How to Edge a Lawn | Lawn Edging Ideas

Now that summer’s here, there’s no better time to give your garden a spruce up, ready for entertaining guests or creating a peaceful place to relax in your downtime. Lawn edging is a great way to neaten up your garden, and it’s not a complicated task. In this article, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to make your lawn edges look pristine.

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What is lawn edging?

Lawn edging is exactly what it sounds like – tidying up the edge of your lawn to create a clear border between areas like flower beds and paths. This is a great way to create zones in your garden, whether you want to cordon off a vegetable patch or create a separate spot for entertaining. It’s not all about the visual appeal though. Lawn edging can stop grass from growing in areas where you don’t want it, act as a barrier against soil erosion, or just give you more planting space.

Edging your lawn

Now it’s time to edge your lawn. Find everything you need below, as well as a step-by-step guide on the process.

Mow the grass to a suitable length, no less than an inch. This will give you the best possible look once you’ve installed your edging. You’ll then want to decide where you want the edging to be, and mark this out. For a curved edge use a garden hose, and for a straight edge, use a taut string line. Make sure it’s positioned exactly where you want it before you start cutting.

Use your lawn edger to cut along the line you’ve just marked. You’ll want to cut around 3” deep for the full length of your edging. Make overlapping cuts to get a smooth finish, and once you’re done, double check the line you’ve created to make sure it’s even. Lastly, remove any excess grass or soil as you go.

You can leave your edging as it is for a more natural look, or you can install some plastic edging to make it even neater. If you’re using installable lawn edging, make sure to dig the same depth as the edging’s width so it sits flush with the soil.

There are a few types of lawn edging, and they’re all installed slightly differently:

Spiked edging comes with spikes that slot onto the flexible edge to secure it into the ground. Its spikes will be invisible when installed so they won’t need to be covered. You can also opt for aluminium spiked edging, and in a variety of colours.
Edging with anchoring stakes fold at the bottom and use screw-like spikes that can be twisted into the holes on the bottom of the edging. The screws will need to be covered by rocks or soil so that you’re just left with the vertical edge.
More simplistic edging tends to be a straight and flat piece of plastic or aluminium, and it won’t come with any spikes or screws; so you can just slot them into the trench you’ve dug. Some kits also come with fixing pins, perfect for keeping curves and corners where you desire.

Frequently asked questions

Lawn edging can be both an aesthetic and functional choice. It’s great if you want to create different zones in your garden, add a path or simply neaten the edges of your lawn. It can also be used to stop grass from growing where you don’t want it to, and as a barrier against soil erosion.

Which edging you opt for fully depends on your preference and style. Metal and plastic edging is affordable and can be invisible to the naked eye. Or you can use wood and rocks for a more decorative look.

There are a couple of ways to mark where to dig your trench. For a curved edge, use a garden hose, and for a straight edge, use a taut string line.

If you come across tree roots or immovable rocks on your edging’s path, you can just cut a notch in the edging. This is much easier if you’re using plastic as scissors will do the trick.

Edging is a simple yet effective addition to any garden. We hope you’ll now be able to create dedicated spaces in your garden to make it look neater, or to simply make maintenance easier. Whether you want something simplistic and hidden or edging that will become a feature, your garden will have never looked so good. Fancy getting stuck into another landscaping project? Laying a patio can create a great entertainment space, and it’s easy to do yourself.