Flower beds are a beautiful addition to any front yard. They can help increase curb appeal, add color, and provide you with an opportunity to enjoy flowers year-round.
If you’re thinking about planting a new flower bed in your yard, you’re probably wondering how to go about it. Well, let us show you!
We’ll show you how to build the perfect flower bed by covering everything from size and color scheme all the way down to mulching and pruning techniques.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Building a beautiful flower bed requires careful planning and preparation. |
| Choose the right location based on the amount of sunlight and soil quality. |
| Prepare the soil by removing weeds and adding organic matter. |
| Choose plants that have similar water and soil needs. |
| Regular maintenance, including watering and weeding, is key to keeping your flower bed looking its best. |
#1 Determine the Size of Your Flower Bed
The first thing to do when deciding how to build your front yard flower bed is to determine the size of your flower bed.
This may sound like a simple step, but it’s not as simple as you might think. The size of your flower bed should be determined by the following factors:
- The area of land you want to plant in
- Your property size (if you have a large backyard)
- How much time you will spend maintaining your garden
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#2 Determining Your Color Scheme
The next step to building a front yard of flower beds is determining your color scheme. Color is an important part of any garden, and there are many things to consider when choosing the hues for your landscape.
The colors that you choose should complement each other and be in harmony with the surrounding landscape.
They should also be in harmony with your house, which may have been painted a certain color for aesthetic reasons or because it was needed during home renovation.
Finally, it’s important that they complement your personality as well!
#3 Once You’ve Decided on a Color Scheme, Select Flowers and Consider Their Needs
Once you’ve decided on a color scheme, consider the needs of the plants. Some flowers will do better in one type of soil than another.
Others need full sun, while others like shade. Some flowers like to be watered every day, while others prefer to go for two weeks without being watered at all.
If you’re planting a large garden or if your area gets hot during summer months, consider native species that are well-suited for these conditions and can help you avoid spending too much time caring for them manually (or paying someone else to do it).
When choosing what types of plants will go into your yard bed, think about how much sunlight they’ll receive; this is important because some plants need more light than others in order to thrive and grow properly.
Also look at whether or not there’s enough moisture in that area before deciding what kinds of plants would work best there—some don’t like standing water near them!
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#4 Planting in the Spring vs Planting in the Fall
If you live in a cool climate, spring is the best time to plant. This allows your plants to grow strong roots before the hot summer days come and they need those roots to help them withstand the heat. Fall planting is best for warm climates.
If you are going to be planting in your front yard garden this fall, it’s important that you know how long it takes for plants to grow their root system so that you can plan accordingly for when they’ll need water next year.
#5 Prepare the Area for Planting
Now that you’ve chosen your flowers and plants, it’s time to get ready for planting. First, remove any weeds or debris from the area and add compost or fertilizer.
Next, level the soil by adding sand as needed—it should be light enough so that you can work with it without tiring yourself out quickly.
You may also want to add a border around your flower beds if you’re going for an especially neat look.
Finally, lay down mulch in order to keep weeds away while still letting rainwater drain out of the bedding area; this is especially helpful if you live in an area where there’s lots of precipitation throughout the growing season.
Once your flower beds have been prepared, plant them according to instructions on their tags or guidebooks (many will recommend spacing them according to how big they are when fully grown).
Then install drip systems on each side of each bed so that water won’t pool up at certain points during watering times—you’ll want equal distribution wherever possible!
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#6 How to Space Plants
If you’re planting a garden, there are many factors to consider when spacing out your plants. The type of plant and its size will determine how far apart they should be spaced.
The amount of sun the plant is going to get and how much water it needs will also play into how far apart you should space your plants in the flower bed.
For example:
Sunflower seedlings need to be spaced 6-8 inches apart from each other because they grow quickly and once they reach 6 feet tall (which takes about 100 days), then you can only space them about 3 feet apart for best results!
#7 Water Flower Beds Thoroughly
Flower beds require thorough watering, especially in the summer months. When choosing a watering frequency, consider the weather and soil type.
If you have a drainage hole in your flower bed, water thoroughly until water runs out of it. This will ensure that all plants receive adequate water while preventing any standing water from remaining in the soil (which can cause root rot).
If you don’t have a drainage hole in your flower bed, use a hose sprayer with soaker attachments to carefully wet each plant’s leaves and roots without washing away its soil.
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#8 Mulch Your New Flower Bed
Mulch the area around your new flower bed. Mulching is an essential part of building a front yard of flower beds because it helps retain moisture in the soil and prevents weeds from growing.
It can also be used to hide the base of a tree or shrub, which is especially important if you want to keep your tree’s roots visible while still protecting them from damage by mowing equipment.
You should use mulch made out of organic materials such as bark chips, pine needles, corncobs or straw bales.
These materials break down over time and add nutrients back into the soil in addition to protecting against erosion due to rainwater runoff during storms (which could wash away topsoil).
#9 Weed Your Flower Beds Regularly
Weeding is a regular part of maintaining your flower beds. To prevent weeds from taking over, you need to weed weekly, as soon as the plants begin to grow. Remove all of the weeds before they have a chance to flower or go to seed.
Weeding tools can make this process easier, but if you don’t have any tools handy (or just want some exercise), then use a hoe or hand rake instead!
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#10 Prune Your Flower Beds Regularly
- Pruning your flower beds every few weeks helps keep plants healthy and makes them more attractive.
- Removing dead or dying flowers encourages new growth, so you’ll see fewer gaps between blooms.
- You can prune a plant to control its shape, remove dead or diseased limbs, and prevent pests and diseases.
#11 Fertilize as Needed
When you fertilize, be sure to follow the directions on your fertilizer bag. Over-fertilizing can burn plants or make them look unhealthy.
If you live in a cold winter climate and want to buy organic products, try an all-natural fertilizer like Espoma Tree & Shrub Food or Espoma Garden Soil Conditioner instead of MiracleGro or any other chemically based product.
Fertilizer should be applied when the plant is actively growing (generally late March through early September).
If possible, apply during cool hours so that the plants won’t get burned by hot sun exposure while absorbing their nutrients from the soil.
Avoid applying when it’s raining or if there’s heavy dew on leaves; wait until morning after precipitation has evaporated before applying fertilizer to your flower beds!
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of building a front yard of flower beds, there are many things that you should think about.
First, you need to make sure that it is something that you really want to do. You can’t just go out and buy some plants and throw them in the ground without knowing what it’s going to look like or what kind of time investment will be required on your part.
Second, you need to make sure that there is enough room for all of these plants so they don’t crowd each other out over time.
This means not only making sure they have enough space between each other but also being mindful when planting new ones so they don’t get too close together either!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for building and maintaining beautiful flower beds:
Proven Winners: Make Your Bed – This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to create a beautiful and functional flower bed in your yard.
Better Homes & Gardens: How to Build a Flower Bed – Learn the basics of building a flower bed, from selecting the right location to preparing the soil and choosing the right plants.
The DIY Mommy: Create a Low-Maintenance Flower Bed – This blog post offers tips on how to create a stunning flower bed with minimal maintenance required.
FAQs
What is the best time of year to plant a flower bed?
The best time to plant a flower bed depends on the climate in your area and the type of plants you want to grow. Generally, spring and fall are good times to plant, but it’s important to research the specific needs of your chosen plants.
How often should I water my flower bed?
The frequency of watering your flower bed will depend on the type of plants you have and the climate in your area. As a general rule, aim to water deeply once or twice a week rather than shallowly every day.
What is the best soil for a flower bed?
The best soil for a flower bed is rich in organic matter and has good drainage. You can amend your soil with compost or other organic matter to improve its quality.
How do I prevent weeds from growing in my flower bed?
To prevent weeds from growing in your flower bed, you can lay down a layer of mulch or use a pre-emergent weed killer. Regular weeding by hand is also important to keep your flower bed looking its best.
How do I choose the right plants for my flower bed?
When choosing plants for your flower bed, consider the amount of sunlight your bed receives, the climate in your area, and the size of your bed. You should also choose plants that have similar water and soil needs to make maintenance easier.
I am Hellen James, a landscape architect. For many years I have written about landscaping for various publications; however, recently decided to focus my writing on personal experience as a profession.