How to Edge a Garden

Adding a decorative border to your garden is one job you can plan and accomplish on your own with a few tools and your own creativity. Garden edging can provide the finishing touch you need to create the look you want in your landscaping, from a neat and polished border to the softer feel of a country garden.

What You'll Need

Lawn edging material of your choice, like wood, stone, concrete, or resin edgers
Hose or cord
Chalk
Level
Spade, shovel, or trowel
Tape measure
Mallet
Sand

Consider the current look and feel of your garden or home to decide on the edging to use. Rugged wood, polished stone, or decorative resin each contribute differently to the personality of your home or landscaping.

Edging Your Garden

Defining the edge of your garden can often be as simple as laying down a hose or cord along the border of your real or planned garden bed. You can simply place the cord wherever you want it and rearrange it until it's exactly right. Temporarily lay your edging materials along this line to ensure you have the right dimensions. Make any necessary adjustments before moving the edgers out of the way, and then mark the final edging line with chalk before moving your cord out of the way and beginning work.

Dig down according to the directions on the edging packaging. If no instructions are included, you will want your edging to be about Â½ to one inch above the ground and dig to allow for two inches of sand. For example, if your edging is three inches tall, you will need to dig a trench about four inches deep. The trowel will likely be the best tool for most normal-sized garden edging products, but larger edging may require a spade or shovel.

Now it is time for you to pour the sand to a depth of two inches. Tamp it in to ensure it is entirely level all around. You will now be able to place your wood, stone, concrete, or resin edgers. Use the mallet to ensure they are even and level, adding or smoothing sand as needed.

Completing the Job

If you are beginning a garden, now is the time to turn over the sod, mulch, and plant. If you have an already-established garden, you can now stand back with a tall glass of ice cold lemonade and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You're done!

Garden edging can provide the finishing touch you need