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Flower beds can completely transform an outdoor space when used correctly. Gardeners often put careful thought into the plants they want to include in flower beds, but organizing, arranging, and framing a flower bed can also make a huge impact on landscape and curb appeal. Whether you have an expansive yard or a few square feet of space, these flower bed ideas can help you make the most of your garden to wow visitors.
Tips for Designing Successful Flower Beds
Ideas for garden layout and designing or filling flower beds can inspire you to add or revise existing beds that do little for your landscape’s appearance or the plants’ success. So, beyond the individual flower bed ideas below, keep the following in mind:
- Select plants that add to the visual layout from all angles or at least the main angle at which they’ll be seen. Consider mature height, color, texture, maintenance, and how well the plant grows in your region and in the bed’s sun and soil conditions.
- Assess the space. Look at the potential size and shape of a bed, plus the area’s growing conditions. For example, check whether the spot gets full sun or mostly shade and note existing plants, structures, and paths behind or in front of the planned bed.
- Learn about the spot’s soil and drainage, and whether plants might do better in a raised bed filled with new potting soil.
- Decide on a purpose or theme for the flower bed. Is it to attract pollinators or simply to add color and interest in this part of the yard? The garden layout also depends on how formal you want the bed to look and how the materials and plants you select coordinate with your home or landscape.
- Measure the area and sketch a bed layout.
1. Limestone Retaining Wall
It’s easy to define your flower beds and add some dimension with flower bed edging ideas like limestone. Simply lay the limestone out along the edge of the garden, stacking two or three overlapping stones atop one another. You can further define the bed by planting shorter flowers along the inside edge of the stone.
2. Rose-Covered Trellises
If you’ve ever dreamed of growing your own rose garden, turn that dream into a gorgeous reality by adding some trellises to your garden layout plans. Plant climbing roses at the base of each trellis and wait for the spectacular and vibrant display that will follow. Sprinkle a few rose bushes between the trellises or elsewhere in the garden to increase the rosy charm factor.
3. Sensational Succulents
Low-growing succulents can add a nice contrast when placed next to taller plants. Succulents are attractive and popular, and they’re also easy to care for. With evolutionary adaptations like thick stalks and fleshy leaves, succulents can survive with very little water.
4. Natural Landscaping
Among front-yard flower bed ideas that are sure to please and are easy to achieve is to create a natural-looking flower bed by adding a few large stones and smaller rocks into your garden. No flashy decor is needed; the light colors of the rocks will contrast nicely against the vibrant colors of your garden’s plants.
5. Watermelon Garden
Grow your own juicy summer fruits by planting watermelon seeds in your garden. Add in some flowers alongside the melon seeds to bring some extra color to the bed. Then, sit back and wait to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
6. Birdhouse and Bath
Flower garden ideas can include extras for you and local wildlife. Adding a birdhouse and bird bath to a bed is sure to bring colorful songbirds to the garden. These fixtures also can give your outdoor space height, textures, colors, and whimsy. This can be especially true if you seek out unusual birdhouses or baths that you can’t find just anywhere.
7. Tree Stump Flower Bed
If you’re looking to make a DIY raised garden bed that’s a one-of-a-kind flower bed idea, why not convert an old tree stump into a bed/container? Carve out the stump a bit (if necessary), add some soil, and plant a few flower seeds to make the most of a stump that would otherwise be expensive or difficult to remove.
8. Patio Garden Beds
Using raised garden bed plans, you can add small splashes of greenery alongside your home’s patio, deck, or porch. A raised garden bed next to an outdoor entertaining or dining space can enhance the space and make it all the more relaxing when you have gorgeous flowers and plants to admire.
9. Rocks and Plants
If you’re searching for flower bed ideas with rocks, try adding flair around the base of a tree. Planting different flower varieties relatively close to each other and including a few large stones will maximize the available space and serve as a nice backdrop for your tree. Look for plants that can grow in partial to full shade and contrasting rocks or boulders.
10. Walkway Flowers
Create a front yard flower bed along the walkway to your home for a classic and timeless option. Lining a sidewalk or stone path with small flowers and plants helps guide visitors to your front door. To illuminate the path after dark, consider also adding a few solar lights.
11. Cheerful Pickets
Garden designs can create landscape interest even at a property’s borders. Add some springtime cheer by planting flowers along the perimeter of a white picket fence. The bright pinks, yellows, and purples will stand out nicely against the backdrop of the fence. As a plus, lining your fence with flowers further defines your yard and makes a welcoming impression.
12. Flowery Lawn
Place your flower bed alongside your lawn where it can benefit from the water sprayed by your lawn sprinkler system. This will keep your garden healthy while saving water and mixing some extra color into the landscape. Avoid flowers like zinnias, which do poorly with overhead irrigation, and make sure the flowers have enough spacing to let water drip down to the soil. Then, just time your sprinklers to water in the early morning to give your grass and flowers the water’s maximum benefit.
13. Purples and Greens
A green-and-purple garden can attract butterflies and other beneficial insects to your flowers. Butterflies love purple prairie flowers like asters and verbena, making the pollinators more likely to frequent your garden when it’s in bloom. Add some brown mulch to help define the plants and enhance the overall appearance of the garden next to a stone walkway or sidewalk.
14. Repurposed Tin
If you’re looking for an unconventional and inexpensive raised garden bed idea, the supplies to make them might be sitting around in the basement, garage, or attic. Old tin tubs, buckets, and milk pails can easily be converted to large flower pots or raised flower beds. Before filling the containers with soil, drill a few drainage holes into the bottom of each one to prevent diseases like root rot.
15. Weathered Beds
You also can build a DIY garden bed using weathered or rusted sheet metal. When planning your raised garden bed, measure the available space and make a plan. Then, you can create a custom piece for your backyard. Once your beds are laid out and assembled, add soil and seeds or your choice of live plants.
16. Nature’s Finest
Incorporating different plants and natural elements into a flower bed can really make an impression. In the example above, the large fern, Japanese maple, dwarf bamboo plant, golden koi statue, and slate mulch all work together to create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. You could even add in a bird bath to encourage birds to visit your garden and further add to the natural elegance.
17. Retaining Wall Flower Bed
If you have a sloped backyard, you may already have a retaining wall in place to prevent erosion. Put this necessary structure to good use by converting the grassy area above the wall into a flower bed. Placing some flowering plants, including a few that will drape down the wall, can turn a retaining wall into a focal point in your outdoor space.
18. Bathtub Planter
Bathtubs of all kinds are great ideas for a raised flower bed garden. If you’re in the process of a bathroom remodel, consider saving your old tub for this purpose. If you aren’t remodeling, you may be able to find a vintage bathtub in a local antique shop. When converting a bathtub to a flower bed, drill holes in the base to allow for proper drainage. Once your tub is ready, add soil and plant your favorite flower seeds or bulbs.
19. Wooden Raised Garden Bed
Classic wooden raised garden beds next to your patio or deck allow you to watch your flowers bloom and keep homegrown veggies nearby. This elevated planter, the best patio option in our guide to the best raised garden beds, is constructed from rot-resistant red cedar wood. The taller design makes it ideal for those with back, joint, or muscle pain, all while adding a lovely touch to any outdoor space.
20. Rock Garden
A flower bed doesn’t have to be filled with greenery, flowers, and mulch to be attractive. There are plenty of ways to introduce a gorgeous rock garden to your space while still improving the overall aesthetics. In addition to possessing a simple beauty, rock gardens are often easy to maintain with fewer plants and flowers to tend to.
21. Tantalizing Tulips
You’ll take joy as you stroll through your yard or garden if you plant colorful tulips and other flowers along the edges of a walkway. The bright and happy colors of tulips on a warm and sunny spring day are enough to bring a smile to anyone’s face and welcome the relief of spring warmth.
22. Butterfly Garden
Entice beautiful butterflies to visit your flower garden by planting some of their favorite flowers. Some of the top plants that attract butterflies include goldenrod, coneflowers, ironweed, lantana, and asters. If you’re serious about convincing butterflies to stick around, grow host plants where the insects can lay their eggs. Milkweed, violets, asters, and dill are host plant examples, but check with a local garden center to find the preferred varieties for butterfly species in your area.
23. Rubber Landscape Edging
Create a custom border around your flower bed without digging using EcoBorder rubber landscaping edging. This brown border, made of recycled tires, is easy to install in straight or curved lines to match the shape of any garden bed. Borders help define beds and this flexible material comes with the hardware you need to secure it to the ground.
24. Half-Log Edging
The staggered 5- and 7-inch heights of this wood log edging help create an intriguing flower bed border. Edging also helps to keep the soil and mulch in the flower bed, reducing runoff and waste. The half-logs, finished with an attractive cedar stain, are attached to a flexible plastic backing, allowing for installation around curved and straight garden beds alike.
25. Lush Greenery
Fill your garden beds with verdant green plants and bushes to enjoy stunning spring and summer views. Adding in a few flowering plants can help craft focal points and increase the space’s overall beauty. You may also want to consider adding darker mulch or rocks to the beds to really make the vibrant greens pop.
26. Curved Stone Wall
Clearly define your garden beds by building a curved stone wall to separate them from the rest of your yard. Bends in the border make the view more interesting and attractive, drawing attention to the flowers growing in the garden. As an example, look at how the white and pink petunias along this curved wall enhance the yard’s appearance overall.
27. Garden Walkway
A top raised garden bed idea is to incorporate the beds into your backyard garden layouts. Adding raised beds along the sides of the steps between higher and lower elevations on your property can add a nice touch and draw attention to the space’s flow. Planting taller flowers along the beds can also help accentuate natural slopes.
28. Wheelbarrow Garden Bed
When you’re thinking about adding elevated garden beds to your outdoor space, there are a number of creative ways to make your own. One timeless idea is to convert an old wheelbarrow into a raised bed. Drill a hole in the base of the wheelbarrow, add soil, and plant some flowers for a decorative accent bed.
29. Year-round Interest
You (and the pollinators) can appreciate a garden bed beyond summer bloom by designing a garden for blooms in most or all of the four seasons. This flower bed idea takes a little research; try local sources to help identify native plants and bloom times for your region. A general example would be the following perennials: tulips or daffodils for early spring color, a rose or hydrangea bush for summer interest, sedum ground covers or Autumn Joy for early fall color, and an ornamental grass like miscanthus for winter color and movement. Or simply add annual pansies in fall; they can survive temperatures into the single digits.
30. Yard Art
Don’t underestimate the power of a carefully placed container in a garden bed to add height, color, or even texture for flower bed landscaping ideas that match your personality. You can fill the container with flowers or simply use it empty as a backdrop for the plants inside. Other options are broken glass or pottery fragments on the ground, or bottles, plates, signs, or local metal art to add personality. Art is especially helpful to fill in where shade limits plant options.
31. Mixing up Bed Shapes
There’s no rule for flower bed ideas that says all beds must have a straight square shape or a formal feel. Use imagination and inspiration from existing paths, slopes, or hardscaping to create visual interest while still setting aside a stellar planting area. An example of these garden arrangement ideas is to indent the side of a flower bed in a backyard with a pool to reflect the nearby pool’s shape. Use rock borders to let beds and paths meander a bit through the yard. Create beds that are visible from three or four sides and place a tall shrub in the middle to anchor the design.
32. Planting in Odd Numbers
Some garden design ideas work especially well for natural landscapes, like the use of odd numbers of plants (or pots). Instead of choosing 10 different plants to fill a bed, buy three to five of a few plant types for color, height, or year-round interest. This works best when the plants are placed in a sort of triangle form, so all are in view but not in a row. For example, lavender looks great in rows, but you could place three lavender plants in a bed, spaced in a rough triangle. Add a closer grouping of three or five contrasting flowers like black-eyed Susans, and a shrub like oleander or rose as a focal point.
About the Author
Teresa Odle founded a blog on gardening in the dry Southwest featuring 4 acres of land in the foothills of the Sacramento Mountains that included an orchard, meadow, vegetable garden, large ornamental garden, and natural riverfront. She now writes, edits, and gardens in Albuquerque, where she was trained as a master gardener.
