How Much Does It Cost to Install a Flower Bed?

There is no better way to give your front, side or backyard a facelift than adding a flower bed. Installing flowers, striking mulch and a border, brightens up even the dullest yard. Flower beds are particularly important for areas with few or no large trees to add texture and interest.

The average cost to install a flower bed ranges from $1,000-$3,000, with the average homeowner spending around $250 on a 5x12 ft flower bed, with tilled and sod removed, weed barrier installed, mid-cost flowers planted, wood border and bark mulch ¹.

Flower Bed Cost

Flower Bed Cost Per Square Foot

While most landscapers charge one price for the entire job, it may be helpful to know the average cost per square foot. This is $4-$12. Typically, the cost per square foot would only be for the labor and the supplies would be added to it. Supply pricing will vary with the type of flowers, bushes, plants, mulch ¹ or rock, border, etc., you choose.

Flower Bed Cost by Type

A flower bed will add to the exterior of any home. However, there are two types of flower beds: border flower bed and island ² flower bed. Border flower beds tend to be smaller.

Border Flower Bed

A border flower bed around the house is going to be the more expensive choice. That is why many homeowners choose to do a border flower bed just on the front of the house. A border flower bed can be a subtle addition to make your front yard look neat and clean. Planting flowers of deep yellow, orange, purple, pink, or blue will provide a pop of color to every home. A border flower bed on the front of your house will cost $1,000-$1,500.

Island Flower Bed

While a border flower bed is located up next to the house, an island ² flower bed is typically situated in the center of the front yard. The best choice is to mix flowers with larger plants. Your landscaper can help you determine which plants and flowers will do well together. The cost of an island flower bed is around $1,000-$3,000.

Edging Flower Bed Cost by Material

Edging a flower bed gives it a finished, crisp look. It also eliminates the need to constantly create a new edge with your weedeater. There are many options for edging the flower bed, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Rock Flower Bed Border

Rocks are a more natural-looking choice and will hold up under weathering. You can expect to pay $21-$100.

Limestone Flower Bed Edging

Limestone ³ is a softer concrete material than stones or brick. It is also more porous which means it will have to be sealed to avoid stains or mildew. Cost for limestone is $25-$100.

Wooden Flower Bed Border

Wood edging is sturdy but should be treated to avoid rotting and insect damage. While creating a rustic look, the wood can become faded and old-looking quickly. Homeowners should paint or stain the wood about every 3-5 years. Cost is $50-$300. One of the most common types of wood used in flower beds is cedar. Cedar flower bed edging is a naturally rot and insect resistant material so it makes a great edge product. You can purchase it in half log rolls with metal stakes attached for an easy install. However, these inexpensive rolls are a little flimsy and may fall over if stepped on or as the soil becomes wet. The cost is $12-$150.

Brick Flower Bed Edging

Bricks are one of the most durable products available. There are many styles and colors that will look nice for years to come with little to no maintenance. The cost ranges from $60-500.

Stone Flower Bed Edging

Stones are also a long-lasting material. As it is a heavy, durable product that will give your flower bed a more defined look, stones will protect your flower garden from the weedeater during maintenance. You can find many options for stone flower bed edging and pay about $120-$600.

Labor Cost to Install Flower Beds

Installing flower beds is a lengthy process from start to finish. Planning for size, shape, and understanding the proper types of flowers, plants, or shrubs is vital to the success of your project. Professionals have an understanding of dimension, shape, and know what plants will survive in your climate and soil. The last thing you want to do is spend money and everything dies within 6 months to a year.

If there is existing grass or weeds, this will need to be removed and a protective screen or plastic laid down to prevent regrowth. Once that is completed, the edging can be put in. Then cuts can be made in the plastic or screen and holes dug. The plants and flowers will then be installed along with the mulch ¹ or rocks. Watering should be done for several hours afterward with a slow dripping hose. Most professionals can do this job within a few hours. Prices vary from state to state but most landscaping professionals charge $50-$200 an hour.

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Cost to Build Raised Garden Bed

Raised garden beds are helpful as they bring the plants and flowers up to your level for easier weeding and tending. Gardeners also enjoy raised beds as they provide better drainage and no soil erosion. They are often used to fend off wildlife but are not as effective as a fence or enclosure. These beds are surrounded by a wood, concrete or metal box without a top. Raised garden bed prices range from $250-$400.

Raised Garden Bed Cost by Material

Just like edging, the cost of a raised garden bed is determined by the material. Choosing a material depends on how you want your garden to look and how long you are expecting the product to last.

Rock Raised Garden Beds

Although not as neat as brick, wood, or metal, rock raised garden beds are the perfect material. The rocks deflect heat during the day and release it at night for a longer growing season. In addition, rocks will not rot, fade or crack from weathering. The cost for a rock raised garden bed is $75-$300.

Cinder Block Raised Garden Bed

A cinder block raised garden bed will last a long time as these concrete blocks are strong and heavy. The cost for a cinder block raised bed is $100-$200.

Metal Raised Garden Beds

If you are looking for a more farmhouse look, metal raised garden beds are a great choice! Galvanized metal is recommended as it contains a zinc coating that keeps the metal from rusting. These beds can be made of all metal or with a wood frame and metal sides. Either way, it is a neat, old-fashioned look. The cost for a galvanized metal raised garden bed is $100-$350.

Brick Raised Garden Bed

Bricks are also a great alternative as they are long-lasting, resistant to insects and erosion. The price for a brick raised bed is $180-$500.

Cedar Raised Garden Bed

Cedar raised garden beds are a rich, rustic look. While beautiful, this wood is also rot- and insect resistant. The cost for a cedar raised garden bed is $200-$300.

Redwood Raised Garden Bed

Redwood ⁴ is a hearty, rot- and insect resistant premium wood. The cost is $300-$400.

Flower Bed Installation Cost Factors

Planning a flower bed installation is a fun project. However, set a budget to avoid getting in over your head. Some items that affect the cost are when you are having the work done, the size of your garden, the material you choose for the border, if your soil will need tilling, weed or grass removal, plastic or screen to staunch regrowth, and the kind of flowers you choose.

You may find that you get a better deal on a flower bed installation during the cooler months. However, this is not always practical. Your professional landscaper should be able to help you determine when flowers should be planted. As most flowers cannot be planted before the last freeze, it limits when you can have the job done.

If you have grass or weeds that have to be removed, you will pay an additional $50-$150. The size of your flower bed will influence the cost as well. The labor plus the supplies cost about $1,000-$3,000, depending on the size. The border of your flower bed can vary from $50-$500 installed, with the least expensive border being a cedar half-log roll. Flower costs vary from $2-$50. More exotic or rare flowers can cost more than $50.

Best Flower Bed Mulch

Mulching your flower bed can be done with a variety of materials including pine/hay straw, shredded hardwood, bark, hemlock, redwood ⁴, cedar, rubber, plastic, and rock. Bark mulch ¹ is considered the better choice as it is heavier so it doesn’t blow away, it decomposes slower, and is a denser material to let in more sun and water. You can find bark mulch for around $40-$90 per cubic yard. Shredded materials are very easy to spread and are affordable at $30-$45 per cubic yard. Hemlock is toxic to pets and people so not a good choice. Redwood mulch features a rich, dark color but is a bit expensive at $60-$75 per cubic yard. A synthetic material such as rubber is a recycled, eco-friendly product and is inexpensive at $10-$20 per cubic yard. Looking to save money? Bulk mulch is cheaper than bagged.

Flower Bed Cost by Type of Flower

Picking out the flowers for your flower bed is perhaps the most exciting part. There are many different shades, colors, and textures of flowers. Although it is exciting, it is also the part where you don’t want to choose incorrectly. If you buy flowers that don’t like too much sun and the sun beats down on them every day, they will be dead before you know it. Conversely, if you buy flowers that require less water and your area is very rainy, root rot will soon set in.

Marigold Flower Bed

Marigolds draw pollinators, need full sun, and bloom quickly. These easy to maintain plants are also inexpensive at $1-$5.

Snapdragon Flower Bed

While these plants are low-maintenance, they will only bloom during the cooler part of blooming season. To buy one expect to pay about $1-$5.

Zinnia Flower Bed

These are brightly-colored and easy to care for flowers. When the large variety is purchased, it makes great cutting flowers for vases. Cost of the plant is $1-$5.

Daffodil Flower Bed

These flowers like at least six hours of bright sun a day and cost about $1-$20.

Pink Flower Bed

If pink is your favorite color, you have lots of flowers to choose from including roses, carnations, begonias, azaleas, and more. Costs range from $1-$25.

Lavender Flower Bed

Lavender is known for its sweet smell and calming effect. Expect to pay $3-$15.

Lobelia Flower Bed

With striking blue color, these plants are great for ground cover as they branch out. Cost is about $5-$6.

Coneflower Flower Bed

If you are looking for an easy plant to grow that also attracts butterflies and bees, the coneflower is a great choice. Costs for coneflower plants is $5-$6.

Yarrow Flower Bed

A no-fuss, drought-resistant plant, these are easy to grow. Cost is about $5-$6.

Calibrachoa Flower Bed

With trumpet-shaped flowers, this hardy plant will grow in nearly all kinds of conditions. The price is $5-$15.

Black-eyed Susan Flower Bed

Black-eyed Susan flowers require minimal care, love the sun, and are great pollinators. These wildflowers run about $8-$9.

Sunflower Flower Bed

There is nothing like a sunflower - heat tolerant, pest resistant and larger varieties can grow as tall as 16 feet! These babies cost $8-$10.

Touch-me-not Flower Bedto

These pompom looking flowers earn their name from the thorns that grow on the stems as well as the plants characteristic of closing up when touched. They are easy to grow and cost runs about $10-$12.

Rose Flower Bed

The rose flower has a myriad of choices, colors, and sizes. Many types are hardier than others. Rose bushes run from $10-$50.

Iris Flower Bed

Iris flowers like full sun and require little water but are also toxic to pets. Costs range from $13-$30.

Daylily Flower Bed

A hearty flower that is virtually maintenance-free, you can get these for $15-$16.

Lily Flower Bed

Lilies like full sun and well-drained soil but are toxic to cats and dogs. Cost is $20-$70.

Hyacinth Flower Bed

These stunning large blooms range from light pink to deep blue, need partial shade and rich soil. A potted hyacinth is about $21-$25.

Dig Flower Bed vs No Dig Flower Bed

Your typical flower bed requires digging, tilling, grass, and weed removal. However, many people are turning to a no-dig flower bed. A no-dig flower bed is installed on top of the existing ground. Using a biodegradable product such as a newspaper or cardboard as the base, the soil is added and built up to create a top layer for planting. You will need to have a border installed to contain the garden and digging will be necessary to install that. Once you have the foundation done, planting and mulching ¹ will ensue. The cost of a no-dig flower bed will be lower as the foundation work takes less time. Expect to pay $800-$1200 for a no-dig and $1,000-$3,000 for a dig flower bed.

Flower Bed Maintenance Cost

If you have a screen or plastic weed barrier installed before the plants and mulch are added, weeding your garden is an easier job. Depending on the types of flowers you have chosen, you may need to water more often. Some flowers such as roses may require removing dead flowers to make way for more blooms as well as fertilizers to help them grow. If you hire a professional to maintain your beds, expect to pay around $25-$50 an hour.

Enhancement and Improvement Costs

Raised Flower Bed with Trellis

A trellis is used to allow creeping flower plants to climb. You can have a raised flower bed with trellis installed for $350-$700.

Weed Barrier Cost

A weed and grass barrier is usually made of screen or plastic. It provides a barrier to keep weeds and grass from growing into your flower garden. Weed barrier cost with installation is $50-$100.

Additional Considerations and Costs

• Permit. A permit is not required to put in a flower garden.
• License. Some states do not require a landscaper to have a license or formal training. While a formal education isn’t required, choose a landscaper who has experience with the types of plants that work in your climate. The National Association of Landscapers does provide classes and exams to obtain certifications in various areas of landscaping. Keep in mind that learning in the environment you work in is often equal to or better than passing a written test.
• DIY​. While you could do your own flower bed, it will most likely take you longer and the work is hard. Also, a professional can help you with the design, size, shape, and types of flowers that work best for your soil and weather.
• Labor. It is important to remember that the work involved in creating a long-lasting flower bed will be labor-intensive. This includes removing sod, sticks, rocks, and other debris from the area that you are starting your flower bed.
• Adopt a Flower Bed. The Adopt a Flower Bed program is well known in many cities. Volunteers help to keep public flower beds in shape by weeding and tending to the flowers.
• Raised Planter Boxes. Apartment dwellers or those with little yard space may want to consider raised planter boxes. These boxes are also portable for those who move around or just want to have some flexibility in their garden. You can have one built and supplied with flowers for around $150-$300.

Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

² Island: A kitchen counter that is not attached to walls or other surfaces, and that can be accessed from all sides

³ Limestone: A type of sedimentary rock, made up of mostly calcite and aragonite