How to Build a Cheap Flower Bed

Garden Phlox "Blue Boys"

There are several ways to plant an inexpensive flower bed. All it takes is a little gardening know-how, patience and a good eye for bargains.

Things You'll Need

• Flower pots
• Potting soil
• Seeds
• Plants
• Garden gloves (optional)

Instructions

Plant seeds

1. 

   Seeds cost a fraction of the actual plant, and it's very rewarding to watch the little seedlings sprout and grow. Round up some flower pots, empty egg cartons, even frozen dinner containers, and plant seeds indoors about a month or so before you would expect to move them outside. Plant the seeds according to the instructions. Use quality potting soil rich in nutrients.

2. 

   Visit the garden sections of your local retail or home improvement store, and find the poor plants in the back that aren't doing so well. They are usually half the price of their healthier counterparts. Rescue the ones that still show some signs of life. These "rescue plants" are plentiful toward the end of the season, extending the life of your garden.

3. 

   Perennials are flowers that come back every year, so they are a one-time cost that will pay for itself season after season. Be sure to choose a wide variety of colors and sizes. Perennials come in small sizes, great for borders, to medium sizes, to giant stalk sizes which work well along fences. Be sure to locate the flowers according to the instructions. Some require full sun light, while others prefer a little shade. All require proper drainage. There are a lot of perennials to choose from including: Black-Eyed Susan, Sweet William, Shasta Daisy, Bellflower, Purple Coneflower and more.

4. 

   Bulbs also come back every year, but are more costly than seeds. But consider that they also are a one-time expense and worth the initial investment. Bulbs tend to bloom earlier than flowering perennials, and will give your flower bed a burst of color as a preview of things to come. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths or roses add beauty and wonderful aromas to your flower bed. Plant according to instructions as some bulbs are planted in the fall and others in the spring.

5. 

   If you are patient, you might consider starting your flower bed at the end of the season, and enjoy the full benefits the following year. Bargains abound late in the season, as plant nurseries are winding down, and getting ready to close for the winter. The selection will not be plentiful, especially if you are going the perennial route, but you might get lucky. At the very least, you might be able to pick up some rose bushes, azaleas, or butterfly bushes which will winter over and bloom the following spring.