How to Dig a Trench Around a Flower Bed

A trench around a flower bed serves a few purposes: It provides a place to put the lawnmower wheel when you cut grass; it's an area where wood chips and mulch can fall without spreading to the lawn; and it prevents grass from growing into the flower bed. Whether you're just beginning a new flower garden or you already have one, digging a trench around it is a quick and easy way to keep the edges looking nice.

Things You'll Need

• Spray paint
• Garden hose
• Wood strips
• Flat-bladed spade
• Straight shovel

Instructions

1. Plan the borders of the flower garden if you do not already have the garden set up, or if you want to expand it. Borders can be marked with spray paint, wood strips or a garden hose.

2. Decide how deep and wide you want the trench to be. Typically a flower bed trench will be between 2 and 4 inches deep and between 4 and 6 inches wide, which gives you the option to later add bricks or stones as a decorative edging. You don't want the trench to be too deep or it can cause somebody to twist an ankle.

3. Begin digging the trench along the border you have marked. A flat-bladed spade or straight shovel works well.

4. Cut downward from the outside with the spade or shovel all around the flower bed. Then from inside the bed, repeat while digging at an angle toward your cut. This style of digging will minimize erosion from the flower bed.

5. Redig the trench as necessary, which may only be at the beginning of each growing season.