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Landscape Design

What type of edging do you recommend?

7 years ago

We are wanting to redo the landscaping in the front of our house. Right now we have bricks stacked 2 high but after 14 years, they need redone. I was wanting to do something different.. What do you suggest?

Jenn

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

7 years ago

I prefer no edging - just a clean, vertical cut between the lawn and planting bed. What is commonly known as a "British border edging". It needs to be redrawn/recut periodically but otherwise very easily maintained. It keeps both weeds, lawn and mulch from migrating from one place to another :-)

The only time I encourage clients to use a structured edging is between hardscaping and planting beds or lawn. Or if they are working with a raised bed or low retaining wall.

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Comments (8)

jencox5508
Original Author
7 years ago
What tools do I need to do this? And do you have a link on how?

Thank you
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Either a straight bladed spade (keep blade sharp) or a half moon edger. This YouTube video demonstrates the process pretty well.
mindshift
7 years ago
The type of grass you have makes a difference as to what type of edging is best. Bermuda has both fast-growing runners and deep roots. Either a solid concrete CURB or deeply laid BRICK, preferably mortared, is best IMO.

St. Augustine and Centipede grasses are less aggressive, but still have fast-growing runners. It can be controlled as recommended by gardengal, but may require weekly attention. Zoysia is slow spreading so it's easier to keep in check.
jencox5508
Original Author
7 years ago
I love the look of the "British border edging" but how often will I have to re-spade it? This is will be the front and side of my house.
User
7 years ago
You fill the trench with mulch and it will last for the season. I redo it every spring. I usually just get a little grass that runs into the beds and I can pull it out by hand or a trowel.
NHBabs z4b-5a NH
7 years ago
I use a buried plastic edging and a line of bricks or patio block just inside the edging that the mower wheels can run on so we don't have to edge. While I love the look of the cut edging, DH mows the lawn and he vetoed it since he finds the mower wheels tend to drop down into the cut. If I filled it with mulch like mayflowers, my grass would be into the garden quite quickly, so it may depend on your soil and grass.

Here is a new garden I was in the process of creating when I took the photo. You can see the edging and the patio block. By now (and by a few weeks after the photo was taken) the buried plastic edging is hidden by the grass and the patio block isn't particularly visible since plants tend to spill over onto it. I find that unless I am right next to the garden, the edging isn't visible; it usually takes a bit of searching for me to find a photo where the edging actually shows.
Dalton the Bengal (Zone 6)
7 years ago
Last year I edged most of our gardens as gardengal recommends. Fantastic! This spring removing rock edging to edge the same as others. But I have a weedy border, trying to figure out what to do, and there NHBabs posts a photo of the perfect solution!! Thank you, April

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