How to Build a Planting Bed Against a House

Find the right sites against your house for ideal flower growth. Most flowers bloom best with full sun, so choose a spot that gets bright sunshine all day, or sun in the morning with filtered shade in the afternoon. Try to find a spot that drains quickly after rain, as flowers don't enjoy sitting in water and may die.

Mark off 5 to 15 square feet of space for your flower bed, to give yourself space for variety in planting and room during gardening. Fit your flower bed to the size of the house, space and your personal preference. Use the house as one side of the flower bed.

Build your flower bed based on your personal preference and the drainage in the site. If your site drains well, you can amend the soil and plant the flowers in the ground. Dig into the top 6 to 10 inches of soil to break it up, and remove any weeds or rocks. Lay 2 inches of quick-draining garden soil and 2 inches of organic compost on top of the site, then use a garden fork to mix the amendments into the tilled soil.

If your site doesn't drain well, or you prefer a more established look, build a raised bed to increase drainage and showcase the flowers. Outline the garden area with a layer of concrete blocks or bricks. This wall won't come under any heavy pressure, so stack the blocks or bricks without cement. Mix quick-draining garden soil and organic compost in equal parts, then shovel the mixture into the flower bed to fill it. Leave 1 to 2 inches of space between soil level and the top of the wall.

Add slow release granular 5-10-5 fertilizer to the top 6 inches of soil in either raised or in-ground beds to increase the nutrition for planting. Follow manufacturer directions in regard to quantity of fertilizer.