A Done with That® Project by Koper, America’s #1 Connected ContractorTM, Free Augmented Article©
Edging gives any garden a neat and trim appearance. It also serves a practical purpose, keeping grass and unwanted weeds out of the garden while keeping garden plants from spreading into your lawn.
Edging is an essential aspect of gardening. Flower beds, vegetable gardens and shrubbery beds should all have edging to help keep grasses and weeds at bay. Many homeowners install edging
around their gardens to contain mulch, a mixture of bark, soil and moss that reduces topsoil erosion,
helps retain moisture and beautifies a garden. You can also edge along paths, sidewalks, patios and driveways, and around trees and bushes to improve the geneal appearanceof your landscaping.
There are many types of edging, from simple, shallow trenches to elaborate masonry patterns. When planning your landscaping, consider what kind of edging you would like. For instance, around a vegetable garden a simple trench without any edging material may be the perfect practical and aesthetic choice. Trenches are also useful for holding water around trees and gardens. An intricate rose garden may call for a complementary brick edge. Railroad ties can give a rustic feel to shrubbery beds. Elastic, steel, aluminum, stone, concrete, and wood pilings are also good choices.
Because edge materials are exposed to the elements and some soils can be corrosive, always buy
quality materials — for instance, pressure-treated wood, galvanized steel or heavy-gauge aluminum. Low-cost materials may save you money, but may require repair or replacement more often.
Plastic, steel and aluminum edging are usually available in two colors — forest green or black. Some types of steel edging are galvanized, which protects against corrosion and gives the steel a bright finish.
No matter what kind of edging material you use or where you use it, all edging requires periodic maintenance. Whenever you cut your lawn, be sure to trim the grass along the edge of your gardens, driveway, sidewalks and paths. In the spring, check to see if edging is still in place, since frost heaves or heavy rains can displace it. Though most edging materials will provide years of service, you may need to replace worn materials occasionally.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Tools
1. Garden trowel
2. Spade Shovel
3. Gardening hoe
4. Spade
5. Grass Shears
PLANNING
Measure the borders of your garden to find out how much edging you need.
STEP- BY- STEP
1. Mark the garden borders.
2. If necessary, dig a trench for the edging material
3. Install edging material.
4. Trim grass and landscape around the edge.
Versatile brick
Brick edges are commonly used to separate paths, driveways and sidewalks from gardens. The strength of brick makes it ideal for use as an edge between a garden and these high-traffic areas.
Bricks can be laid flat and flush with the sidewalk, path or driveway. To alter the pattern, you can stand the edging bricks on their ends. For a more decorative effect, bricks can also be installed at 45- degree angles to each other.
To make a brick edging, mark and dig a narrow trench slightly wider than a brick. Then insert the bricks in the pattern you select. After they have been put in place, firmly pack soil around the edging to hold the bricks. When installing bricks along a path, driveway or sidewalk, you can set them in cement to hold the edging in place. Use bricks graded SW, which stands for severe weather; they are durable and resist cracking better than other grades of brick.
TIPS
1. Avoid using old railroad ties as garden edging. They may have been treated with creosote, which can damage plants and grass.
2. Not all types of steel edging are available in all parts of the country; check with your landscaping supply center to find out what is available in your area.
A Simple Edge between Lawn and Garden
- Dig a trench about 8 inches wide between the garden and lawn. Remove all grass roots from the trench.
- Measure the trench to ensure that it is deeper than adjacent grass roots — about 4 to 8 inches.
- Use the hoe to remove any remaining roots, leaves or other debris from the trench.
- Periodically trim the grass along the trench. This helps to keep the edge neat and prevents grass from invading the garden.
Weeding and Maintaining an Edge
- Use a garden hoe to quickly and effectively remove unwanted
grass and weeds from an edge. - To pull remaining weeds by hand, grasp the plants where they meet the ground and pull. Remove all roots.
- Refill the joints of stone edges with sand.
Installing Flexible Edging
- Plastic or metal edging, available i different colors, makes an effec- tive barrier between lawn and garden.
- Insert the edging straight into the ground until the top of the edg ing is just above the suriace.
- You can use plastic or metal edg – ing along curved borders — ideal tive barrier between lawn and garden. for edging around trees and shrubs.
Pressure-treated wood is ideal for straight edges. Nail the wood to stakes for extra support.
A stone path can be edged by standing blocks on end rather than laying them flat.
Granite blocks arranged in a circle around the base of a tree make an attractive and durable edge.
Short pieces of wood installed on end give a rugged, irregular effect to a garden edge.
Concrete slabs, placed in a trench, are often used for edging along stone paths or driveways.
Garden ties make a natural-looking edge and can be held in place with spikes or embedded in the soil.
If your in Lake Orion, Clarkston, Oxford Oakland County, Michigan and would like a free quote please contact us at 248-701-9328, for the best rates in Clarkston, Lake Orion and Oxford. Perhaps you desire the best landscaping and garden boarders rate in Oakland County, Michigan call 248-701-9328 for a free quote.
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