A beautifully edged lawn stands out. It offers plenty of curb appeal to a home. Sadly, this practice does not receive even a fraction of the attention paid to proper lawn mowing techniques. Granted, edging the lawn is not a glamorous task. In fact, it is actually rather tedious. Yet the aesthetic results of a properly edged lawn are anything but. How can you give your lawn that manicured look you usually only see in magazines? Easy! Get out the right tools!
Move over Power Edger, the Hardware is Here
It is true that a power edger is the kind of edging tool you would use to define the end of the lawn where it might meet a driveway, curb, walkway or wall. Yet this is only one type of edge. The American Horticultural Society recognizes that proper edging also involves the use of rocks, bricks, timber, plastic and concrete barriers. When combining this type of edge with the edging provided by an edger, you create multiple forms of landscape definition that give your lawn a professionally cared for look.
Functional, Protective and/or Invisible?
A good edge does not become the focal point of a landscape. Rather, it highlights the real item of interest. Case in point is a beautifully planned and arranged raised flowerbed. Raising this bed ensures proper root growth and prevents busy little feet from crushing the flowers. Edging materials for this purpose include ornamental rock borders and the use of timber.
Functional, protective and invisible is the bendable plastic border in earth tones. It discreetly keeps mulch and rocks inside their defined areas. Preventing spillage during rainstorms or regular foot traffic, these types of borders are not easy to see from a short distance away. The results of their presence, however, are easy to discern.
Edging with Plants
If you have a garden pond or other water feature in your landscape, consider edging with plants. Native flowers and ornamental grasses are good options for obscuring the presence of a pond liner and any filtering equipment you might use. The trick here is to ensure that the plants either look well maintained or are allowed to grow naturally, which gives the edge a completely different look.
Wielding the Power Edger with Sass and Aplomb
The power edger is your friend when it comes to keeping the lawn grass confined. Electric edgers are lightweight and easy to use. Look for one that offers at least three cutting blade depth adjustments. It works as a weed eater in areas you have not gotten to in a while. At the same time, it gives your lawn a perfect edge. Be sure to follow your initial lawn design on a consistent basis when edging. Diverting from your pattern may give the lawn an odd look. (If a power edger is not in your budget at this time, get a manual tool instead. It slows down the process of edging the lawn considerably but it nevertheless provides a crisp edge. That said, it does nothing for your weed-whacking needs.) By the way, this is the kind of task you should do after every time you mow the lawn.
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