The choices available for edging your lawn, pathways and driveway are plentiful. Wood, metal, plastic, concrete are used in a wide variety of styles. You can either buy ready made lawn edging or with just a little creativity you can create a unique look for your lawn edge. You also have the option of doing away with lawn edging entirely and use a half moon edging iron and a long straight edge to cut the turf like we did in the good old days. If you do choose this option (the cheapest) don’t cut the edge at right angles to your lawn or you will expose the roots of the grass nearest the edge. Aim to have the neatly cut edge sloping away from the lawn at about a 30 degree angle.
There is a wide choice of lawn edging which involves little more than digging a narrow slit, unrolling the edging and replacing the soil. The results will vary depending on how much money you wish to spend, how much spare time you have to invest but most importantly on how wisely you choose. It will also depend on how you intend to lay out your garden, if you want to go for lots of curved and wavy lines then the flexible type of edging which comes on a roll is your best option.
Plastic lawn edging is a cheap option but tends to look shabby very quickly. I am in the process of replacing all of this type of lawn edging which I inherited from the previous homeowner. If you want a curved shape to your flower beds use a rubber garden hose to mark the outline and cut a five inch deep trench assuming the edging is four inches wide. If the area is large you can mark the outline with chalk or whitewash and remove the hose. Unroll the edging and place into the trench with the outside part of the roll showing, the top of the edging level with the base of the turf. Fill in with soil to hold the edging in place and work your way long the edge. If you are incorporating any sharp curves you may want to use a few small stakes to help hold the edging in place.
I prefer the wooden type edging which is basically split timber connected with wire. It offers just as much flexibility as the plastic types but looks better. If you do not need intricate shapes consider the landscaping ties which are widely available for under $2 per 8′ length. We use these in the vegetable and herb garden and the design has left us with a good many eight inch pieces left over which we used to line the pathways with.
When designing a garden I am always looking to cut down on the subsequent maintenance. Beds raised above the level of the lawn and low walls can be a real pain when mowing the lawn so I try to route paths along the edge or at least lay a single line of pavers in a matching material. It looks classy and means less time spent trimming the edges of your lawn.
