Which flowers work well, how to combine them, and what to keep in mind
Raised beds are not just for vegetables. A raised flower bed brings color to the terrace, balcony, or garden - and it is easy on your back too.
The raised bed has seen a real boom in recent years - especially for vegetables and herbs. But it is also perfectly suited as a flower bed. The elevated position brings the flowers up to eye level, the rich soil encourages abundant blooms, and gardening becomes much easier without bending down.
Benefits of a raised flower bed
- Better soil: In a raised bed, you control the soil quality yourself. Good soil = stronger growth and more blooms.
- Fewer slugs: The height makes it harder for slugs to get in. No slug pellets needed.
- Easy on your back: No bending when planting, weeding, or watering.
- Warmer: Raised beds warm up faster in spring. That means the flowers start the season earlier.
- At eye level: The flowers stand out more beautifully than they do at ground level.
Which flowers are best for a raised flower bed?
Spring: tulips, daffodils, primroses, pansies, forget-me-nots
Summer: dahlias, zinnias, cosmos, snapdragons, nasturtiums, sunflowers (dwarf varieties)
Autumn: chrysanthemums, asters, heather, cyclamen
Year-round: lavender, sage, cranesbill, stonecrop, coral bells
Planting plan: raised flower bed for year-round blooms
A well-planned raised flower bed blooms from March to November. The trick is to combine plants that flower one after another.
- Back (tall): delphiniums, dahlias, snapdragons - up to 80 cm tall
- Middle (medium): lavender, zinnias, cosmos, sage - 30-50 cm tall
- Front (low): pansies, primroses, stonecrop, coral bells - up to 20 cm tall
- Cascading over the edge: trailing petunias, lobelia, trailing strawberries - spill gracefully over the edge
Tip: Plant bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocuses) in the raised bed in autumn. In spring, they are the first to bloom while the summer flowers are still germinating. That way, your raised flower bed never has a gap.
Caring for a Raised Flower Bed
- Watering: Raised beds dry out faster than in-ground beds. Check daily in summer, especially with wooden raised beds.
- Fertilizing: Use flower fertilizer every 2-3 weeks from May to September. Raised beds with a compost layer are richer in nutrients.
- Remove faded blooms: Regularly cut off spent flowers (deadheading). This encourages new blooms.
- Top up the soil: The soil in a raised bed settles over time. In spring, top it up with compost and fresh soil.
Raised Flower Bed on the Balcony
A mini raised bed also works well on small balconies. Raised beds are available from 60 cm in length and can fit on almost any balcony. Especially suitable for balconies are:
- Sunny balcony: Lavender, geraniums, petunias, zinnias, nasturtiums
- Shady balcony: Fuchsias, busy Lizzies, begonias, hydrangeas
- Windy balcony: Lavender, heather, ornamental grasses, sedum - all low-growing plants that offer little surface area to the wind
Flowers and Plants at MoBlumen Vienna
Bedding, balcony, and indoor plants - delivery in Vienna.
Frequently Asked Questions About Raised Flower Beds
The classic layering: coarse material at the bottom (branches, shrub cuttings) for drainage, then compost, and high-quality flower soil on top. For raised beds used only for flowers, a mix of good flower soil with 20% compost is also sufficient.
Yes, and it is actually an advantage. Marigolds and nasturtiums keep pests away, while lavender attracts bees that pollinate the vegetables. Tagetes (French marigolds) help repel aphids and nematodes.
At least 30 cm of soil depth for annual flowers. For perennials and bulb plants, 40 to 50 cm is better. The total height of the raised bed (including drainage) is typically 60 to 80 cm.
MoBlumen Vienna
Your local florist for fresh flowers and plants.
