Installing new flower beds in your yard will improve the appearance of your yard and home. The installation process is similar whether you are putting the beds into the blank slate of a new construction home or renovating an existing yard.
1. Ground Prep
Bed installation always begins with removing any existing plants, including lawn turf, and then grading the site so that it slopes for proper drainage. Soil testing is then done to determine what types of amendments to use. These include fertilizer blends, compost, and soil conditioners that can alter the soil quality so it better supports the types of plants you hope to grow in the new beds.
2. Edging Options
Although edging can be put in at any point, installing it early in the process is ideal. Edging options include rubber or vinyl strip edging, low brick walls, railroad ties, or poured-in-place concrete curbing. Brick and concrete will last the longest and require the least amount of maintenance repairs, while rubber strips are the most cost-effective option.
3. Irrigation Installation
Automatic irrigation reduces the work of maintaining the beds and ensures all plants are healthy. Further, an automatic system prevents water waste, which saves money and is a necessity in drought-prone areas. For garden beds, drip irrigation is ideal. Run the underground supply lines to the bed prior to planting. Individual surface emitter lines can then be installed after planting so they can be placed at the base of each plant.
4. Structure Placement
Structures in a garden bed add more visual interest to the design and they can also increase planting options. Garden obelisks, arbors, and trellises, for example, provide support structures to train climbing plants along. Before planting is also the time to construct advanced landscaping features, such as fountains and ponds.
5. Weed Prevention
The last step before planting is to prevent weeds from taking over the bed. For beds that will host primarily perennial plants and shrubs, landscaping fabric is the preferred weed barrier as it can last for many years when installed correctly. In annual beds, consider using either plastic weed mats, which are removed at the end of the season, or decomposing weed mats made of straw and organic fibers. Plants are put in through holes in the fabric or weed mat, and then mulch is spread on top.
Contact a landscaping installation service if you are ready to install flower beds in your yard.
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