How I'm Building New Beds This Year for Half the Cost
Rachel Hess(And My Horses Deserve the Credit)
It's no secret that good soil grows good flowers.
But here's something I don't think gets talked about enough in the flower farming world: building new beds is expensive. Like, really expensive — if you do it the traditional way.
And this year, I decided I wasn't going to do it the traditional way in our sunflower patch. If my experiment works, all the beds are getting a makeover.
A little context, so you know where this is coming from...
I'm a mom of three, a third-year flower farmer, and someone who is perpetually trying to figure out how to do more with less — without cutting corners on what actually matters.
We're expanding our growing space in a big way this season. Here's a sneak peek: watch on IG. That means new beds. Lots of them. And when I started doing the math on materials like kraft flooring paper (weed suppression), soil deliveries, and labor, I knew there had to be a smarter path.
So I went back to the land.
Specifically, I went back to my horses.
The No-Lumber Bed Build — Here's Exactly What I Did
This method is sometimes called lasagna gardening or sheet mulching, and I am completely sold on it after this first round.
Here's the full process, step by step:
Start with Kraft paper. I laid my favorite flooring paper directly on the ground first. This smothers whatever is underneath — weeds, grass, all of it — without any digging or tilling. It breaks down over time and feeds the soil. No chemicals. No effort.
Add horse manure. This is where the horses come in. I added about 3 inches of fresh manure straight from our stalls — mixed with the hay and shavings that naturally come with it. This is the nutrient layer. This is the "gold" that most gardeners are paying a premium for at the garden center. Please note, I don't transplant seedling into this layer because it would be too "hot" for them before aging. 
Top each bed with aged mushroom compost/topsoil mix. I finished each bed with 3 to 4 inches of aged mushroom compost blended with topsoil — the same mix I use in all of my raised beds. Rich, dark, and full of everything a flower needs to thrive. This is what I've been using for the past 3 years and it's amazing stuff.
No frame. No lumber. No expensive raised bed kits.
And the cost? A fraction of what a traditional build would run.
Why This Works (And Why the Horses Deserve a Thank You)
Horse manure is one of the most underutilized resources on a farm that keeps livestock. It's high in nitrogen, breaks down relatively quickly when mixed with bedding, and it's being generated every single day whether I'm ready for it or not.
Fun fact: fresh horse manure is typically between 6.5 - 8.5 pH and can be highly alkaline. The best pH for compost/topsoil mix for seedlings is slightly acidic to neutral, typically between 6.0 - 6.5 pH.
The horses have been "contributing to the cause" all winter long without knowing it. And honestly, without a tractor, it's been the most underutilized component on the farm.
That's the kind of full-circle farming I love. (And now I don't feel so guilty having them at home and not riding).
What feeds the animals comes back to feed the flowers. What feeds the flowers comes back to your home in a bouquet.
Nothing wasted. Everything intentional.
Will It Work? Here's What I'm Watching For
I want to be honest — this is still an experiment. My third year on the farm has taught me that nothing is guaranteed until it actually grows.
What I'll be watching:
- Weed suppression: The Kraft paper (I grab a roll of flooring paper from Home Depot) layer should smother most of what's underneath, but I'll know more once we're mid-season.
- Soil quality: Is the compost blending down into the manure the way I want it to? Are the roots happy?
- Plant performance: Ultimately, the flowers will tell me everything I need to know.
I'll share updates as the season progresses — the good and the not-so-good. That's always been the deal here. You can follow along on our social media pages:
Instagram: click here
Facebook: click here
The Bottom Line
Building new beds doesn't have to break the bank.
If you have access to manure — horse, chicken, rabbit, whatever you've got — you have access to one of the best soil amendments available. Layer it with aged compost and a weed-suppressing base, and you've got a bed that's ready to grow.
It won't look as neat as a raised bed with cedar boards. But the flowers won't know the difference.
And neither will your wallet.
Questions about the process?
Drop them in the comments or send me a message — I love talking soil just as much as I love talking flowers.
— Rachel
Bits & Blooms Flower Farm
