Building a Flower Bed Border

Creating a flower bed border can be as simple and pleasurable as planting your flower bed. A well-planned and executed border can also set off your flowers and add to the beauty and presentation of your entire yard. Borders can be made of a variety of materials, including brick, stone, rocks, crushed rock, river rock, timbers, crushed glass or seaglass, seashells or even glass globes. Whatever strikes your fancy and fits your budget can be a potential border.

Flower bed borders are more than just a pretty way to separate flowers from your lawn. They can also help to keep weeds or grass from encroaching upon your flowers, and protect flowers from lawn mowers, weed eaters and yard maintenance implements. Borders will also protect your flower bed from lawn traffic by visually setting off the flower bed from the lawn.

Step 1 - Plan It Out

Lay the rope or twine out around your flower bed in the shape of the border you'd like. Adjusting the shape is as simple as moving the rope in the curve or line you desire.

Step 2 - Install Divider

Spray a line of paint on the ground, following the shape of the rope. Pick up the rope and install the plastic garden divider along the spray mark. This will help keep smaller border materials such as gravel, pebbles and seashells from migrating into your lawn area. If you want to ensure border material doesn't move into your flower bed as well, you can also install another plastic divider at an appropriate distance inside the first.

Step 3 - Dig a Trench

Use the hand spade or shovel to dig a 4-inch deep trench along the painted line. The width of the trench should be wide enough to accomodate the size of whatever border material you plan to use. If you're using brick or pavers, measure them to make sure the trench is wide enough to hold the material.

You may have to cut roots to clear the trench. Remove rocks and other debris to ensure the trench is as level and consistently wide as possible.

Step 4 - Level It Out

Add sand or crushed rock to the bottom of the trench. This will help level out the land underneath. If you are using wood timbers, the crushed rock will also help with drainage and prevent rotting.

Step 5 - Add Border

Add your border material. You may want to add more sand, crushed rock, pebbles or other material to make sure the material stays in place. If you plan to make a small retaining wall out of stone, make sure your trench is level.

Start your wall by placing a single row of stones on the leveled sand. Take your time and fit the stones tightly together. Your second layer of stones will need to be slightly staggered. This will help hold the retaining wall together. Two rows of stones are generally enough to create an effective wall.