Do-it-yourself vertical flower beds and flower beds in landscape design plus 32 photos

Flower bed height

If you decide to make tall flower beds, try to imagine how it will look in combination with shrubs, trees and buildings. The flower garden can be miniature, only 20-25 cm high, and serve as a border. Or maybe one and a half meters high, for climbing plants and zoning space. When arranging the site, keep in mind that smooth transitions are impossible. Stepped flower beds look very impressive if the varieties and species are well selected.

Installation Rules

To prevent perennial weeds from penetrating the soil, place dense material under the frame, for example, flat slate or a sheet of roofing iron. The site can be concreted. If the flower bed is very high, is used as a fence, or is intended for planting hanging plants, fill the lower half of the container with expanded clay and place a sheet of metal or roofing felt on top of the filler. After this, fill the remaining part with nutritious soil mixture. This will reduce the weight of the structure and make the work easier. Do not place tall flower beds in areas where strong winds blow. Plants will often be damaged and lose their beauty.

A simple option made from building blocks

The peculiarity of the design is that the flowers are planted in a recess inside the building block. Such a flower garden looks interesting, decorating a summer cottage.

First you need to decide on the shape of the flowerbed, then prepare a recess for the structure, pour a layer of crushed stone into the dug hole. The tiers of the structure are laid out using blocks, inside which earth is poured and flowers are planted.

Tiered flower beds can be made to order in specialized companies; the dimensions, materials used and design complexity are specified.

How to fill a high flower bed

If a tall flower garden is not intended for a specific type of plant with special soil requirements, use a nutritious soil mixture. It is not profitable to buy in such a volume; it is easier to prepare it yourself. To prepare, take leaf, turf or garden soil, mix it with humus, compost, peat and coarse sand in a ratio of 5:1:1:1:1. Add superphosphate to the finished mixture according to the instructions. Make sure that the roots of wheatgrass and other harmful weeds do not get into the mixture. To obtain a homogeneous soil, take small portions and mix thoroughly. It is advisable to fill the containers a month before planting so that the soil settles completely.

Advantages and disadvantages of tall flower beds

The only and very significant drawback of a high flower bed is the difficulty of filling the container with soil. This process is labor-intensive and requires great physical strength or the use of technology. Manufacturing costs vary greatly depending on size and materials. Financial costs can be large if several flower beds are installed at once.

Keep in mind that plants produce resources from the soil, and its volume is limited. The frequency of fertilizing and watering in containers is higher than in open ground.

Non-standard designs

Tires.

An unusual strawberry bed is made from wheel tires. The design has smaller dimensions compared to a wooden box, but greater height.

What you need for work:

• Tires of various sizes. For the first tier, a tire from a DON-1500 combine or Case tractor, which does not have a box, but has fairly dense rubber, is suitable. The second tier implies a tire from MAZ, the third - from GAZ, and the last - from a regular passenger car.
• Wooden block.
• A mixture of soil and compost.

The metal cord of the tire rim acts as a frame. A strawberry pyramid made from tires is organized like this:

1. The soil for the garden bed is prepared: it is cleared of stones and leveled. A hole is dug. Its dimensions correspond to half the height of the largest tire and its full diameter.
2. The top of the largest tire is cut off. The remaining part is laid in the ground. The soil around it needs to be compacted and distributed on all sides. Approximately 2 cm of expanded clay drainage and compost are poured on top of the tire. The mixture is slightly moistened.
3. The following tires are cut in the same way and stacked on top of each other. The height of the structure should not be more than 150 cm, as it may fall apart due to precipitation.

The plant is planted in the spring. The bushes are distributed around the entire circumference of the tires. The holes are made at a distance of 10 cm; the strawberries should be fertilized, covered with soil and watered.

Growing strawberries in tires requires attention. When watering, water should not stagnate in the tires. It is better to water the bushes little by little, but often.

Construction bags.

Another way to create a pyramid for strawberries is to make flower beds from ordinary plastic bags. The beds are compact in size and easy to create. You will need the following materials:

The work is carried out in several stages:

1. Rectangles are cut out in the form of vertical pockets with seam allowances of 1.5–3 cm.
2. The cut polyethylene is stitched together. You can attach a handle to it that will support the weight of the soil and seedlings.
3. Each of the pockets is filled with prepared soil.
4. If the structure is made in the shape of a triangle, several tiers can be made. There are 5 pockets on the bottom, and one less in each subsequent row.
5. The crop is being planted.

Further care of the plants consists of regular watering with a small amount of water and fertilizer. A polyethylene bed is not entirely practical, and it will have to be done annually.

Metal pipes.

This option for growing strawberries in a pyramid is suitable for thrifty farmers. You will need the most ordinary metal pipe. The designs allow you to place up to 200 strawberry bushes in a space of 1 square meter. You can plant ampelous varieties with medium-sized berries in the flowerbed. The method with metal pipes is practical and has many benefits:

• Water for irrigation is saved. Its supply system is organized in the frame itself. The moisture falls down gradually and saturates the roots of the crop.
• Makes it easier to clear weeds. The soil is hidden from direct sunlight, and weeds practically do not grow. Sprouted shoots are removed manually.
• Space saving and beautiful appearance.

The pipes can be placed horizontally in the form of a pyramid or arranged vertically, like a labyrinth. By covering them with bright paint, the owners will receive a stylish decor for the area.

To make beds from pipes, you need:

Cut holes with a metal saw. Near them, weld peculiar “porches” made of thin plates

Leaves and fruits will be distributed over them in the future, which will reduce the load on the roots of the plants. The pipe with the planted bushes is installed in the soil. It is important to organize the fastening of the structure. Gardeners recommend concreting the base or attaching it to a support with wire.

It is worth watering and fertilizing the crop regularly.

Plants for raised beds

Plant any plants that can be planted in open ground in high flower beds, with the exception of perennial species that freeze easily. The soil in such flower beds freezes more strongly than in the beds. An excellent solution for planting would be annual flowers with continuous flowering, such as petunias, low-growing varieties of dahlias, purslane, phlox, lobelia, bacola, verbena and many others.

Among the perennials, irises, lilies, hyacinths, lychnis, delphinium, and periwinkle are well suited.

Magnificent hanging plants and vines are simply created for this type of flower beds. Calibrachoa, ivy, begonias, pelargoniums, impatiens, antirrhinum, tradescantia, dichondra, chamomile, various vines.

It is appropriate to add herbs with beautiful flowering to compositions of perennials. Thyme is perfect; it not only has a good aroma, but is also able to repel harmful insects. A combination of colorful flowering annuals and ornamental foliage crops such as ferns, heuchera and hosta, which are hardy, will be great. Dwarf conifers and miniature shrubs fit well into the composition.

Naturally, your preferences when choosing varieties and species are yours, but take into account the characteristics of the plants, especially the winter hardiness of perennials.

How to choose the right flowers?

A flower bed with several levels must have a special design; usually, during watering, water in it flows from the upper levels to the lower. When selecting plants, a summer resident must take this circumstance into account in order to create optimal conditions for green spaces.

Suitable choices for high humidity levels in spring are primroses, ranunculus, forget-me-nots and violets, while irises and geraniums grow well here in summer; astilbes can replace them in August.

On the upper tiers you will need to plant drought-resistant flowers: cosmos, iberis, marigolds, nasturtium or aster. You need to know that these plants cannot survive without watering at all; at least water them once a week.

Perennials for a multi-level garden flower bed are far from the best option; the plants will have to be disturbed all the time in order to replant them.

In what style are tall flower beds appropriate?

In the photo, tall flower beds are always gorgeous, but this type of flower garden is not suitable for every style of plot. Naturgarden and country style does not involve the installation of such elements. They will be superfluous if the site emits natural nature, lawns and gracefully plays out the natural landscape with elevation changes and rocky slopes.

In a minimalist and strict style, on the contrary, decorative elements with clear geometric shapes emphasize conciseness and restraint.

In the landscaping of city parks, recreation areas and squares, tall flower beds will become the most striking elements. The photo shows that even the simplest options enliven the territory and make it possible to create some comfort. The benches against the background of flowers look beautiful, the aroma makes it possible to enjoy a walk.

Shaped cutting of tires

If you want to put something more intricate in the garden, then you can make a flowerbed of tires near the house according to the photo and our recommendations. But here you will have to cut rough rubber and make efforts. For cutting, you need to prepare a sharp knife (first ripping) and a jigsaw. A white marker is required for marking.

Tip: When cutting car tires, be sure to wear safety glasses and gloves. Especially when processing the cord. The splinters from it are extremely painful. It is advisable to use a respirator to protect the respiratory tract from large amounts of rubber dust.

Flower bed

This is the simplest, but no less intricate version of a flower garden made from tires. The instructions for performing the work look like this:

• You should take four tires of the same size. Wash them thoroughly.
• Apply markings to three of the tires in the form of a straight line dividing the tires exactly in half.
• The marked tires are carefully cut with a jigsaw.
• The inside of the workpiece is thoroughly washed and dried.

• The prepared elements are painted in different bright shades. And from the inside too.
• Now lay out the flower petals in the designated part of the garden so that they touch each other and form a daisy.
• A fourth whole, already painted tire is placed in the center of the flowerbed.

All voids are filled with soil and your favorite plants are planted.

Flowerpot

This version of the flowerbed resembles a granite flowerpot from Peterhof. But here you will have to not only cut the rubber, but also turn it out. Therefore, you need to take the most pliable tire possible. The work is carried out as follows:

• The tire and rim are thoroughly washed. Having laid it on a flat surface, markings are applied according to the type of holly or rounded line.
• According to the intended markings, make a neat cut with a jigsaw. Try to keep the edges smooth. Because one side will form the bowl, and the second will become the leg of the flowerpot.
• The cut tire (most of it) is turned inside out. To do this, you need to turn the wheel over and, resting your foot on the disc, pull the rubber towards you. The result is a container for planting flowers.
• If there is a tube inside the tire, it is cut out.

Flowerbed-potTip: before painting the flowerpot, it is important to wash it on all sides, disinfect and prime it. Before planting plants, you need to cover a piece of geotextile and a drainage layer at the bottom of the flowerbed.

On a note

There are several tips to help make your flower garden flawless:

1. Do not use black color in the design, the ground will overheat.
2. Fill the spaces between plants with decorative mulch or white forest moss. The moisture will last longer, and the beautiful background will be emphasized by bright flowers and leaves.
3. Do not use colored wood chips as mulch under plants with white flowers; the color of the petals may change.
4. Water frequently and in small portions so that the water does not stagnate. Be sure to make drainage holes.
5. Cut off dried flowers, they spoil the appearance and take a lot of strength from the plant.

To choose the right color of material for creating a flower bed, take into account the color of buildings and fences on the site; blue goes well with red, white and purple. Orange with red and yellow, green with brown and red, purple with red and white.

New life

It often happens that a container or other large container is no longer in use, then there is always a place for such items in the flower garden. A plastic flower bed will become an integral part of the landscape design, and a wooden barrel with flowers fits well into the country style.

An antique chest of drawers that you inherited from your grandmother does not fit in with the Art Nouveau style that you are a fan of. However, you can come up with a more interesting purpose for that furniture covered in dust in the closet - place lavender and rosemary in its pull-out drawers.

Any unexpected options are welcome; use old things in a new role.

Advice from an experienced gardener: A multi-level flower bed looks most impressive when all the flowers bloom in it at the same time.

A DIY flower garden can delight you with original combinations of contrasting shades. No less attractive will be color schemes with transitions from one tone to another: for example, a red tint first to orange, and then to yellow.

To completely transform the site, you will need a minimum of available materials. Use your imagination and focus on your own taste preferences; turning a summer house into a blooming garden is a feasible task if you use all the recommendations mentioned in the article.