Saturday, May 2, 2009

How do I make flower beds when the area in my yard is small hills?

I would like the flower beds to flow over or with the small hills and mounds. The hills I speak of are 2-3 feet high.

How do I make flower beds when the area in my yard is small hills?
When you dig a new flower bed the soil expands as you break it up. Even on flat ground you end up with a mound. Of course, it eventually sinks back down as it settles. Most informal beds are constructed as small mounds so your hills should work just fine for this. I recommend using rocks or brick for a boundary as you can acheive a more natural look than with timbers. You don't need to dig deeply UNLESS there are roots that would resprout and come up among your flowers. I have clay soil and find 12" to be adequate. Mix any amendments (compost) into this. Set your plants, mulch and water deeply. The link below has many pictures in several different areas.
Reply:You should make raised beds, build your bed walls with rock then plant. Try getting plants that you can let cascade over the side for a more dramatic look.
Reply:dig into the hill and add a timber or rock edge-- set some more on top and you have a terrace --back fill with some soil and you are ready to plant you then have a flower bed with 3 sides and you add a fourth side at the back next to the hill--
Reply:You may need to make terraces. Think of the wine country in Europe. They make terraces from the hills. You will of course need to have some type of rocks to hold your terrace in place. Home Depoit has rocks that you can stack on top of each other with no mortar. That should work. Verbena and bacopa are beautiful flowers that could trail over your terraces.


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