Putting a paver brick edging around my front beds and one bed in the back is a major project for me this summer so IÂm dealing with some of the same questions that you are. IÂve always liked the look of brick edging but have avoided doing it previously because of fear of grass growing though the gaps  plus itÂs easier to change the shape of a bed if when the beds are just trench edged. My front beds are (I hope!) finally pretty much in a shape I figure I can live with for a while. That plus physical signs that it is time to think about reducing garden chores has made this the summer of the edge. To eliminate the grass worry, IÂm using the Curve-rite aluminum edging (the more flexible one  there was two different types at the supplier) between the grass and the bricks. The bricks are set on a couple of inches of screenings, compacted with a rubber mallet. IÂm also using the screenings to fill the gaps between the bricks  although I suspect I need to be using concrete sand or something like that. I will probably have to add sand as the screenings settle. The edging and the bricks are set ½" or so above the grass roots. Hopefully that is high enough to be a barrier to the grass but low enough so the lawnmower can easily run over it without the blade hitting it. My bricks werenÂt free unfortunately :-) But itÂs the aluminum strips that are the pricy part. Here they are $20 CDN for an 8 strip with 5 support spikes. The paver bricks for an equivalent 8 are only a few dollars. So far it looks good and I like the look better than the trench edge. It is certainly easier for the lawnmower  and you donÂt have to be as careful walking because thereÂs no risk of falling into the trench! IÂm going to backfill behind the bricks with pine bark mulch in one area but just slope the soil in the bed to the back of the bricks in most areas. I plant very densely with a Âno bare ground philosophy so I donÂt have a problem with erosion . I generally donÂt mulch my garden beds. The plants are my mulch! Some of my filler plants (particularly feverfew) get cut down during the summer and are left on the ground to compost in place. In most places, the plants will overhang the brick edging to soften it and deflect some of the force of heavier rains. Since I leave the previous year's growth standing until new growth starts in spring, that should, I think, help reduce erosion issues in the bare seasons. We'll see next year I guess!

All the aformentioned materails should work, as will plain old cotton clothesline. If the branches above the split are large (long) and might exert too much pull on the bound split, you could also consider drilling a hole through either the split or in the two branches just above the split and putting in a bolt and nut with washers on the outside bark. This will relieve any strain pulling the split apart. Be sure the split is tightly closed when you drill so the proper wood growing layers are touching when you tighten it.

I always assume I will have a good germination rate so don't waste seed. I put one seed every inch and a half in my seed starting trays, and except for very old seed usually get 75% to 100% germination rates. If you don't get enough seedlings you can always plant more, just slows you down by four to eight days. The seed you saved by not wasting it you can plant next year and the year after. I have had seed eight or nine years old sprout.

Thank you, everyone. I'm still super excited about it. Their farmers market was suppose to end on the 14th of November and I thought I'd be lucky to get the last two weekends in. Now, I have as long as I want. I had told my DH I wanted to get a job during the pre-Christmas season and he wasn't too keen on that idea. He doesn't seem to mind me doing the Friday and Saturday farmers markets. Judy, this is the one outside Nashville. I will be doing the pies at home and they will be sold whole or by the piece. I also plan on making some breads, and whatever else suits my fancy each week. Wish you could fall into something like this as well. I had originally planned on just doing a little of this when we were RVing, but you and Teresa kind of gave me a little nudge to try for this venue. Oh, yeah, there is also an RV campground right outside and the State Park is about a mile away, if that far. The owner told me that the visitors to the park and the RV campground frequently buy food items there. Gee, I hope I can get to sleep tonight. LOL!