Proper Bed Size

9 years ago

We're redoing our front landscaping, pulling out current shrubs which are not in any kind of bed, and creating a bordered bed for the new plants. I'm struggling with how large/wide to make the new bed. I know I this should be based on the full-grown size of whatever plants we use, but still have questions.

Should plants hang over the border of the bed a bit or be completely contained within? For a simplistic example, if I plant a hydrangea which is expected to grow to 6 feet in diameter, should I make the bed 5 feet wide, so it will hang over some, or 7 feet so it won't? (And I also have to budget in some open space between the plants and the foundation of the house...) I know this is probably a question of personal taste, but I'm wondering what general consensus is. I don't want to create an area that becomes all crowded when plants are mature, but am leery of making a large bed and then planting small plants from the nursery and have the whole thing look ridiculously huge and empty while the plants grow to size. But if that's how it has to be, then so be it. Just give me a little guidance here, please!

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Comments (5)

littlebug zone 5 Missouri
9 years ago
I like my plants totally contained within the bed. Including shrubs. Otherwise, to me, it looks as though the gardener failed to plan ahead.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
For foundation or up-against-the-house beds, make the bed as deep as the largest plant you intend to place there and then add at least another foot, allowing room to get behind the plant as well. You do not want plants to overhang or lay on the lawn - it makes mowing and trimming difficult and can cause disease issues with the plant.

There is also a rule of proportion that should be considered - the bed depth should have some proportional association with both the height of the house and the length. For example, a 3 foot deep bed in front of a 2 story house along a 40' sidewall will look grossly undersized and out of proportion, whereas an 8-10' deep bed will look of proportionate size once planted.

Finally, if the planting bed looks sparse initially with small, new plants, just fill in with some seasonal stuff like annuals. Do not make the mistake of overplanting to make it look full or skimp on the size of the bed to match the size of the new plants. All plants will grow and faster than you might expect!!
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headmotty
Original Author
9 years ago
OK, great - I understand and agree with all that, thanks. Makes perfect sense. And 10-4 on leaving space between the plants and the foundation. I'd say that 99% of all houses have their plants way too close to the house, and it drives me nuts.
emmarene9
9 years ago
Leave at least 18 inches from house but two feet is better.I like to be able to sidle behind the shrubs for window cleaning and maintenance.

I don't start with a deep bed, I deepen by removing lawn as shrubs grow. I just don't like the look of a big bed with tiny plants. You do need to know what the bed size will be when plants are mature so you can plan ahead.

Grid paper is good for drawing a plan.
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Yardvaark
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I agree with those who said no overhanging beyond the bed edge. An exception would be a tree canopy that is over one's head. In that case, the trunk should be comfortably in the bed and not near its edge. I think in most cases a bed should not be shallower than 6' from front to back. It could be larger in that dimension though. Sometimes, when push comes to shove, it may need to be smaller, on account of circumstances that cannot be controlled, but it shouldn't be smaller if there is adequate space for it. When the shrub in the bed does not come to its edge, the "bald" space between the shrub and edge can be/should be filled with lower growing plants/groundcover/perennials/annuals, etc.