Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Patios
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Resources
    • Garden products
  • News
  • Contact
    • landscaping apprenticeship jobs buckinghamshire
    • landscaping labourer jobs buckinghamshire

How much does it cost to make a garden flower bed?

1/23/2022

1 Comment

 
How much does a garden flower bed cost?
This article contains affiliate links



​There is no better way to add colour and excitement to your garden than with a new flower bed. Flowerbeds can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes hosting a wide variety of plants. Sadly, in recent years there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of flower borders.

Our modern, hectic, lives and busy work schedules mean there is less and less time for gardening. However as we all become more ecologically aware it is clear that flower borders are good for the environment.

Soft landscaping allows gardens to absorb excess rain water and plants encourage biodiversity.
 
Flower border
Green vegetation helps to clean the air and studies have shown also enhance our mood. Therefore creating a new garden bed should be something positive and to be celebrated!

The question is, how much does it cost to make a new flower bed? How much does it cost to make on existing Lawn, paving or concrete? Fear not, in this article we describe how much it costs to create new flower borders in each of these scenarios.

​The average garden flower border is around 50 square metres so we will price up a case study for each surface. 

Soil amelioration


New flowerbeds should be ameliorated with well rotted manure of some kind. This will help to break up compacted ground and invigorate the soil with nutrients.

If you are replacing concrete, paving, or lawn it is very typical for the ground to be nutrient poor. This will mean plants will not get the nutrients they require to grow well. Therefore if you are building up a borders level after breaking out hard standing, fill up with humus rich topsoil.

​Then finish the bed with a 50 - 100mm layer of well rotted cow or horse manure. 

Planting


What you plant in your new flowerbed is really up to you. However it is important to consider what type of effect you want to start off with. More mature planting will provide instant impact but will be much more expensive.

Alternatively you can go for denser plantings of smaller plants which will be cheaper but take longer to establish. Either way you will normally fill smaller plants at higher densities which will even out the cost somewhat.

Hence I think it is a average guide to allow about £35 a square metre for new plants.

Bark mulch


​Bark mulch is a fantastic way to top new flower borders. Not only does it look good it will retain moisture and help to suppress weeds.

​Standard ornamental bark mulch will typically cost around £100 a jumbo bag. This will cover an area of 10 square metres at 50mm thickness. Hence bark mulch will usually cost around £10 a square metre at a good thickness. 

​All of the following price scenarios and calculations are based on new flower borders of 50 metres squared. We find this is generally the average size of proposed new garden flowerbeds. 

How much does it cost to make a garden flowerbed on grass?

​
One of the easiest landscaping conversions is converting lawn into flower bed. This is because the topsoil is already in place. You will need to scrape off the top inch of grass with the roots and dispose of them.

​You will then have to turn over the compacted ground to alleviate compaction. It is then recommended to apply a 100mm layer of well rotted manure to the new garden bed. 

Table based on 50 square metre flower bed with topsoil, plants and bark mulch

​No
​Item
​Specification
Unit cost ​
​Total cost
​1 
​4 yard skip
​3 cubic metres muck
​£200
​£200
​4
​Horse manure
​4 Jumbo bags
​£100
​£400
​N/A
​Planting
​2L, 5L, 10L pots
​£35 psm
​£1,750
​5
​Bark mulch
​5 Jumbo bags
​£100
​£500
​1
​Labour
​1 man 5 days
​£250
​£1,250
​
​
​
Materials total
​£2,850.00
​
​
​
Grand total
​£4,100.00

​Therefore the cost to make a 50sq metre flowerbed on grass will cost £2,850.00 if you undertake the work yourself.

​This includes all materials including; skips, topsoil, plants and bark mulch, a total price of £57.00 per square metre. 

​

​The cost to hire a contractor to make a 50sq metre flowerbed on grass will cost £4,100.00.

​This includes all materials including; skips, topsoil, plants, bark mulch and labour.  This comes to a proportional cost of £82.00 per square metre. 

How much does it cost to make a garden flowerbed on paving?


It is very typical to want to make new flowerbeds inside paved areas.  If the paving is laid on mortar you will need to cut a line 100mm deep to the perimeter of the bed.

If you need to cut a curve, take your time cutting the curve to the top paving first, then chip out the paving. Do not try to cut a curve while the grinder blade is in deep as it can jam and kick violently.

Once your edge is cut, break out all hard standing and paving including hardcore. Turn over the subsoil at the base of the hole and fill with humus rich topsoil. Spread a 100mm layer of well rotted manure to the new flower border.

For block paving you will need to create a concrete edge and haunch to the edge of the bed. This will provide a solid, retaining edge for the compacted sand base. 

 We will cost assuming that all hand standing goes down to a standard depth of 170mm

Table based on 50 square metre flower bed with topsoil, plants and bark mulch.

No ​
​Item
Specification ​
​Unit cost
​Total cost
​2
​8 yard skip
​10 Cubic M hardcore
​£300 
​£600
​1
​Breaker hire
​2 days breaker hire
​£120 
​£240
​1
​Grinder hire
​1 day grinder hire
​£30
​£30
​11 
​Quality topsoil
​11 tons loose
​£50
​£550
​4 
​Horse manure 
​4 Jumbo bags
​£100
​£400
​N/A
​Planting 
​2L, 5L, 10L pots 
​£35 psm
​£1,750
​5  
​Bark mulch
​5 Jumbo bags 
​£100
​£500
​1
​Labour
​1 man 8 days
​£250
​£2,000
​
​
​
​Materials total    
£4,070.00
​
​
​
Grand total   
£6,070.00

Therefore the cost to make a 50sq metre flowerbed replacing paving will cost £4,070.00 if you undertake the work yourself.

This includes all materials including; skips, tool hire, topsoil, plants and bark mulch, a total price of £81.40 per square metre. 


The cost to hire a contractor to make a 50sq metre flowerbed replacing paving will cost £4,100.00.
​
This includes all materials including; skips, tool hire, topsoil, plants, bark mulch and labour.  This comes to a proportional cost of £121.40 per square metre. 


How much does it cost to build a flowerbed on concrete?


The same as paving you will need to cut a 100mm deep perimeter line to the new bed. Break out the concrete with a breaker. Most typically concrete is about 4 inches thick but you could get unlucky with 6-10 inches.

The broken concrete and any sub base will have to be moved and loaded into a skip. You will need to turn over the subsoil and break up any large clods. Fill the new bed up with humus rich topsoil and a 100mm layer of well rotted mature.

We will cost assuming that all concrete and hardcore goes down to a standard depth of 170mm. We are also assuming you own a robust wheelbarrow. 

Table based on 50 square metre flower bed with topsoil, plants and bark mulch.

No ​
​Item
​Specification
​Unit cost
​Total cost
​2 
​8 yard skip
​10 Cubic M hardcore
​£300
​£600
​1
​Breaker hire
​2 days breaker hire
​£120 
​£240
​1
​Grinder hire
​1 day grinder hire
​£30
​£30 
​11
​Quality topsoil
​11 tons loose
​£50
​£550
​4
​Horse manure
​4 Jumbo bags
​£100 
​£400
​N/A 
​Planting
​2L, 5L, 10L pots
​£35psm
​£1,750
​5
​Bark mulch
​5 Jumbo bags 
​£100
​£500
​1 
​Labour
​1 man 8 days
​£250
​£2,000
​
​
​
​Materials total
£4,070.00
​
​
​
Grand total
​£6,070.00

Therefore the cost to make a 50sq metre flowerbed replacing concrete will cost £4,070.00 if you undertake the work yourself.

This includes all materials including; skips, tool hire, topsoil, plants and bark mulch, a total price of £81.40 per square metre. 


The cost to hire a contractor to make a 50sq metre flowerbed replacing concrete will cost £4,100.00.

 This includes all materials including; skips, tool hire, topsoil, plants, bark mulch and labour.  This comes to a proportional cost of £121.40 per square metre. 

Conclusion

​
​Any landscaping or garden projects costs will fluctuate depending on a multiple of factors. Local labour rates, material availability, site access and logistics will all influence the final project cost. However from the data provided we can conclude that an average flowerbed with planting and bark mulch will cost around £90 a square metre. 
Picture
Picture
Picture


'As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases'
1 Comment
Courtney
7/19/2022 01:25:58 am

R

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The
    ​Author 

    Paul Nicolaides 
    BA (Hons) Dip

    Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening. 
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from graibeard, UK Prime Minister, Maggie Hoffman, Aaron Volkening, Darlene Roelofsen, David Paul Ohmer, denis.zabin, Permaculture Association, Bill Selak, The fixed factor, The Garden Smallholder, Tauralbus, nan palmero, Lee Cannon, Monkeystyle3000, Darlene Roelofsen, nicolas.boullosa, Bryn Pinzgauer, cattan2011, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Matthew Paul Argall, tdlucas5000, Acabashi, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, Gilles Gonthier, Martin Hesketh, Owen P, alljengi, steve p2008, romana klee, Bennilover, *_*, blumenbiene, Julianna, Daryll90ca, Wendell Smith, Acabashi, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Permaculture Association, MizGingerSnaps, Tjflex2, wuestenigel, travel oriented, Aaron Volkening, shixart1985, SupportPDX, pete. #hwcp, MostlyDross, Local Food Initiative, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Torquay Palms, Oregon State University, perfectgrassltd, aarongunnar, Acabashi, Actual Brian Crawford, jeans_Photos, alh1, Darlene Roelofsen, Rromani from Romania, docoverachiever, tawalker, markfountain52, Maria Eklind, treegrow, deckerme, Kevan, richardghawley, Ivan Radic, Mark Wordy, garryknight, Matt Lavin, greger.ravik, Capt' Gorgeous, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, Wonderlane, Rudi1976, stonescape, Dinesh Valke, troutcolor, Acabashi, Juhele_CZ, Darlene Roelofsen, pikkuanna, tdlucas5000, Jocey K, Acabashi, focusonmore.com, BethinAZ, zoetnet, kurt.stocker, Monkeystyle3000, ell brown, Bryn Pinzgauer, Mark Wordy, infomatique, Linda N., Armcon Precast, Tinkers Moon, AnnSophieQ, mikecogh, Bob Klannukarn, Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac, ChrisHamby, Alessandro_Corsoni, Stiller Beobachter, GLVF, denisbin, MizGingerSnaps, garryknight, goforchris, Dick Thompson Sandian, Paul Comstock, Kelowna09, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Kanesue, BlossomPDX, Wonderlane, alh1, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, Paul and Jill, Gilles Gonthier, katunchik, thinkactlove, gidlark, jugreen_de, Henry Hemming, Ivan Radic, tompagenet, corsi photo, www.to-tuscany.com, Mark Wordy, UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, Aaron Volkening, Mark AC Photos, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, arripay, denisbin, alans1948, wallygrom, Frank.Vassen, alh1, Scottb211, LenkinDesign, wallygrom, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, juliamaudlin, dwblakey, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, HerryLawford, mikecogh, jeans_Photos, Corey Leopold, Jeremy Levine Design, Kaibab National Forest Photography, Ciarán Mooney, onnola, 35mmMan, longlabcomms, nc.hort, Jamiecat *, pom'., Puddin Tain, Acabashi, tompagenet, Loz Flowers, Alan Stanton, Darlene Roelofsen, denisbin, Darlene Roelofsen, zakzak7, Center for Neighborhood Technology, wht_wolf9653, LenkinDesign, HerryLawford, FoodCraftLab, Miranda J Wood, Key West Wedding Photography, Montgomery County Planning Commission, bienen-nachrichten.de, zaphad1, SupportPDX, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, itmpa, Judy Gallagher, SteveR-, kylehase, simonmgc, treegrow, garryknight, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, el cajon yacht club, cattan2011, Ed Bierman, mikecogh, Mike Prince, photofarmer, M. Martin Vicente, Darlene Roelofsen, La Citta Vita, Mary Gillham Archive Project, Puddin Tain, sustainablejill, mikecogh, ScotGov Rural, Macleay Grass Man, Andesine, denisbin, *_*, samsaundersleeds, onnola, James St. John, Pixelteufel, www.twin-loc.fr, The359, F. D. Richards, berniedup, Monkeystyle3000, Mark AC Photos, Mark Wordy, Swallowtail Garden Seeds