Summer is almost here and it’s time to show your lawn some love! Flower bed edging is one of the ways you can do that this season. This guide is a quick and easy solution for the gardening homeowner. Follow the steps below to get your perfect lawn.
But First, Why Is Lawn Edging Important in the First Place?
Edging your flower bed contributes to the aesthetic appeal of the house, there’s no doubt about that. However, most homeowners aren’t aware of the other advantages that come with landscape edging:
- Makes maintenance easier and quicker
- Keeps harmful weeds at bay and preserves plant mulches
- Establishes a clear gardening area by creating a defined outline around the flower bed
- Prevents different elements in your garden (such as plants and grass) from mixing
Flower bed edging gives much more than a clean, tidy look to your landscape. It’s vital for plant health on so many levels. It reduces your need to frequently apply herbicide and lowers the spread of plant diseases.
Steps for Flower Bed Edging
Just follow these 4 quick and easy steps:
Step 1: Create/Recreate an Edge
First, you will need to cut the edge. To create a new bed, use a garden hose to mark the lines. Then use a spade or half-moon edger to cut into the ground along the lines you have marked. You may have some trouble along curves since these tools don’t do a particularly good job cutting curves.
Another alternative is to use when edging a garden is an edger with a circular blade on wheels. This allows you to guide and walk behind the tool and while it cuts a deep line into the ground to create nice flower bed borders. The wheels make cutting along curves a lot smoother and neater.
Step 2: Remove the Turf
After cutting through the ground and establishing your edge, use the spade to refine it and deepen the cut to four to six inches. The spade should also be used to cut the turf on the inside of the bed – that’s if you are cutting a new bed. Once you have done this, the loose turf can be removed by hand quite easily. Aim to create an edge that is at a 90-degree angle.
Step 3: Master the Edge
The cleaner you can get the edges, the better. Try using a pair of hand shears to cut away any grass blades along the trench wall. This is a great lawn edging tool. Be careful, however, not to hold the shears horizontally because this may demolish your perfect right angle.
Step 4: Mulch the Flower Bed
The last thing you will need to do is lay two to three inches of mulch on the flower bed. This is effective in combating weeds and providing a nice contrasting colour to the edge of a flower bed.
RELATED ARTICLE: The Beauty of Eco-Friendly Landscaping
While flower bed edging can be done as a DIY project, it’s a good idea to consult a professional landscaping company for advice on the right garden edging products and techniques for your lawn.