解:设当$ AE = x \, m $时,正方形花坛种植花卉所需的总费用是715元.
根据题意,得
$ \frac{1}{2}x^2 × 20 × 4 + \frac{1}{2} × 1 × (4 - x) × 20 × 4 + \left[ 4^2 - \frac{1}{2}x^2 - \frac{1}{2} × 1 × (4 - x) \right] $
$× 10 × 4 = 715 $,
即$ 4x^2 - 4x + 1 = 0 $,
解得$ x_1 = x_2 = \frac{1}{2} $,
答:当$ AE $的长为$ \frac{1}{2} \, m $时,正方形花坛种植花卉所需的总费用是715元.