How to Clear Weeds to Make a Flower Bed

Clear the soil of all grass and plants before planting your flower plants. Use your hands to pull and dig out weeds if working with a small garden. Consider working with a manual or automated rotary cultivator, or rototiller, which lifts and turns soil quicker on larger plots. Make sure the soil is moist and not too dry when using a rototiller. This prevents damage to nearby plants and the soil's structure.

Turn the soil gently using a spade or hoe to uncover hidden roots you may have missed. Observe whether any weeds appear over the next three to four days. Turn the soil again to uncover the roots of unwanted weeds, which will expose the roots to the sunlight. This will not only deprive the weeds of water and nutrients, but also make them easier to remove.

Spread three to four inches of organic mulch over your bed to give your flower garden a cleaner appearance and help prevent future weed growth. Use organic matter including pine needles, sphagnum peat moss, chopped leaves, wood chips and shredded bark to cover the surface of the soil. Dig only the part of the bed where you plan to add flower seeds or bulbs to preserve the layer of mulch and prevent the germination of weed seeds.