Edging Flower Beds: 5 Garden Edging Tips

Edging your garden bed, or adding a defined border around your plants, serves aesthetic and practical purposes. Your edging can incorporate different shapes or patterns to give your outdoor space a decorative element. This divider can also protect your plants by keeping weeds or other grasses out of your garden.

Here are some basic garden tools and materials you need for a DIY landscaping edging project:

• Protective gear: Use gardening gloves and knee pads or a garden kneeler to protect yourself.
• Hand tools: You should have a hammer (if you’re installing edging material) and level at the ready.
• Garden tools: You’ll need a garden hose (or rope and spray paint), edging tools (such as a half-moon edger), shovel or hand spade, and weed trimmer or shears.
• Materials for edging: Depending on the design and scope of your project, you will need edging stones or materials, sand, and mulch.

Before you start a lawn edging project, consider the following five tips:

1. 1. Time your project correctly: Plan your flower garden makeover for early spring or late fall, so you don't disturb plants when they're blooming.
2. 2. Work with what you already have. Think about what you've planted and choose landscape edging that complements your perennials and foliage.
3. 3. Consider curved edges. While you may find it easier to outline a garden bed with straight lines or a clean edge, curves inspire a softer, more natural look.
4. 4. Think about lawn care. If you incorporate curves, consider adding ones gentle enough to maneuver a lawnmower around.
5. 5. Be purposeful with your decorative edging. Position decorative edging so the pieces sit at least two inches above ground if you want to keep mulch and soil in place.

Whether you want to achieve a natural trench with crisp edges or install a barrier with plastic or metal edging, you can DIY this project. Follow this step-by-step tutorial for garden bed edging:

1. 1. Decide on a perimeter. Use a garden hose or rope to outline the border and spray paint a line for more accuracy when edging.
2. 2. Create your perimeter. Facing the garden bed, cut the perimeter using a half-moon edger. Cut about one-and-a-half inches into the ground. Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands and get a better grip on the edging tool.
3. 3. Cut deep. Once you're satisfied with the initial line you've cut, slice a few inches deeper to create a sharp edge. If you're creating a new bed, you'll need to remove turf. Turn to face the lawn and angle your garden edger or shovel into the turf to cut the grass at its roots.
4. 4. Remove debris. Remove turf, soil, and roots. Load the debris into a wheelbarrow for easy cleanup.
5. 5. Dig a shallow trough. If you're creating a shallow trench, use a trowel or spade to dig a trough by scooping the soil along the cut edge of the lawn toward the garden bed, making a small mound of soil. Use a garden kneeler to make the work more comfortable.
6. 6. Trim the grass. Once you've created a V-shaped trench, use shears to trim the grass along the border and highlight your perfect edges. Skip to adding mulch if you’re not installing edging materials.
7. 7. Determine how far you need to dig. If you’re installing edging materials, take a piece of edging to figure out how much you need to dig so the materials sit at the right height above the ground. Dig a few inches deeper and wider than your material. Use a level to ensure the surface is flat.
8. 8. Fill the trench. Fill the bottom of the trench with sand to support the pavers. Smooth and level the surface.
9. 9. Put in the edging. Place the edging along the bed's perimeter snugly to create a straight edge. If installing individual pieces, tap each edger into place with a hammer and check it with a level. Secure roll edging with stakes.
10. 10. Pack the soil. Push the soil from the trench against your garden border. Pack tightly.
11. 11. Add mulch. Add a couple of inches of mulch to keep weeds at bay and provide a tidy, finished look.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.