How to Edge a Flower Bed With Aluminum Flashing

Aluminum flashing is sold in rolls in hardware and home improvement stores. It's flexible and inexpensive, doesn't require much digging, and gives your garden a retro edge.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gardening Gloves
• Aluminum Flashing

1. 

   Measure the edge of your flower bed.

2. Buy enough aluminum flashing to complete the project. Pay attention to the different widths and pick the one you want.

3. Put on gloves - this is sharp stuff.

4. 

   Gently unroll the flashing. You'll probably need help with this. Not only is the edging sharp, it has a fair amount of spring to it.

5. 

   Stand it up along the edge of the bed and gently (so it slides but doesn't bend) push the flashing into the soil until its bottom half is covered.

Tips & Warnings

• The deeper the flashing goes, the sturdier it will be, and the more likely it is that it will block the roots and runners of invasive plants. But remember to consider the characteristics of your soil.
• If you've got small children who will be running barefoot through the garden, brick or wood or even plastic will be a better choice for edging than aluminum flashing.

on 8/8/2006 I've found that by folding the flashing in half, then pushing the sharp edges into the soil, it not only makes it easier to push in without bending the soft aluminum, it also leaves a rounded and safer exposed edge for the safety of all your garden visitors.

on 11/22/2005 I get used aluminum sheets from the local newspaper for cheap prices. They are thicker than normal "flashing" and the outer edges are "rolled." I wash the ink off and cut them 1/2 length wise. This gives me about 6' x 15 - 18" of edging from each sheet. I remove the sod and dig all the "dirt" (if you can call it that) out of the area for my perennial border beds. I line both sides of this "pit" with the "flashing", cut the edge and rolled edge about 1 " above the surface of the lawn. I then turn the sod upside down in the pit and lay about 6 sheets of newspaper on the sod. I fill the pit with a mixture of topsoil, compost, composted manure, sand and peat moss. The main purpose of my "flashing" is to keep the crab grass out of the flower beds. I also use flashing across the width of the bed to surround any aggressive (spreading) perennials.

on 11/22/2005 I've found that by folding the flashing in half, then pushing the sharp edges into the soil, it not only makes it easier to push in without bending the soft aluminum, it also leaves a rounded and safer exposed edge for the safety of all your garden visitors.

on 11/22/2005 Cut a channel first. When the soil is moist enough to hold together, insert a spade (flatter is better) and rock it back and forth (not side-to-side)to cut a V-shaped channel. Insert the edging into the channel and back-fill.