ll add compost back into my raised bed mid-season, too, when I pull out some of my spring crops, to add nutrients back into the soil.
One of the benefits of planting in a raised bed is you control all the rich, organic matter that goes into it. This is especially necessary if you have hard-packed or clay soil, or soil full of roots from a neighboring tree. Photo courtesy of EartheasyPlanting raised bed vegetable gardens
Before you dig in, be mindful of which direction the sun is coming from—you don’t want your taller plants to shade out anything behind them. I once planted zinnias at the front of my raised beds without reading the seed packet. The flowers grew to be about three to four feet high! They were obviously not a nice, low mounding variety. You want to make sure the heat-loving fruit and vegetables that you plant—tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, squash, etc.—are going to get at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day (preferably closer to eight).
Whether you’re sowing seeds or planting seedlings, be sure to read the seed packet or plant tag carefully, so that you know what conditions the plants need to thrive. When sowing root veggies, for example, you’ll want to follow the directions for thinning once the sprouts start poking through the soil. While it might seem like a waste when you’re pulling them out, beet sprouts, for example, can be saved and tossed in a salad. Carrot seedlings, on the other hand, should be buried, as explained in this article about thinning carrots. Thinning beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, and other root veggies, will encourage healthy root growth and bigger vegetables.
For some plants, like tomatoes, you want to give them enough space so that air can circulate between the plants. This helps prevent diseases. You also want light to reach the plants and fruit. However, you don’t want to space tomatoes too far apart, which can allow weeds to creep in. Keep these tips in mind for other nightshade veggies, like peppers, eggplant, and tomatillos.
Be sure to set up a regular watering schedule so that you don’t forget to hydrate your tender young plants. Cloches or row cover can be used to protect them from a late-spring frost.
Why plant intensively in raised beds?
Intensive planting is a technique that reduces empty space in the garden where weeds can find a space to grow. Planting seedlings closer together means the plants themselves act as a living mulch over the soil, keeping it cool and reducing evaporation.
Plants that do well when planted intensively include greens, like arugula, mustard greens, lettuce, and spinach. Our edibles expert, Niki Jabbour, plants her veggies in mini rows or bands. And she only plants a little of each crop at a time to reduce food waste—you don’t need a 100 heads of lettuce ready at the same time!
Niki recommends sowing smaller amounts of seeds every few weeks. This will give you the longest harvest of high-quality veggies.Succession planting in raised beds
This brings us to succession planting. If you’re pulling out your spring crops, like peas and root veggies, or your garlic harvest in the summer, there’s no reason why you can’t add more veggies to that empty space. You might want to give seeds a head start under your grow lights. When planting, remember the compost tip: amend the soil to add some nutrients back in and encourage a fruitful harvest. Good soil health is the key to a thriving garden.
Add plant supports so you have room for more plants
When planting a raised bed, be sure to give some of your plants something to climb—trellises, an old piece of lattice, cattle panels, etc. If you’ve ever planted a squash seedling in a raised bed, you know that as it grows, the plant will take over half, if not the whole garden! Adding vertical structures will support the climbers, like cucumbers, squash, beans, peas, and melons.
Plant a mix of veggies and flowers in your raised beds
There are lots of mutual benefits to planting edibles in your ornamental gardens and vice versa (on Savvy Gardening, we call these #GardenBFFs!). I like to plant flowers, like zinnias, nasturtiums, and cosmos in my raised beds. They attract pollinators that will in turn pollinate my tomato flowers, squash blossoms, and cucumber blooms (It’s win win!). Often when I’m in the garden on a summer day, hummingbirds flit around me, looking to land on my zinnias. Plant a few extra flowers, so you can leave some for the pollinators and snip the rest to put together summer bouquets for vases.
Planting flowers in a raised bed can attract valuable pollinators AND attract beneficial insects that will take care of some of the bad guys in the garden. photo courtesy of EartheasyYou can also use flowers as natural pest control when planting a raised bed. I base some of my plantings on the pests that have invaded my garden in previous seasons, and others as preventive measures.
Here are a few examples:
- Alyssum attracts parasitic wasps, which take care of a vast amount of bad insects, like cabbage worms, cucumber beetles, squash vine borers, tomato hornworm, cutworms, gypsy moth caterpillars, and more.
- Hyssop attracts the two-spotted stink bug, which feasts on the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle—a nemesis that likes to wreak havoc on my tomatillos.
- Marigolds are planted to repel nematodes under the soil. I’ve also read a recent study that says they repel whitefly from tomato plants.
- If you don’t mind sacrificing a few, nasturtiums can be used as a trap crop for aphids
A big thank you to Eartheasy for sponsoring this post. The main image and the image above this text show the company’s natural cedar raised garden beds.
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Arrangement of flowerbeds. Recommendations and tips
Perennial flower bed features
When planting perennials, it is very important to observe the recommended distances between them. It must be remembered that in the first year or two, between perennials, the earth will definitely be visible. This is not very beautiful, so it is recommended to plant annuals. But then, after 3-4 years, when the perennials fill the entire flower bed, the gardener will have time to take a break and admire the strong and beautiful plants. nine0003
Tip. When choosing a scheme for planting plants in flower beds, give preference to the simplest forms. Flowerbeds of unusual shapes look bizarre and do not always decorate the site. Traditional round, rectangular and triangular are always spectacular.
Peculiarities of arrangement of the carpet flower bed
The arrangement of this flower bed must begin with a sketch of the drawing, and it is necessary not only to draw the entire ornament, but also to put down the dimensions. It is convenient to use graph paper for this. In addition, already at this stage it is necessary to clearly understand what plants the flower bed will consist of and where each of them will be planted. After counting the number of plants and buying them (just in case, you need to buy 5–7% more), they begin to transfer the sketch into reality. nine0003
The soil in the flower bed should already be dug up, fertilized and carefully worked with a rake. In order not to trample down the soil, they lay several bricks and lay boards, on which they then move. The flower bed is divided into squares with a side of 1 m, marking the boundaries with string. Then plants are planted in each square, constantly checking the sketch. Carpet plants are planted in the ground more densely than in ordinary flower beds, at a distance of 10 cm from each other, i.e. about 100 plants per 1 m 2 .
Plants such as stonecrop, sedum, ageratum, alissum, coleus, cineraria, violet, cochia, purslane, etc. are suitable for carpet beds. . Firstly, the flowers will grow above the roots of the trees, therefore, it is necessary to raise the flower bed by about 10-12 cm. So, for example, various heathers grow beautifully under coniferous trees - heather, wild rosemary, podbel, erica, etc., you can also plant here and orchid plants - lyubka, venus slipper, orchis. Pine and rhododendrons go well together. Under the openwork pine crown they have enough light and shade, enough moisture, and light soil that suits pine trees, and even mixed with fallen needles, creates an ideal substrate for these magnificent shrubs, which can replace an entire flower bed with their lush flowering.
Under fir trees , with their dense crown, it is not worth planting flower plants. You can form a flower ring only at a distance of half a meter from the end of the lower paw, and fill the empty space with wood chips. nine0003
Under deciduous trees, crocuses, scillas, blueberries, lilies of the valley, hyacinths, anemone anemones and other spring ephemeroids will feel good, which will please with early flowering, and successfully survive the winter under a warm layer of fallen leaves.
Ephemeroids are also planted under fruit trees , but in summer they can be replaced by ground cover plants (strife, lamb, European hoof, periwinkle, tenacious, etc.), which not only will not be competitors, but, on the contrary, will protect the trees from drying out their dense foliage. nine0003
Birch , which has an extensive root system, does not get along well with all plants. Plants such as perennial carnations, lungwort, lilies of the valley, dicentra, various ferns and some others will grow and develop well next to it.
To create a flowering circle near the trees, the following work is carried out.
- Tie a string with a peg at the end to a tree trunk and mark a circle of any diameter as desired. nine0049 Lay a groove along the border of the circle.
- Pour a layer of sand into it and install bricks to fence the flower bed.
- Sprinkle fertile soil and plant plants selected for this type of tree.
- Planted plants are watered and plantings are mulched.
When planting bulbous plants, this work is carried out in the fall, all other plants - in the spring.
Raised flower bed features
For the construction of a raised flower bed, a drawing with exact dimensions is required. It is also necessary to choose the material for its manufacture, which must be strong enough to withstand the weight of the earth. This can be wood, bricks, concrete, stones, etc.
Construction of a raised bed made of natural stone.
- Mark the contours of the future flower bed with a tape measure, pegs and twine.
- Trenches are being dug along the contour of the site for a concrete foundation. The top layer of earth is stored in one pile, and the bottom layer in another. nine0050
- Strong walls of natural stone are erected on the foundation with a slight inclination.
- In order for the plants to feel comfortable in such a flower bed, holes are made in the lower part for water drainage. Be sure to perform drainage, the layer of which must be at least 30 cm.
- Fill the flower bed with fertile soil, then water it abundantly and, after it settles (this may take several days), add more so that the distance between the soil and the upper edge of the flower bed is about the size of a matchbox. nine0050
The plants are then planted. The main criterion for selecting suitable flowers for a raised flower bed is high decorativeness throughout the season and long flowering. In such a flower bed, bulbous plants that will open the season, and various annuals (lobelia, cineraria, marigolds, ageratum, etc.), as well as a variety of ground cover and ampelous flowers (saxifrage, chlorophytum, brittle bell, begonia, corymbose geranium, etc.) .).
Tip. If desired, you can arrange a raised flower bed in the form of any geometric figure or animal. To do this, first a strong frame is made from a wire or a vine, a metal mesh with a substrate is fixed on it, in which carpet plants are planted. nine0003
Features of the traditional flower bed
This look is very individual, because everyone makes the flower bed exactly the way they want to see it. However, it is sometimes difficult for a beginner to decide on a large amount of information, so we offer several options for different flower beds, on the basis of which, by changing the configuration, color scheme or selection of plants, you can create your own.
The flower bed must be negative, i.e. be located 3-4 cm below the lawn. This makes it possible for better watering of plants, since water will not drain from the flower bed, and the earth from it will not slide onto the lawn during watering. Even if you make a flower bed increased by 10–15 cm, its edges should still be deepened. nine0003
Option 1. Flower bed "White-pink marshmallow". An exotic plant is located in the center of the flower bed, in this example it is pachistachis, but you can put any that is available. Around the pachistachis, medium-sized varieties of snapdragons of white and pink flowers are planted in squares, following one after another alternately. This allows you to diversify the appearance of the flower bed, if viewed from different angles.
Snapdragon on all sides borders the white ageratum. On four sides, four triangles of large-flowered godetia of white and pink flowers adjoin the ageratum. Only one color is planted in each triangle, while they alternate one after another. The border of the flower bed is made of pink alyssum. nine0003
Option 2. Flowerbed "Sunny Bunnies". In the center of the flower bed, several blue delphinium plants are planted, which are among the luxuriantly flowering white petunia plants. On four sides, the petunia is bordered by plantings of lemon-yellow tagetes with small patches of blue openwork lobelia.
Option 3. Flowerbed "Scheherazade". In the center of the composition are plantings of heliotrope arborescens, small dark blue flowers of which, collected in fragrant inflorescences 10–15 cm in diameter, will decorate the garden from June until frost. Around the heliotrope are asters of different colors - pink, red and burgundy. Bright orange upright marigolds form a beautiful pattern on the flower bed. The border is made of dwarf pink pelargonium. nine0003
Option 4. Flowerbed "Russian field". In the center of the composition, a white kosmeya is sown, which begins to bloom in July. Next come musky pink-red cornflowers, which will not only delight with long flowering (June - October), but also fill the garden with a pleasant smell of cinnamon.
Zinnia graceful is sown in triangles. To give more decorative use a mixture of colors - lilac, purple, purple, red, pink, yellow and white. A cuff is suitable for a border. nine0003
Option 5. Flowerbed "Merry Circles". In the center are dahlias, which form the first circle, the second circle - gladioli, the third - Turkish carnation, planted through the same plant with alyssum. This is done so that when the carnation fades, the alissum gets stronger, grows and completely replaces the harvested plants, so that the flower bed will be decorative until the frost.
Traditional flower beds change their color scheme no more than 2-3 times during the season. To replace the flowering plants, others grow and bloom, so not only the color changes, but also the design of the flower bed (in accordance with the general scheme). Thus, the flower bed maintains its decorative effect for a long period - all summer or even from spring to autumn. nine0003
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features of creation and various types of design © Geostart
Creating a beautiful flower bed on the site is a whole art. Here you need to provide for many nuances, ranging from choosing a suitable place and ending with the organization of the original fence. Combining interesting shapes, plants and materials, you can bring to life intricate patterns and designs, emphasize the style of landscape design and fill the garden with bright colors. nine0003
Peculiarities of creating a flower bed
Creating a flower garden in a summer cottage from the outside seems quite simple. In fact, in order for a flower bed to really please the eye with its decorative effect, and for the plants to take root well in it, you need to know a lot of subtleties. In particular, choose the right place, flower crops, decide on the type of flower bed, and, accordingly, decorate the fence beautifully.
Neighborhood and choice of flowers
In order for the flower bed to look harmonious on the site, it is important to choose the right plants. Shades of flowers are chosen at their discretion, but at the same time respecting the general concept of landscape design: these can be plants that will be combined in a color palette or, conversely, create contrasting transitions. nine0003
The best choice for the basis of the composition will be perennials, and annual plants will serve as a background, which, if desired, can be changed after a year. Flowers can be planted randomly in groups or according to a specific pattern . In the second case, you first need to draw a drawing on paper, having thought over the colors and shades, and then transfer the pattern to the flower bed.
It is important to take into account the requirements of plants for lighting, moisture and soil composition - they must match . There are crops that prefer acidic soils, such as conifers. Only plants with identical preferences can be planted next to them: hydrangea, azalea, bergenia, May lily of the valley and other species.
Plot plan
The design of a particular type of flower bed begins with determining the site for it, which largely depends on the size of the adjacent territory, the placement of buildings and functional areas . Rectangular group plantings, tapeworms will look beautiful in front of the house, border flower beds can be created along the paths. nine0003
Mixborders or rockeries are more often used in open spacious areas. A remote corner of the yard can be decorated with a strict, but no less charming regular flower bed . If the land area in the country house is very small, the best solution would be to design vertical, multi-tiered and raised flower beds that will save square meters, but will look no less impressive.
It is quite another thing when a private house territory is large. A variety of options are possible here: flower beds with ponds, extensive mixborders, compositions with coniferous plants - all this can be placed if you plan the site correctly. nine0025 If there is a relief with slopes, you can arrange an alpine hill or a terraced flower bed .
Possible errors
It is often difficult for novice gardeners to correctly approach the design of a flower bed the first time.
The most common errors are:
- placement of exclusively perennial plants in the flower bed . Of course, planting perennials simplifies the care of the flower garden, but you need to consider that these plants will grow over time and after 5 years they will already be cramped. It is better to fill the gaps with annual plants, the number of which can be adjusted annually. At the same time, it is possible to introduce new colors; nine0050
- planting plants of one flowering period . In this case, the flower bed will delight with flowering for a short time. It is better to choose cultures with different periods of bud blooming, then the decorative effect of the flower garden will be preserved from spring to late autumn;
- close planting with lush crown . When placing a seedling in a flower bed, you need to consider how much it grows in adulthood. It happens that branched plants are planted too tightly, over time they begin to interfere with each other and may even die. nine0050
Creating a flower bed with your own hands
If you are interested in the question of how to create a flower bed with your own hands, then you already have a place for a flower garden. Now you need to decide what type of fencing will be used and how to prepare the soil cushion for planting.
The first step is to completely clear the site of debris, including biological (weeds, fallen leaves). Outline flowerbed . If it has a rectangular, square shape, pegs can be used as borders. To draw the borders of a round flower garden, you can use two sticks tied with a rope of such length, which will be the radius of the flower bed. One stick is inserted into the center, and the other is drawn on the ground in a circle. The flower bed can have any arbitrary shape at your discretion .
The next step is to remove the upper part of the soil to a thickness of about 15 cm, lay a drainage layer of crushed stone , chipped brick or any other small stone - it will prevent stagnant water. Next, you need to pour the soil, the standard composition of which includes two parts of the earth and one part of sand and peat. The composition of the soil may include other components (humus, acidifiers, fertilizers), but this depends on which plants you will plant.
Now you can start decorating the fence . The simplest option, but at the same time, costly, is to buy a finished fence made of metal, plastic, etc. Today, the stores provide a large assortment, among which you can choose designs for both straight installation and curving design. The most expensive are forged fences made to order. nine0003
If you are a creative person or don't have enough money to buy a fence, you can make it yourself using a variety of available materials . For example, often gardeners decorate the borders of flower beds with plastic or glass bottles. To do this, a shallow ditch is dug along the perimeter of the flower garden, up to half a bottle high, after which a container is installed in it in a dense row, turned upside down. PVC bottles must first be filled with sand or earth so that they do not lose their shape. nine0003
As an improvised material for the fence of the flower garden, you can take rods and branches from a sawn tree . It is necessary that the material be straight or slightly sinuous, but without processes. The rods are cleaned, dried, treated with impregnation from insects and fungus, if desired, painted, varnished. To decorate the fence, they are driven into the ground at a distance of 10-15 cm and braided with branches.
The original fence can be made from porcelain plates by simply sticking them into the ground, DVDs . Even a rusty pipe can turn into a stylish curb. To do this, you need to cut it into fragments of the same length, drive them along the perimeter of the flower bed, fill 2/3 with any fine material (sand, earth), and fill the upper part with pebbles or plant small succulent plants.
A small flower garden can be made from old tires. They are installed, painted, the inner empty part is covered with soil, and plants are planted. Now in landscape design you can find many unexpected ideas when flower arrangements in the garden are decorated with old furniture . For example, an old chest of drawers can be turned into a flower bed by pulling out its drawers and filling them with soil and plants. According to this principle, bedside tables, chairs, beds and even plumbing are used.
Variants of flower bed design
Depending on the size of the plot, its layout, design, you can choose the most suitable type of flower bed. All possible options need to be considered. nine0003
In tiers
In this case, we are talking about the design of a flower garden with plants of different heights, which will create tiers in the landscape. Typically, such landings are organized in round or rectangular flower beds adjacent to a house or fence. Planting of crops is carried out in accordance with how the flower bed is viewed : if only on one side, then high crops are placed in the background, and if from all, then in the center. Plants can be of different types, not only flowers, but also ornamental shrubs, conifers. Monochrome planting of the same species, but different varieties, is also allowed. nine0003
Round
Round flower beds look great in spacious areas. They can be filled with plants according to different principles . If you want to create the appearance of a tiered flower garden, you can place large-sized plants in the center of the composition, and shorter crops closer to the edges. Another option is to make a flower bed in the form of a carpet, planting crops of the same size. But even on a large plot, it is not recommended to make an extensive round flower bed, as it will be inconvenient to take care of it. nine0025 Optimum size when the diameter does not exceed 2 m .
Rectangular
The advantage of a rectangular flower bed is that it is easy to maintain . Such flower beds are most often placed along buildings and fences. When planting plants, it is important to consider their size so that small flowers do not end up in the background, where they are completely lost behind the crown of higher lush crops.
Raised
Raised beds are easy to maintain because you don't have to bend down to the ground to plant or weed. They are built on a stone base, which is able to retain its shape, withstanding the weight of the soil with flowers . This is a good option for areas where the soil has high moisture. Many plants do not tolerate waterlogging, so raising the flower bed in height will create favorable conditions for them. nine0003
From conifers
Conifer beds have recently gained considerable popularity . Plants are able to purify the air well, and planting them gives comfort, turning the site into a small corner of the forest kingdom. Basically, low types of conifers are used for planting: dwarf spruce, pine, medium-sized and undersized fir, thuja, juniper. You can plant decorative varieties with different crown colors, complement the flower bed with flowering perennials and bushes. nine0003
With a pond
A flower bed with a small pond looks particularly attractive. It can be a natural reservoir or an artificial one, made by oneself and surrounded by picturesque greenery . Such compositions, complemented by rocky paths, can often be found in the design of Japanese gardens and rockeries. Wooden sculptures, clay vessels, natural materials will harmoniously look near the water. In order for the pond to be visible in the evening, a backlight is installed: lamps mounted in stones, small lanterns on a leg. nine0003
Smaller plants should be planted near a small reservoir, as large ones will completely cover it. You can plant saxifrage, dwarf iris, fern. A little in the distance - coniferous crops (juniper, dwarf thuja). Shrubs with white flowers will give additional lighting to the pond even on a cloudy day.
Regular
The peculiarity of a regular flower bed is that it contains plants that bloom in one period. At the same time crops are planted in compliance with the clarity of forms, symmetry and severity of pattern . Such flower beds are not popular with summer residents. They are mostly found in city parks.
Irregular
In contrast to the previous ones, irregular beds are loved by gardeners. Here are planted perennial flowering plants that will bloom all season . Such a flower garden will look easy and more natural. nine0003
Carpet
This type of flower beds can often be found in the front areas of city parks. He means composing a simple or intricate pattern from flowers . A flower garden can also be arranged in a small summer cottage. To do this, use undersized plants, of the same height, so that the pattern is even. Florists often use ground cover crops that remain decorative throughout the season. At the same time, the patterns are very complex, repeating the patterns of real carpets. nine0003
Vertical
Vertical flower bed ideal for small areas . This design allows you to arrange a lush flower garden with different plants, without taking up much space. Its design implies the principle of a pyramid: on the large lower tiers, the following ones are installed, decreasing in width. The shape of the flower bed can be any.
Home craftsmen make a simple construction from boards: they knock down several wooden boxes of different sizes and stack them on top of each other. Old tires laid in a pyramid can also be used. Miniature vertical flower beds are made in the form of shelves fastened into one structure adjacent to the wall of a building or fence. nine0003
Circular
Circular is a flower bed that encircles any object of the landscape: a tree, a beautiful vase of flowers, a sculpture, etc. Tall plants are planted along the inner radius, and low plants along the outer one.
Island
This species involves placing a flower garden in the center of a green lawn in an open area. Thus, green grass will create a background for a colorful island of flowers. nine0003
Panel
This solution is often used in urban gardening. The flower bed combines elements of a regular flower bed and carpet. At the same time, the flower garden is decorated with various flower images (portraits, etc. ). In addition to flowering, plants with decorative foliage can be used.
Chameleon
A feature of the chameleon flower bed is the selection of plants in such a way that they bloom alternately in different colors . To make such a flower garden, you need to study the flowering time of the plants you like and the time when they need to be planted.
Mono-flower
The peculiarity of a mono-flower is the use of only one type of plant, but different varieties can be planted. A flower bed can be of any shape and size. Alyssums of white, golden and pink colors, salvia or cineraria look good here.
Border
A border flower bed is a flower fence, the standard width of which does not exceed 60 cm. Ornamental dwarf shrubs or matching flowers can be used for planting. Often use longitudinal or transverse symmetry . Flowers are best placed in two rows so that there are no gaps.
Mixborder
In landscape design, mixborders occupy a leading position, as they fit into any style. nine0025 They are created from perennial green and flowering plants planted in a random pattern . It is desirable that there are representatives of flowers in the flower bed, the buds of which open at different times of the season. Perennial varieties of grasses and coniferous shrubs that will decorate the mixborder in winter will not interfere here.
Rabatka
This flower bed is characterized by a narrow long shape. Permissible width must not exceed 3 m, and the length can be arbitrary . Usually, such flower beds decorate territories along decorative fences and fences.
Strict geometric lines should be present here, the number of which depends on the size of the flower bed. In the simplest version, 2 stripes of colors may be present. In more complex variants, staggered placement of plants is used, alternation of crops in width.
Rockery
With the help of rockeries, you can significantly diversify the site, make it unique. nine0025 The composition is based on stones and plants of various sizes . Stone blocks are installed arbitrarily. Tall plants are planted in the center of the flower bed, stunted plants are planted closer to the edge. Coniferous crops will look good here in the vicinity of perennials and ground cover. A powder of gravel or pebbles will complement the picture.
Types of fences
The design of the fence is of no small importance, as it can transform a flower garden many times over . In addition, it can perform different functions: not only mark the boundaries of the flower garden, but also separate garden paths, certain areas of the garden. The height and choice of material depends on this. If you need to make a decorative fence for a flower bed, often install low (up to 10 cm) fences made of plastic, wood, brick. Higher and more durable metal structures up to about 30 cm are suitable for decorating a garden fence. To decorate a raised flower bed, a stone is often used that is able to withstand the weight of the soil and keep the shape of the flower bed. nine0003
From cameos
It is hard to argue with the fact that stone fences have the most presentable appearance. In addition, such designs become the best solution for flower beds located on uneven areas. With their help, you can level the height, raise the flower garden to a hill. The stones fit perfectly into the design of rockeries and alpine slides, they create terraced flower beds with their help. For construction, natural (limestone, tuff, sandstone, etc.), rubble and artificial stone, brick, and even paving slabs are most often used. nine0003
Dry masonry can be made from stones, without the use of a bonding mortar, or the building can be fixed with the help of a clay, cement composition. The second option is considered more durable and reliable, it is necessary when laying stones of different sizes, as well as high structures.
Another variety of stone beds is gabions . Such structures are metal meshes, from which two walls are installed, and the space between them is filled with stones. The fence looks stylish and modern, often used to build raised flower beds. nine0003
Wooden
Wood is a cozy, warm material that looks natural in the garden . For plants, it does not pose any danger, since it does not heat up and does not oxidize. In addition, the tree is easy to process, with certain skills, you can build the most bizarre designs, decorate them with carvings or paint them in the desired color.
The only drawback is the fragility. nine0025 Being constantly exposed to negative external factors such as precipitation, gusts of wind, soil moisture, the structure of the material gradually deteriorates . Even with the use of special impregnations and paintwork, wood will not last as long as metal or plastic. But on the other hand, flower beds are not made out for decades. After a certain time, you will want to change the design of the site, so this disadvantage is not so significant.
Wooden fencing can have different interpretations - it all depends on the concept of landscape design and your imagination . If the garden is decorated in a rural style, you can install an unpainted low fence, a palisade or an elementary peg border around the flower bed. Picket fence is perhaps the most popular type of fence. To make it more original, you can decorate it with carved elements. Today, mosaics made of saw cuts, as well as borders made of wood chocks, are quite popular.
Plastic
Plastic attracts primarily with its low cost. In addition, material has good performance characteristics - it is not affected by the negative effects of weather conditions, does not rust, does not melt at high temperatures . In addition, this material is best suited if you want to make a deep fence that will prevent underground roots from developing outside the flower garden. Today, there are many options for the design of plastic fences on sale, among which you can choose designs that imitate wood, stone or brickwork. Such fences are easy to install with your own hands, as often they are already equipped with cast pegs that you just need to stick into the ground. nine0003
For custom-shaped flower beds, you can purchase plastic border tape, sold in rolls . It can be a simple smooth version of any color or imitate natural materials. A beautiful addition to such a fence would be a small stone or tree bark scattered around the entire perimeter.
Metal
Metal fences are stylish and durable . They are made from iron and cast iron. These can be simple welded structures, for example, from pipes of different sections and diameters. Especially elegant forged structures, especially those made according to an individual project, when the customer can independently choose the sketch and dimensions of the fence. In summer, forged fences emphasize the grace of the flower bed, serve as a support for climbing plants. In winter, against the backdrop of snow-covered flower beds, they add amazing beauty to the site.
Iron combines well with other materials. Often it is used together with stone and brick. The disadvantage of the design can be called its susceptibility to the negative effects of moisture, as a result of which the structure may rust. To prevent this from happening, you need to periodically (every two years) treat it with an anti-corrosion compound and paint it. nine0003
Concrete
The main advantage of concrete structures is strength . The material is not subject to aging and deformation, unless, of course, the technology of its production is fully maintained. Concrete structures will not allow the soil to crumble, strengthen the flower garden. You can purchase a shaped garden border, which consists of separate small blocks with a pointed base. Fragments are easy to install by driving into the ground with a rubber mallet.
Not only fences for lush flower beds can be made of concrete, but also, in fact, mini-beds in the form of bowls, barrels and other forms, which are then installed along garden paths or decorate the main entrance to the site.