How to Make a Stone Border for a Raised Flower Bed

Are you looking for a decorative idea for your flowers or garden? Try adding some dimension by bordering one or two rows of stone around your flowerbeds. You don't just have to settle for a flat boring flowerbed surfaces any more. With a few supplies you can achieve the great looking flowerbed border you have always wanted. Not only will it look great but it will also provide a superior drainage solution in a generally wet area. Here's how:

Things You'll Need

• Shovel Stones (your choice of size) Mulch Plastic edging Stakes Hammer Landscaping fabric Safety glasses Chisel Gravel Level Gardening gloves

Instructions

1. Dig the area in front of the flowers. You want to make the area come out the width of your stones plus a few more inches (approximately six inches or more). The area where you want the border should be approximately four inches deep.

2. Fill the area that you dug out with gravel. Spread and level it out. Do not fill higher than ground level. You may even want to go a little below ground level.

3. Lay the first row of stones end to end. Place them approximately four inches back from the grass. Adjust for the best look. You may also need to chip the stone a bit to keep it level. Wear safety glasses.

4. Lay the second row of stones on top of the first row. This sounds easy, but you want to make sure they are stable. When stacking this row, it needs to go on top of the cracks or joints of the underneath row.

5. Remove a little of your gravel from in front of the wall to install your plastic edging with your stakes and then fill with mulch. This will keep grass from growing against your wall.

6. Place a piece of landscape fabric along of the back of the stones. Fill in your flowerbed with dirt, plants and mulch. Trim the fabric so it does not show.

Tips & Warnings

• Check with your local gardening center for supplies. The bigger the stones you buy, the less you will need. Try to get them as flat and as even as possible so you will not have a whole lot of chipping work to do in order to get them to fit. It may take some experimenting with placement to get everything how you want it.