How to Edge Around a Flower Bed

If you create a flower bed without an edge, you struggle to keep the lawn out of the flowers and the flowers out of the lawn. Edging also contributes to the curb appeal of flower beds and provides a unified appearance in the garden.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Stakes
• String
• Garden hose
• Rope
• Sharp spade
• Gas-powered edger
• Concrete
• Bricks
• Stones
• Railroad ties
• Plastic shingles
• Stainless steel edging

1. Use a tool to help you plan the lines of the flower bed's border before you make it permanent. You can mark off a straight line with two stakes and a string, or plan a curved edge with a garden hose or rope.

2. Make the installation process for your flower bed edge easy by digging a trench before you lay the materials. You can use a sharp spade for small jobs, or you can rent a gas-powered edging tool for hardpan soil or large borders.

3. Install a concrete curb edge in your flower bed only if you never plan to expand or contract the bed. If you decide on this permanent style of edging, install it yourself by digging a trench and filling it with concrete.

4. Buy natural materials to form the flower bed's edging if the garden's location is conspicuous. Bricks, stones and wooden railroad ties make attractive edging materials.

5. Contain spreading groundcovers with an edge that you bury beneath the soil. You can purchase inexpensive plastic shingles that you hammer into the ground, or you can use a roll of stainless steel edging.

6. Create a low-maintenance flower bed edge by laying your edging material flush with the soil, which enables you to run your lawnmower along the edge. If the edging material creates a raised bed, you must keep it tidy with a string trimmer.