Place for a multi-level flower bed
To make a multi-level flowerbed with your own hands, first choose a place to organize the structure and determine its size. Several rules will help you harmoniously fit the composition into the landscape design of the site:
- the design should be proportionate to the buildings and objects on the site and occupy a small area;
- if the plan is large and the buildings are spacious, two tiered flower beds are erected instead of one large one;
- small, low structures are more convenient to maintain;
- the height of a multi-tiered flower bed should be such that it is convenient to water, loosen and weed the plants;
- when choosing a location for a multi-tiered flower garden, preference is given to a site with a beautiful background of hedges or on a lawn;
- when planting plants, designers do not recommend growing flowers of different heights in one tier;
- Compositions with large flowering plants are planted on the lower tier and small flowers on the upper rows look organic.
The difference in height on the site is decorated with multi-tiered flower beds; such structures are framed with wild stone, wooden beams or facing bricks.
Multi-level flower beds are made in various styles. The advantages of such designs:
- original decoration of the site;
- efficient use of space in small summer cottages;
- in one place they collect a large number of different plants that bloom all summer.
Minuses:
- complexity of constructing the structure;
- an ineptly integrated multi-tiered flower bed into the landscape design will ruin the appearance of the site.
Why are vertical flower beds so beautiful?
The main advantage of a vertical flower bed stems from its design, which allows significant savings on the congestion of the area. One of the advantages appreciated by owners of small summer cottages is the compactness and originality of such a flower bed. In addition, these types of flower beds allow you to:
- give the structure a different shape, enhancing its decorative effect;
- care for the plants growing on them with all amenities;
- protect plants from pests.
A vertical flower bed can be made from special containers
Variety of shapes and materials
An undoubted advantage of a multi-tiered structure is the variety of shapes and materials from which it can be made. A flower arrangement can be built on the basis of:
- plastic or metal pipes;
- containers stacked in tiers;
- various available materials arranged in the form of a pyramid;
- hanging paintings (blocks, panels on the wall);
- wire balls (wire can be twisted into squares, rectangles and other geometric shapes);
- using the roofs of terraces and gazebos.
Old and new ideas
In addition to the usual improvised materials, summer residents use all kinds of household items and devices under tiered structures. An old bicycle, a children's swing, a fence, fruit boxes, crib backs - all this magically adapts to unique and amazingly beautiful floral creations.
A flowerbed can also be made on a cart
What plants is it suitable for?
In order for the flowerbed to please throughout the summer season, crop varieties are selected according to the flowering period. The same multi-level flower beds, built with your own hands, can be transformed every year if you change the types of plants.
Flowers are arranged according to the following scheme:
- on the first tier there are moisture-resistant tall varieties with large-flowered flowers;
- at middle levels there are small blooming flowers;
- hanging plants that hang harmoniously on the lower tiers, decorating the sides of a multi-tiered flower bed.
The most commonly planted plants are pelargonium, petunia, gazania, viola or pansy, subulate phlox, heuchera, flowering and decorative foliage hostas, dwarf junipers, aster, Turkish carnation, marigolds, etc.
Multi-level designs allow you to create the illusion of flowing space. A flowerbed can perfectly decorate a fence.
Attention! When watering, water from the upper level will flow down, so drainage from small pebbles or crushed stone is installed on the 1st tier. Experts advise choosing drought-resistant plants for the upper layers, and moisture-loving ones for the lower ones. The arrangement of plants at eye level allows you to carefully observe how it blooms, or feel the aroma of herbs or juniper
Tools
Many summer residents build multi-tiered flower beds with their own hands from scrap materials.
To set up the works you will need the following tools:
- shovel;
- rake;
- hammer and nails;
- roulette;
- screwdriver and screws;
- pencil and screwdriver.
Assembling a multi-tiered flower bed involves connecting all the elements of the composition to each other, installing each tier with adding soil. If the structure is built from wood, then each element is first coated with a moisture-proof compound.
How to make a multi-tiered flower bed with your own hands
You can make a multi-level flowerbed with your own hands from various materials. Summer residents use wooden beams, bricks, and car tires. Natural stone or blocks will highlight the exterior of a country house.
Stages of work:
- A drawing of the future multi-tiered flower garden is drawn onto paper.
- Determined by the location of the flower bed and its size. Calculate the required materials.
- The tiers of the structure are assembled. Fill with substrate layer by layer.
- Plants are planted.
To mark a circle on a plot, drive a stake into the center, tie a second stake to it with a rope and carefully draw a circle.
Decorating multi-tiered flower beds:
Made of wood
It’s not difficult to build a tiered flowerbed with your own hands following the photo instructions. This will require the following step-by-step steps:
- Blanks are made from logs. Saw it into 3 parts, each of which is 10-20 cm larger than the previous one. The resulting logs are sawn lengthwise into 2 equal parts. Using twine and wood screws, the blanks are fastened into a tape.
- Carefully treat the wooden tape with wood impregnation or stain. The top is covered with three layers of moisture-resistant varnish.
- Place the tape on the prepared area and fasten the ends to form a semicircle. This is done 3 times with each level of tape. Get a three-tiered flower bed. The compartments are filled with soil and plants are planted.
2 self-tapping screws are driven into the block, in the upper and lower parts, a string is attached to it and screwed with a screwdriver, tightly connecting the parts into a single tape. A
wooden multi-tiered flower bed is made from boxes of different sizes. Sequencing:
- Markings are carried out on the site. They make boxes, each next one is 20 cm smaller than the previous one. Place 1 tier on the ground. Drainage and substrate are poured into the box. Thoroughly compact and water to allow the soil to settle. Add soil if necessary.
- Install the second box so that the corners of the 2nd tier fall on the center of the sides of the 1st row. They fill it with soil, compact it, and water it.
- Set the required number of rows as described in step 2.
- Plants are planted.
Before installing the boxes, the wood is treated with moisture-resistant protective agents: varnish, stain or impregnation
From stone
A multi-tiered cascade flower garden is made from natural stone. The advantage of such a flower bed is the durability and environmental friendliness of the material. Operating instructions:
- The top turf is removed from the selected area.
- Marking stones.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom. Compact thoroughly.
- Cement is poured on top and compacted.
- They lay the stone.
- Marked by size.
- The excess is cut off.
- Cuttings of stone are placed in the voids.
- The gaps are filled with crushed stone and cement.
- Water thoroughly to allow the cement to set.
Various types of stone are chosen for construction: sandstone, limestone, granite
Attention! When choosing a stone, pay attention to the density of the material. Limestone is porous and absorbs moisture, so before use it is treated with varnish or stone impregnation.
From tires
A two-tier flower bed made of car tires can become a decoration for a children's playground. Tires are painted in bright colors and installed in several rows. After placing the 1st tier, the tires are filled with crushed stone, sand and soil. Then install the 2nd row and cover it with soil again.
Features of the work:
- choose soft rubber tires;
- think about the shape of the flower bed in advance;
- To give the tire the shape of a flowerpot, it is turned inside out.
The tires are cut with a knife to facilitate the process; the blade is pre-lubricated with grease
From bags
A two-tier flower bed for decorating a fence or walls of personal buildings is created from bags. Vertical flower beds are filled with substrate, plants are planted and placed on the fence.
To prevent water from stagnating and rotting the soil, drainage holes are made at the bottom.
Made of plastic
A three-tiered flowerbed with your own hands can have fancy shapes. Ready-made plastic borders will help with this. The flexibility of the material allows you to create any interesting shape of the flower garden.
Niches located in a checkerboard pattern are filled with well-drained soil mixture in layers: first 1 tier, and then 2
Advantages of prefabricated structures:
- can easily be assembled by 1 person in 1-2 hours of work;
- portable design;
- The variety of prefabricated elements allows you to assemble exclusive, interesting designs.
From bricks
This material is used to create two levels of a flower garden with your own hands.
Stages of work:
- In the selected area, the top layer of turf is removed around the perimeter. Cover with geotextiles so that there is a margin for the height of the bed. Lay the first row of bricks on cement-sand mortar.
- Lay the 2nd row of bricks and lift the hydrofiber. Add a layer of drainage, sand and soil.
- A multi-tiered flowerbed is filled with soil and plants are planted.
When planting flowers, it should be taken into account that perennials grow and over time will begin to crowd out neighboring plants.
Multi-tiered brick flower beds can have different shapes. Using different colors of facing bricks, a decorative structure is created in contrasting shades.
To prevent a multi-tiered flower garden from looking deserted in the first year, annual flowers are planted between perennial plants.
From building blocks
A construction cinder block or tray allows you to create a 3-tier flower bed. To do this, outline the dimensions on the selected area. Lay one row of blocks. Fill with drainage, sand and soil. A second row of building material is laid on top and covered with earth again. The same is done with the 3rd tier. The structure is thoroughly watered and plants are planted.
Cinder blocks and trays have a porous structure; they are easy to install in a cascade without the use of cement-sand mortar
Plants are planted in the compartments of a block or tray. It is recommended to plant such structures with annual flowers or medicinal herbs.
Ready-made solutions: prefabricated tiered flower bed for strawberries and flowers
Making multi-tiered flower beds from boards, stones or other materials is a labor-intensive task. Many gardeners prefer to purchase ready-made tiers and quickly build a flower garden without much effort. The shape of the flower beds are:
- geometrically correct;
- spiral;
- an accent in the center of which a country object is placed: a watering can, a bucket.
The most popular and beautiful flower beds made of metal include honeycombs, which look great in the form of an alpine slide. You can grow flowering plants and strawberries in them. Interesting compositions are made from several hundred.
Tiered flower beds can be made from architectural concrete, which are assembled from prefabricated elements on site. By experimenting with shades of tiers and colors, you can create a spectacular appearance of the finished structure.
The advantage of prefabricated flower beds is that, if necessary, they can be removed for the winter. They come in the form of baskets or vases. Depending on the available area, the number of tiers is determined. Niches located in a checkerboard pattern look very unusual. Some gardeners prefer not to cover the tiers with soil, but to place potted flowers in them.
The choice of a flower garden largely depends on the plants that are planned to be planted in it. Planted with flowering plants of different varieties and shades, it will look completely different than in the case of flowers of the same type. The material from which the future flowerbed will be made depends on the characteristics of the area and its availability.
Flowerbed care
Making a two-tier flower bed is easy. In order for the structure to bring pleasure and delight the owner with a blooming arrangement, it is necessary to provide constant care:
- to prevent water from stagnating and falling onto the lower tier, add perlite or sand to the ground;
- so that moisture does not accumulate in the lower tier and putrefactive processes do not begin, a drainage layer is laid on the bottom to ensure the outflow of liquid;
- the surface of the flower bed is mulched with tree bark or sawdust, this helps retain moisture and reduce the amount of irrigation and water;
- For more proper care, drip irrigation is installed.
Attention! To prevent the soil from drying out on the upper tier, it is necessary to keep the soil moist.
Simple flower beds made from scrap materials
Financial restrictions are not a reason to deny yourself a beautiful flower garden. After all, it can be made from literally anything! All you have to do is use your imagination and sort out the piles of rubbish in the shed.
Bottle fencing
This option is suitable for unpretentious summer residents and city residents who want to decorate their local area. A low border will protect the flower garden from the encroachments of unscrupulous dog owners - animals are much smarter than people and often do not try to step over even such low fences. And the very fact of the presence of a border indicates that this flowerbed is being looked after.
Hemanthus care at home Varieties of hemanthus with photos and descriptions
For the bottle fence you will need:
- glass or plastic bottles, preferably 1.5 liters;
- garden shovel or hoe;
- sand (if the site has insufficiently loose soil);
- paint – paint the finished border if you come across bottles of different sizes.
The procedure is quite simple, you can even involve children in it to cultivate hard work in them:
- The labels are removed from the bottles for greater aesthetics.
- Sand or earth is poured into the bottles to give the fence stability.
- The area for the curb is marked. The soil is loosened to the depth of a bottleneck.
- The bottles begin to be pressed into the ground with the neck down so that they are immersed by one third. You can also dig a trench, lay the bottles upside down and cover them with soil.
- When the earth around the fence is compacted, the dirt is swept away from the bottles and they can be painted.
Tall flower beds made from bottles look original. They are laid on a thick cement solution, the first layer should be placed in a recess or on the base - so that the bottles do not move apart. Each tier is filled with concrete from the inside so that the neck is in the solution. And to prevent concrete from flowing inside the circle, internal formwork is made. The only disadvantage of this solution is that it is quite difficult to find identical glass bottles.
Tire basics
Tires are the most popular bases for country and city flower beds. Strong, durable and unnecessary. Their appearance is quite unpretentious, but with a little imagination, you can create really interesting yard decorations.
Multi-tiered flower beds made up of several tires look good. In this case, you can take tires of different diameters, radii and widths. If you want to add some variety, you can paint the old wheels, but it is better not to get carried away with colorful colors, choosing white or green. This way the base of the flowerbed will not distract attention from the flowers themselves.
Original compositions from old things
What some consider unnecessary trash, summer residents can turn into real works of art! For example, an old chair makes an excellent vintage flowerpot stand. By complementing the composition with the rest of the set, you will get an original flowerbed. Definitely no other housewife has one like this!
Any old things will be used. Even a suitcase without a handle can come in handy again.
If you have an old chest of drawers at home, you should never throw it away! It will be an excellent decoration for a blank stone wall in the far corner of the garden.
But when breathing new life into old things, it is important to carefully treat them with antiseptic solutions that prevent rotting. And then the original flower beds will become the hallmark of the house!
Photo of multi-tiered flower beds in the landscape
The photo shows do-it-yourself two-tier flower beds. Annual and perennial plants create a single harmonious ensemble.
Ornamental cabbage is an annual that loves well-lit areas. The bottom row is filled with well-growing tall perennials: juniper, hostas, ferns. Brick multi-tiered flower beds are built in the area of the central entrance to the house to add solemnity. Building blocks allow you to create unusual shapes of a multi-tiered flower garden. An old chest of drawers will give a highlight to the recreation area or plumbing that is out of order, filled with earth and planted with hanging flowers