Create an island bed in the lawn – here’s how

The following plants are suitable for an island bed, for example:

• Coreopsis
• Achillea
• Echinacea 
• Daylily
• Rose

You can also plant herbs in your island bed, such as the following:

• Lavender
• Mint
• Rosemary
• Chives

There are many different ways to design a round bed. You could consider an island bed with a tree, grasses or perennials, for example. A DIY decorative edging or a neat lawn edge can mark out the boundary. 

An island bed doesn't have to be round; you could make it square or even freeform. The only important thing is to ensure you leave enough space for mowing the lawn.

• Plan showing the shape of the bed and with plants drawn on it  
• Plants  
• If necessary, perennial substrate growing medium 
• Tarpaulin for putting the turf on 
• Hose with spray for watering 
• Possibly mulch to cover the planting area 

Perennials, grasses, roses, shrubs or a small tree are suitable planting choices for the island bed. The plants should be in boxes, but perennials and grasses should ideally be in pots with a diameter of 9 cm so that they grow well. 

It is advisable to use shredded miscanthus or ground cover mulch, but not composted bark or bark chippings. If planting in sand no mulch layer is necessary, as the sand itself serves as mulch.

• STIHL KMA 80 battery KombiEngine with cultivator
• STIHL RMA 339 C battery lawn mower
• STIHL PG 10/20 secateurs
• Wheelbarrow
• Tape measure or metre stick
• Garden hose or string to mark out the shape
• Spade
• Shovel
• Rake
• Hand rake
• Trowel for planting
• Hand cultivator for preparing root balls
• Blade/cutter

Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing.

Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with STIHL power tools. Find out more in the instruction manual for your product. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use.

On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working.

To create an island bed in the lawn, you should first select a suitable site and put together a plan for the shape of the bed and the planting arrangement. Whether the position is in sun or semi-shade is relevant for many plant species. You should make sure to choose plants that can thrive in the chosen location and with the neighbouring varieties.  

High soil quality is generally an advantage for your island bed. An island bed can also be created in a shaded garden if you opt for shade plants such as hostas, spiraea or Japanese anemone. 

At the chosen site for your island bed, you should mow the lawn to the lowest level. The shorter the grass, the easier it is to remove the turf. 

Having chosen the location for creating an island bed in the lawn, you should use a hose to mark out the planned shape and check the dimensions.

This step applies whether you are making a round bed or a different bed shape. You can also create several island beds next to each other in the lawn, as long as you leave enough space between the beds.

Protect the surrounding lawn area with a tarpaulin and use a spade to carefully remove the grass surface from your planned lawn island bed so you have a clean planting area. You can add the turf to your composter.

If the site is very overgrown, it makes sense to thoroughly dig over the soil of your island bed – for example with the help of a STIHL KombiEngine with cultivator. Cultivating loosens the soil so that new roots can develop better. You should also remove stones and roots to ensure good soil quality.

Use a wooden rake to roughen the floor surface and then rake it smooth. Add a layer of sand approx. 10 to 20 cm thick as a soil improver. The sand ensures that moisture stays in the soil and does not evaporate from the surface – this makes planting easier. Finally, rake the sand smooth again.

Get the plants in the pots or boxes and spray them with a garden hose before planting, so that the root balls are fully soaked.

First place the larger plants in accordance with the planting plan and then position all the pots until you like the arrangement. 

Now scrape the root balls of your plants thoroughly. A hand rake, for example, is suitable for this. Circling roots – i.e. roots that have grown all the way around inside the pot – should be loosened or cut with a hand rake. This helps the plant to grow better.

Now use a trowel to pierce the soil and dig a hole big enough for each plant. A shovel can be used for larger plants. To grow well, the plant should be placed in the ground so that the top of the root ball is level with the surface, but not much deeper.

Now you should water the island bed thoroughly. A minimum of 30 litres per square metre is recommended. Ensure regular bed care and fertilisation so that the plants on your homemade island bed thrive. 

Trim flowering perennials with secateurs after you have created the island bed. This stimulates root growth in the plants.