Clear it out first
Before anything new goes in, the bed needs to be cleared of dead vegetation, weeds, and any old, broken-down mulch or debris.
Re-establish the bed line
Overgrown beds often lose their defined edge over time. Re-cutting or re-edging the bed line gives the space a clean boundary again.
Decide what stays and what goes
Some existing plants may be worth keeping and working around, while others may need to be removed to make room for a fresher layout.
Finish with fresh materials
Once the bed is cleared and reshaped, fresh soil, plants, and mulch or rock complete the refresh.