How to Create a Flower Bed Border

Measure the circumference of your garden to figure out how much material you need. If your garden is round, line the garden with a hose and measure the hose.

Browse edging materials and border design ideas from a variety of gardening sources --- websites, books, magazines, etc. Decide if you want your border to look natural, grand or crafty. Creative design ideas include sinking empty wine or other glass bottles upside down, about 4 inches into the ground, or horizontal railroad ties for a rustic look.

Purchase enough edging material to line your flower bed. If you want your border to retain soil and mulch, you'll need extra material to sink into the ground for stability.

Use a spade to dig a trench about 2 inches wide and 6 inches deep for your border foundation. Skip this step if you want the border to sit flush with the flower bed's surface.

Spread an inch of sand on the surface of the trench.

Place the first brick or stone in the trench. Take a look at the brick from a few steps away to see if you are happy with the height. Add more sand if you want to raise the height.

Set the bricks in place along the trench, leaving about half an inch between each brick. Press them firmly into the sand or tap them with a hammer or rubber mallet.

Check that your border is even. Place a level or each side of your border.

Use the soil you removed while digging the trench to fill in the gaps between each brick. Press the soil firmly until you can't move the bricks.

Water the border enough to wet the soil in between so it grips the bricks when it dries and holds more firmly in place.