How to create a beautiful low maintenance flower bed

If you're looking for a way to add some beauty to your yard without all the hassle, then creating a low maintenance flower bed is the perfect solution. By taking some time to design and prepare the bed properly, you can ensure that your flowers will thrive with very little effort on your part. Let me show you how!

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I'm what I like to call a "lazy gardener". While I absolutely adore fresh garden vegetables and flower bed full of beautiful blooms, I don't have the time to putter in the garden every day. I also face the challenge of living near Edmonton, Alberta where it gets extremely cold in the winter. The selection of perennial flowers that can last through these temperatures is a little different than other gardening zones. That's why I've created a low maintenance flower bed in front of our home, and 6 years later it still looks great!

When it comes to flower beds, there are two main types: low maintenance and high maintenance. High maintenance flower beds require frequent watering, weeding, fertilizing, and deadheading (removing spent blooms). This can be a lot of work, especially if you have a large bed. Low maintenance flower beds, on the other hand, are much easier to care for. With proper planning and design, you can create a stunning low maintenance flower bed that will add curb appeal to your home without all the hassle. Here's what you need to know to get started.

Design the bed

To create a low maintenance flower bed, start by designing the bed according to your needs and preferences. Consider factors such as the location, size, and shape of the bed, as well as how much time you want to spend on upkeep. To design my flower bed, I found a plan online with a bed size similar to the one I wanted to make.

Garden Gate has some beautiful garden bed design plans for all sorts of sizes and exposures.

Prepare the soil

Next, prepare the soil by mixing in fertilizer or other amendments to help your flowers thrive. You may also want to add some hardscaping elements like a garden path or bird bath. I added a simple path to my flower bed with some river rocks.

Research your plants

Once your flower bed is ready to go, it's important to research which flowers are best suited for your gardening zone and exposure. This will ensure that you choose flowers that are low maintenance and easy to care for, while still providing plenty of color and beauty throughout the growing season. I'm in gardening zone 3, so I chose perennial flowers like shrub roses, peonies and lilac shrubs that I knew would last through our cold winters. Find your gardening zone here, and find my favourite zone 3 perennials here.

The direction your garden faces (the exposure) is also an important element when choosing plants. Some plants like a southern exposure with full sun, while others prefer a northern exposure with more shade.

Plant the flowers according to the directions on their packaging. Make sure to give them plenty of water for at least the first full season.

Simple upkeep

Finally, be sure to keep up with basic care like watering, weeding and deadheading. Adding an inch of mulch over the soil helps keep the weeds down. I like to have my kids help deadhead the spent blooms of my rose bushes - they actually find it fun! By following these simple tips, you can enjoy a beautiful low maintenance flower bed for years to come.

Now that you know how to create a low maintenance flower bed, it's time to get started on your own. With just a little bit of planning and design, you can have a gorgeous flower bed that will add curb appeal to your home without all the hassle. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start gardening!

This week's challenge:

Is there an area in your yard that you'd love to turn into a perennial flower bed? Start researching flower bed layouts and plants that are suited to your gardening zone. Let me know if you're planning anything exciting in the comments below!

Happy DIYing!