If
you make this kind of bed, you don't have to lay in it. Flower beds are not that
difficult, and can be downright fun.
First off, choose the right site for your flower bed. A sunny location is best for flowering plants, hence the name flower bed.
Likewise, a shady location for shady plants that do not flower in shade (or are grown for leaf character) is still a flower bed.
If this is your first flower bed, don't tackle anything larger than 100 square feet, otherwise, you'll be overwhelmed.
Lay out the perimeter of the bed and don't do the hum-drum thing of a classic rectangular bed. Make one in the shape of a diamond or triangle - free form designs are what I like the best.
Next, prepare the soil by removing weeds then tilling in some soil amendments or compost. Mix it in no deeper than four to six inches - flowers are not deep rooting plants.
Now, you'll want to plan, choose and arrange plants. Make a sketch of the area to use and remember your basics -- that taller plants go in the back with the lower growing ones in the front if the flower bed is going to be seen from one side.
If it's going to be seen from all sides, taller plants go in the center with smaller plants towards the edges. You'll want to follow this rule unless you enjoy being the laughing stock of the neighborhood.
Feel free to incorporate flower seeds as well as color sets already growing. Install your plants and seeds with their growth habit in mind. Overcrowding or not planting enough flowers in a flowerbed will make it look unsightly.
Mulching with a layer of compost, bark or decorative gravel can add a lot to a flower bed -- plus, they'll keep weeds down, too.
