10 Genius Small Flower Garden Bed Ideas You Need Now!

9. Creating a Stunning Medallion Flower Bed

A photo of a stunning medallion flower bed with a diameter of approximately 12 feet. The bed features a circular design with a center focal point of tall decorative grasses. Surrounding the grasses is a middle ring of colorful flowers, including salvias, zinnias, and snapdragons. The outer ring is filled with low-growing petunias, alyssum, and verbena. The medallion is surrounded by a decorative stone border. The background contains a pathway and a fence.

Let me tell you about my journey with medallion flower beds – they’re absolutely gorgeous when done right! I first attempted one after seeing a stunning display at the Portland Rose Garden, and while my first try was a bit wonky, I’ve learned so much about creating these eye-catching circular gardens over the years.

Planning Your Medallion Design

The key to a successful medallion bed starts with proper planning. I learned this the hard way when I tried to wing it my first time! Start by drawing your design on paper – think of it like creating a mandala with flowers. You’ll want to measure your space carefully and mark out your circle using a center stake and string. For reference, my most successful medallion beds have been between 8 to 12 feet in diameter.

Selecting and Arranging Flowers

Here’s where the magic happens! The secret to a stunning medallion bed lies in color blocking and pattern repetition. I typically divide my circle into 6 or 8 equal sections, like slicing a pie. Each section should mirror the others to create that satisfying symmetry.

Some tried-and-true combinations I’ve used include:

Center focal point: Tall decorative grasses or show-stopping dahlias
Middle ring: Salvias, zinnias, or snapdragons
Outer ring: Low-growing petunias, alyssum, or verbena

Creating Perfect Circles and Borders

Let me share a pro tip I discovered after countless wonky edges: use a garden hose to lay out your perfect circle first. For the internal patterns, I create templates using cardboard or flexible PVC pipe. This simple hack has saved me hours of frustration!

The border really makes or breaks a medallion bed. I’ve found that decorative stone edging or brick pavers work beautifully to maintain those crisp edges. Just make sure to install them slightly below grass level for easy mowing.

Maintaining Pattern Integrity

Here’s something nobody told me at first – maintenance is crucial for medallion beds! These aren’t your plant-and-forget gardens. I dedicate about 30 minutes each week to:

Deadheading spent blooms
Carefully trimming back aggressive spreaders
Maintaining clean edges
Ensuring pattern definition stays sharp

The real game-changer was installing a drip irrigation system with separate zones. This lets me control water levels for different plant types while avoiding water spots on petals.

Ready to discover another amazing flower bed design? Click the next button below to learn about our final garden bed style – the enchanting Ribbon Flower Bed. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this one – it’s probably my favorite design for creating stunning color waves throughout your garden!