Gas Power Tool for Cutting a Flower Bed

Planning the Flower Bed

• Before you start chopping out grass for your new flower bed, draw up a landscape plan. Consider the amount of light the area receives and the soil quality. This will help you select plants that are hardy for the flower bed’s environment. Consider each plant’s growth habit, so you allow adequate space and eliminate overcrowding. This allows air to circulate properly, which cuts down on health problems. When choosing a design, consider that square or round beds have a more formal look. Island or kidney shaped beds are more informal. Figuring out in advance the size of the bed, allows you to know how many plants and other supplies are required to complete the project.

Preparing the Bed

• After you’ve settled on the flower bed’s design and size, you can start preparing the bed. Mark the area for the flower bed using spray paint or landscaper’s marking paint. Spray around the outer edge of the bed. Approximately one to two weeks before planting, kill any grass or weeds growing in the area. Use a weed or grass killer containing glyphosate, suggests Becky Hamilton, Smith County Master Gardener of Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Follow the herbicide’s instructions when applying and mixing. Vegetation browns and dies in approximately one week, depending on the product. Turn off all irrigation use in the area, so the herbicide won't get diluted.

Gas-Powered Weedeater

• Once the vegetation in the new flower bed is dead, you can begin the final steps for creating it. Using a gas-powered weedeater helps cut the vegetation down to a workable size. Follow the manufacturer’s directions concerning safety and operating the particular weedeater. Consider debris may fly up and hit your body, so wear safety glasses, long pants and a long sleeved shirt. Trim all the dead vegetation down to the ground. After cutting down the vegetation, rake the remains from the area. This allows you to see what you are doing in the final steps.

Gas-Powered Edger

• Using a gas-powered edger to cut out the dead grass in small sections makes work relatively easy. As with the weedeater, follow manufacturer’s instructions concerning operation and safety. Set the edger’s blade to the lowest setting. This allows the blade to cut three to four inches into the ground. Begin by edging around the outer sides of the bed, following the paint marks. Use the edger to form 12-by-12-inch squares in the inner portion of the bed. Cutting out smaller squared areas makes removing the dead grass easier. Once you’ve created all the squares with the edger, use a spade shovel to remove them. After removing the squares, use a hard rake to remove any remaining grass so the roots do not regrow in the new bed.