Flower beds are such a beautiful focal point of any yard and will actually raise the value of your home. I will help you with this fun and rewarding project by giving you the steps you need to take. You will be building a dry stone wall that will not only support your flower bed, but will add to the beauty and have a style of its own.
As I give you the steps on how to build a wall, you will want to think about the style and look you want. There are several materials to choose from. Go to your local home and garden store and see what they have to offer.
How to build a wall using three basic types of stones:
1. Stacking Stone: This is the uniform size stone that is a bit easier to stack. This stone is irregular in its shape but pretty easy as far as stacking on one another.
2. Field Stone: This is a rounded stone as you would find in a field or a stream. They vary in sizes and color. This will add a beautiful variety in your wall. This will be a bit more difficult as you will need more limestone to help stabilize them as you stack them. Make sure to put the flat side down.
3. Dressed Stone: This is your most expensive choice but the easiest and most convenient one to work with. This stone is pre-cut and uniform in size. There will be several options to choose from in this variety based on your design and price range.
The first step is to design the shape of your flower bed and mark it out on the ground. You will need to have the measurements for the length you are going to be working with. This will determine how many blocks you will need to make the foundation of your wall. As far as your curves, try to keep them large or you will have jagged looking curves when you are done.
Once you have your wall shape mapped out, measure it completely including any curves you have added. Once you have decided on the material you will be using, measure the length and depth. Take the length of your wall and divide it by the length of your material; wall/brick= amount of bricks needed.
You will need to dig a trench about 8 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches wider than your stone. Fill your trench with some crushed limestone, level and compact it as best you can. Then add a bit more for settling purposes. As you are laying out your stone, keep watch on the level from side to side. You want this to remain stable.
Do not make your wall over 3 feet tall, if you need it higher than that, make a new row a few inches back. As you are building up your wall, move each row back a 1/2 inch, which creates stability and a back leaning slope. If you were to have it completely vertical, the earth behind it will eventually push it forward.
Fit your stones close together; you may need to use a chisel and hammer on a few of them. If you are building a wall with uneven stones, vary the sizes as you go and make sure to leave some larger ones for the top which will give the wall the stability it needs.
As you are stacking, stack it as a brick layer does on a house; one over two, then two over one. Then remember, the capstones are the larger stones you have saved for the extra weight needed to stabilize your wall.
Now you have the basics on how to build a wall for a beautiful flower bed. Now time to go and find the best plants for your garden.
