A flower
bed is the crowning glory of any garden, providing color that begins in the
warm days of early spring and continues until the weather turns cooler in
autumn. Often the “skeletons” of dormant plants add texture and interest
throughout the winter and the seeds offer much needed nourishment to hungry songbirds.
Creating a glorious display isn’t as difficult as you might imagine, but there are several kinds of flower beds to consider.
Read on for information on various flower bed styles.
Different Types of Flower Beds: Borders and Islands
Borders
are flowerbeds sited against a backdrop such as a house, fence, hedge, or
walkway. This type of flowerbed is viewed primarily from one side. Typically,
flower bed designs for borders include tall plants at the back and mid-sized
plants in front of the taller plants. Shorter plants, generally measuring less
than 10 inches (25 cm.) in height, line the front of a border style flower bed.
Islands
are flower bed designs that have no backdrop. They can be square, round,
rectangular, or any other shape that strikes your fancy. Unlike borders, island
flower beds can be viewed from all sides. The layout is similar to a border
flower bed, except taller plants are in the center of the island surrounded by
plants that are smaller towards the outer edges of the bed.
Flower Garden Ideas
A perennial bed is filled with nothing but perennials
that return year after year. Many perennial plants bloom throughout the growing
season while others may flower in spring, summer, or fall.
Perennials and bulbs are easily combined in a bed where
perennials camouflage the fading leaves of tulips
or daffodils.
For instance, surround tall tulips with lower growing perennials.
Perennials and annuals
planted together ensure a nonstop show of color throughout the season. It works
well to have a general color scheme such as yellow and purple or pastels like
lavender, pink, and peach or you can have fun with a cheery jumble of colors.
Flowers and herbs are fun to plant together but be sure the
plants have similar growing requirements. For instance, you wouldn’t want to
plant a sun-loving herb like thyme
with shade plants such as hostas.
Single plantings tend to be most successful with big, bold
plants like peonies,
roses,
or rhododendrons,
which look great all by themselves.
Tips on Flower Bed Designs
Edging
isn’t required, but if you want to define the flower bed so it stands out from
the lawn, edge it with rocks, bricks, or pre-made edging constructed of
plastic, wood, or wire. Another alternative is to edge the bed with low growing,
mounded shrubs.
Raised
beds are useful if your soil is poor or if there’s some other reason you
can’t dig into the soil. This is also a good solution if you want to prevent unnecessary
wear and tear on your knees or back.
Plants are most pleasing to the eye when arranged in odd
numbers. However, even numbers may be preferable if you’re looking for a more
formal appearance.
A flower
bed is the crowning glory of any garden, providing color that begins in the
warm days of early spring and continues until the weather turns cooler in
autumn. Often the “skeletons” of dormant plants add texture and interest
throughout the winter and the seeds offer much needed nourishment to hungry songbirds.
Creating a glorious display isn’t as difficult as you might imagine, but there are several kinds of flower beds to consider.
Read on for information on various flower bed styles.
Different Types of Flower Beds: Borders and Islands
Borders
are flowerbeds sited against a backdrop such as a house, fence, hedge, or
walkway. This type of flowerbed is viewed primarily from one side. Typically,
flower bed designs for borders include tall plants at the back and mid-sized
plants in front of the taller plants. Shorter plants, generally measuring less
than 10 inches (25 cm.) in height, line the front of a border style flower bed.
Islands
are flower bed designs that have no backdrop. They can be square, round,
rectangular, or any other shape that strikes your fancy. Unlike borders, island
flower beds can be viewed from all sides. The layout is similar to a border
flower bed, except taller plants are in the center of the island surrounded by
plants that are smaller towards the outer edges of the bed.
Flower Garden Ideas
A perennial bed is filled with nothing but perennials
that return year after year. Many perennial plants bloom throughout the growing
season while others may flower in spring, summer, or fall.
Perennials and bulbs are easily combined in a bed where
perennials camouflage the fading leaves of tulips
or daffodils.
For instance, surround tall tulips with lower growing perennials.
Perennials and annuals
planted together ensure a nonstop show of color throughout the season. It works
well to have a general color scheme such as yellow and purple or pastels like
lavender, pink, and peach or you can have fun with a cheery jumble of colors.
Flowers and herbs are fun to plant together but be sure the
plants have similar growing requirements. For instance, you wouldn’t want to
plant a sun-loving herb like thyme
with shade plants such as hostas.
Single plantings tend to be most successful with big, bold
plants like peonies,
roses,
or rhododendrons,
which look great all by themselves.
Tips on Flower Bed Designs
Edging
isn’t required, but if you want to define the flower bed so it stands out from
the lawn, edge it with rocks, bricks, or pre-made edging constructed of
plastic, wood, or wire. Another alternative is to edge the bed with low growing,
mounded shrubs.
Raised
beds are useful if your soil is poor or if there’s some other reason you
can’t dig into the soil. This is also a good solution if you want to prevent unnecessary
wear and tear on your knees or back.
Plants are most pleasing to the eye when arranged in odd
numbers. However, even numbers may be preferable if you’re looking for a more
formal appearance.