How to Outline Flower Beds With Shrubs

A simple flower bed can transform the look of a yard in a dramatically positive manner. If you are planning to create a flower bed, there are a multitude of designs and arrangements from which you can choose. Many people outline their beds to make them stand out and look neat and tidy. Some people use border materials such as stones or wooden segments. If you prefer the "live" look, you can use shrubs as a border for your flower beds.

Hose
Garden shovel

Instructions

- 1
  Sketch your existing or planned flower bed on a piece of paper. Draw a border that allows 2 feet of space between your plants and your border shrubs.
- 2
  Draw the placement of a single type of shrub as your border plant. Using one type of shrub creates a consistent, neat appearance. Using mixed shrubs may give your garden a jumbled, messy look. The distance between the shrubs depends on the type of shrub that you use.
- 3
  Draw the placement of a secondary shrub border on the outside of the first border if you wish to layer the edging of the garden. For example, you might use a taller shrub for the inner border and a shorter shrub for the outer border.
- 4
  Lay a water hose along the border of your flower bed. Because a hose is flexible, this allows you to move it along the contours of the bed.
- 5
  Plant your shrubs in your planned locations on the edges of your beds. Water and care for the shrubs as indicated by the specific plants' care directions.

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