How to Build Shrub Beds

Design

• 1

  Calculate the width of the shrub bed, based on the guideline that shrub beds should be one-third to two-thirds the height of structures and trees in and around the bed. For instance, a shrub bed next to a house that's 15 feet tall should be five to 10 feet wide to appear proportional. A shrub bed around a 40-foot-tall tree should be roughly 13 to 27 feet wide.

• 2

  Add visual appeal and soften the straight lines of buildings and fences by slightly contouring the edge of the shrub bed. Lay out a garden hose to create gentle curves that make mowing around the bed easier. Continue the contour across sidewalks and driveways to maintain the visual flow.

• 3

  Adjust the garden hose as needed around structures. Maintain a distance of at least three feet from structures so the bed is wide enough to accommodate a mature shrub. Straighten the garden hose along straight sidewalks for a more formal look.

Cultivation

• 4

  Dig down one shovel width along your garden hose outline. Excavate a trench approximately 6 inches wide along the shrub bed side of the garden hose. Move the excavated clumps to the center of the shrub bed. You can transplant any healthy sod you remove to other areas of the lawn.

• 5

  Till the entire shrub bed area with a tiller. Avoid rocks, which can break the tiller's blades.

• 6

  Remove weeds, grass and rocks from the soil, moving through the new bed in small sections.

• 7

  Spread compost in an even layer across the shrub bed, using a garden rake.

• 8

  Mix the compost into the soil with the tiller. Add more compost until the soil forms a ball when squeezed, but will easily break into pieces when tapped with the other hand.

• 9

  Level the soil with the rake. Create higher and lower areas as needed to accent your planned shrub plantings.

• 10

  Test the soil with a soil test kit. Add amendments to the soil as recommended by the results of the soil test.