Landscaping isn’t always done simply to beautify the yard. Certain landscaping techniques are performed to not only enhance the lawn, but also to provide a service. Lawn edging is one landscape addition which is functional yet looks nice when properly done. Edging keeps gardens in their designated spaces and gives your lawn a neat, trim appearance. There are several different types of lawn edging available today and each of them are satisfactory for edging, so choose the type which best suits the look of your yard. You can choose from wood, brick, metal, concrete, river rocks, pebbles or heavy plastic. Some edging is for simply laying on the ground, like river rocks, but other edging is designed to be inserted into the dirt, like metal. Some edging is more expensive than others, so cost may be a factor when deciding which type to choose.
After deciding on what type you will use, mark off the area where the edging will go. This can be done with string or lawn paint. Lawn edging is suitable for keeping weeds from growing up on sidewalks, for outlining existing gardens or to distinguish the perimeter of your yard. After you’ve marked all the places where you’ll put the edging, you’ll need to pull up the grass, weeds and such then dig the trench where you’ll lay the edging. Use a hand hoe for digging out the dirt, or a shovel if you’ll be doing large areas, such as along the sides of the driveway. Use the shovel or hoe to dig in and loosen the dirt before removing it. You can push around a wheelbarrow or box for removal of the dirt, but save some for backfilling. Dig the trench about 4 to 6 inches deep and as wide as you’ll need. If you’ll be using brick, for example, your trench will need to be wider than it would be if you were using metal edging. For brick edging, fill the trench with a thin layer of sand, then lay your brick or rocks on top of the sand. Be sure they align perfectly as you go along. If you’re using wood edging, you’ll need to secure the wood pieces with metal spikes. For metal or plastic edging, push the edging into the dirt firmly. It should sit about a half inch to an inch above the lawn. Secure metal edging with stakes if desired. When inserting metal edging, wear gloves and push gently down until it is inserted. Don’t use boots or implements to kick it into place, this will warp or bend the metal along the top edge. If using river rocks, your trench won’t need to be quite as deep, but make sure your trench gets fully lined with the rocks.
When the edging has been installed, fill in the gaps with backfill or soil and tamp it down until it is completely smooth and even. After a hard rain, you might have to add a little more fill dirt to keep the flat, smooth appearance. If you’re using brick or rock, place a layer of plastic between the edging and any garden beds to prevent dirt from spilling through the gaps. After the edging is completely installed, many people use mulch on the garden side of the edging to prevent the germination of weeds. After cold weather, check to see that your lawn edging is secure. After freezing and thawing, you might need to tamp the edging back down somewhat.
