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 Installation Cost | |
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National average cost | $2,000 |
Average range | $1,000-$3,000 |
Minimum cost | $600 |
Maximum cost | $5,000 |
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.
Size of flower bed | Cost |
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3x10 ft | $120-$360 |
5x10 ft | $200-$600 |
5x12 ft | $240-$720 |
8x10 ft | $320-$960 |
8x12 ft | $384-$1,152 |
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.
Type of flower bed | Cost |
---|---|
Border flower bed | $1,000-1,500 |
Island flower bed | $1,000-$3,000 |
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.
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 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.
Edging material | Cost |
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Rock | $21-$100 |
Limestone | $25-$100 |
Wood | $50-$300 |
Brick | $60-$500 |
Stone | $120-$600 |
Rocks are a more natural-looking choice and will hold up under weathering. You can expect to pay $21-$100.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Material | Cost |
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Rock | $75-$300 |
Cinder block | $100-$200 |
Metal | $100-$350 |
Brick | $180-$500 |
Cedar | $200-$300 |
Redwood | $300-$400 |
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.
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.
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.
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 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 4 is a hearty, rot- and insect resistant premium wood. The cost is $300-$400.
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.
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.
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.
Type of flower | Cost |
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Marigold | $1-$5 |
Snapdragon | $1-$5 |
Zinnia | $1-$5 |
Daffodil | $1-$20 |
Pink | $1-$25 |
Lavender | $3-$15 |
Lobelia | $5-$6 |
Coneflower | $5-$6 |
Yarrow | $5-$6 |
Calibrachoa | $5-$15 |
Black-eyed Susan | $8-$9 |
Sunflower | $8-$10 |
Touch-Me-Not | $10-$12 |
Rose | $10-$50 |
Iris | $13-$30 |
Daylily | $15-$16 |
Lily | $20-$70 |
Hyacinth | $21-$25 |
Marigolds draw pollinators, need full sun, and bloom quickly. These easy to maintain plants are also inexpensive at $1-$5.
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.
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.
These flowers like at least six hours of bright sun a day and cost about $1-$20.
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 is known for its sweet smell and calming effect. Expect to pay $3-$15.
With striking blue color, these plants are great for ground cover as they branch out. Cost is about $5-$6.
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.
A no-fuss, drought-resistant plant, these are easy to grow. Cost is about $5-$6.
With trumpet-shaped flowers, this hardy plant will grow in nearly all kinds of conditions. The price is $5-$15.
Black-eyed Susan flowers require minimal care, love the sun, and are great pollinators. These wildflowers run about $8-$9.
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.
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.
The rose flower has a myriad of choices, colors, and sizes. Many types are hardier than others. Rose bushes run from $10-$50.
Iris flowers like full sun and require little water but are also toxic to pets. Costs range from $13-$30.
A hearty flower that is virtually maintenance-free, you can get these for $15-$16.
Lilies like full sun and well-drained soil but are toxic to cats and dogs. Cost is $20-$70.
These stunning large blooms range from light pink to deep blue, need partial shade and rich soil. A potted hyacinth is about $21-$25.
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.
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.
A trellis is used to allow creeping flower plants to climb. You can have a raised flower bed with trellis installed for $350-$700.
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.
The average cost to install a 5x10 ft flower bed with flowers, mulch and border is $1,000-$1,500.
Any grass, weeds, rocks, sticks, roots, or debris will need to be removed. If the soil is sandy or clay, a richer, dark soil should be added.
A landscaper charges $50-$200 an hour but if you are just having him/her plant flowers, they may charge a flat fee in order to make a minimum charge. Most likely a minimum would be $100-$150.
Cost per hour for a landscaper is $50-$200 an hour.
Expect to pay $250-$300 for a landscaper to plant a 15 gallon tree.
Cost to install a flower bed varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.