Creating beautiful borders in your lawn or garden is an art, but it doesn’t have to be hard. With the right techniques and tools, you can create a stunning landscape that really stands out. Here at Gerzeny Landscape Services, we specialize in creating eye-catching edges that can add a unique touch to your outside space.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of edging and look at some of the tips and tricks you can use to add some extra flair to your garden. So let’s get started!
The Benefits of Edging
• Improved planting performance – Edging creates a barrier between plant beds and lawn areas which prevents grass roots from infringing on the water supply meant for plants. This sends an unmistakable signal to the grass that they should not encroach on the planting area.
• Increased efficiency – Installing well-defined borders keeps overgrowth in check by preventing grass from invading landscaped areas. This limits the need for frequent mowing and trimming as well as reduces your weeding efforts.
• Enhanced Visual Appeal – When professionally installed with materials that match aesthetically, edging adds an attractive increase to any landscape design without taking away from its existing beauty.
Taking a few extra steps during landscaping projects can result in major benefits for yardscape projects large or small. Adding edging components is one sure way—you get improved performance and visual enhancement in one step!
The Different Types of Edging
Creating beautiful borders in lawn and gardens can be an art form in itself. From simple, straight lines to decorative wavy curves, there are a variety of edging methods that you can use to transform your outdoor space into an inviting place. Knowing which edging material best suits your needs can help you achieve the desired effect on your landscape or garden.
The most common type of edging is made from plastic or metal which can be used for straight, winding borders and other shapes. These are available in different colors and widths for seamless transitions across multiple areas of your lawn/garden space. They are usually available in pre-formed bends at various angles to fit into specific spaces that would be difficult to edge with a single piece. Plus they don’t require much maintenance once they’re installed so they’ll remain looking great all year round!
Another type of edging is natural stone or rock materials such as flagstone, marble chips, river rocks, etc. This type of edging looks great and allows water to pass through it instead of pooling at the edges which prevents flooding problems in rainier climates.
Decorative cobblestone pathways and stepping stones also add charm while creating easy walkways throughout the garden beds or pathways like mowing strips around trees or driveways.
Brick is another popular option for creating beautiful borders and curves with neat, clean lines due to their manageable size and flexibility when combining them together into various shapes. Very few tools are required for this installation and you can choose from various colors depending on your preference! Depending largely upon the type of brick chosen some may need more sealant protection to prevent erosion from occurring over time with natural elements such as wind, rain etc., however it provides an excellent resistance against weeds from sprouting as well!
What You’ll Need
Creating beautiful borders for your lawn and garden requires a special set of tools, materials, and techniques.
The Edging process is a carefully crafted art form that requires a few different materials, as well as a steady hand and thoughtful execution.
Keep reading to find out more about what you’ll need to successfully create a perfect lawn and garden border.
Materials
Creating beautiful borders in your lawn and garden can be an easy and rewarding task with the right materials. To get started, you’ll need high-quality edging material. A great choice is steel edging because it’s very durable and simple to install. Polyethylene and plastic are also durable options, but they won’t last as long as steel edging.
Additionally, you may also need a shovel or spade and a hand tamper or a power tamper, depending on the type of soil in your yard or garden. For large areas you may want to purchase a gas-powered tiller if you don’t already own one. If needed, you may also purchase extra soil to fill in any low areas or gaps around your edging material.
Lastly, it’s always nice to have a level, measuring tape and stakes for reference points when creating curves for more complex designs – so pick up these items before starting.
Tools
Creating the perfect garden or lawn edge requires the right tools for the job. While there are many individual variations, here is a basic list of the items you may need so that your edging project runs smoothly.
Firstly, you will need edging material suitable for your chosen project. Options include plastic, metal and wood. Make sure you choose a material that fits in with your budget and is easy to work with.
Secondly, you’ll need tools to cut and shape the chosen edging material to fit. This could include scissors or a knife specifically made for cutting garden edging material; or hedge trimmers or shears depending on what kind of edges you’re creating.
For excavation of bare soil along borders, trowels or spades are essential additions to clear any grass build up or dirt buildup that can obstruct the natural curve of a border edge when it is being installed. With some projects, picks and mattocks may also be required for tougher soils and stony surfaces where extra digging power is needed. For more precision work, be sure to get yourself a half-moon pruner as this tool is ideal for carving tricky curves in tight spaces between paving stones or concrete pathways.
Preparing Your Edging Area
Creating beautiful borders in your lawn or garden require some preparation to ensure your edging will look its best. Properly preparing your edging area, whether it is soil or sod, can lead to lasting results.
Here we will go over some steps you can take to make sure your edging project is successful.
Removing Existing Grass and Weeds
Although it may seem tedious, thoroughly removing existing grass and weeds is a critical step in creating a beautiful edging area. It may take a bit of time to do properly, but strong edges come from carefully preparing the bedding area.
Before you begin this process, make sure that you have all the necessary tools – which should include a good spade or shovel, work gloves and garden shears. Additionally, if your existing grass or weeds are particularly dense, you may need an edger or utility knife to cut through the root systems.
Once you have collected the required items, start by gently removing any existing grass in the designated border space with either the spade or shovel. Take care to avoid digging too deep into soil as this can encourage more aggressive weed growth in future seasons. After grass and other shallow-rooted plants have been removed you will likely need to tackle any deeper rooted weeds using either an edger or utility knife. If using hand tools such as these be sure to wear work gloves for protection from cuts and scrapes from sharp roots. Finally, use garden shears to cut off top growth wherever possible and then bag for disposal at an appropriate yard waste facility when finished.
Leveling the Ground
Properly leveling the ground is an important part of creating a beautiful border in your lawn and garden. After you have marked the installation area, remove the sod and topsoil to create a visible line of demarcation. To level the area, you can use a shovel to dig out high areas or add extra soil or even gravel to fill in low spots. Be sure to distinguish between sides for easy edging installation.
Place stakes at both ends so that you know where to install your edging material. Once your ground is leveled, smooth it out with a rake before adding any edging materials or decorative stones. Make sure that all grade changes are gradual or follow naturally with the shape of the earth so that water won’t run off excessively and cause erosion.
Installing Edging
Edging can give your garden or lawn a beautiful, finished look. It can also help create a barrier between your lawn and garden beds for better soil management.
To get started, it is necessary to properly measure and plan out the edging installation.
In this blog post, we’ll go over the basics of edging installation and how to create beautiful borders in your lawn and garden.
Installing Plastic Edging
When installing plastic edging, it’s important to align the pieces properly and make sure they fit tightly together. Plastic edging is easily cut with a hacksaw or utility knife and comes in a variety of colors and widths to match your landscape design. Start by measuring the area you’re going to edge (including bends, curves, etc.) and purchase enough edging material for your project.
To begin the installation process, first determine where you will place the edging. Using a shovel or spade, mark out an even line along the garden bed you are creating. This line should be larger than the width of your edging allowing for a bit of room so that you can have extra material when making bends and turns in areas where needed.
Once you have determined where your edging will go, dig a trench along this marked line until it’s 1-2″ deep depending on how tall your plastic edging is (most come in 3-4″ or 6-8″ heights). Use a string line as an easy reference guide to ensure that all of your cuts are straight and even along the entire length of your project.
After digging out the boundary lines for gardenshed/flagstone paths/borders/etc, take care not to over dig since rain runoff may cause soil shifts that could affect future landscape projects.
Next place one end piece into each end of the dug trench and secure by driving four stakes into each end at an angle (use galvanized nails). Take special care around flower beds or vegetables gardens that may be disrupted by this process as these plants may be damaged or destroyed if not handled properly when installing plastic edging around them.
Finally begin connecting pieces together using connectors clips (or plastic tap pins) but make sure these fit tight along all seams so water doesn’t get through any cracks or holes in between pieces of plastic edging (fingers crossed!). When finished carefully trim off any excess pieces around corners or adjoining areas so that everything looks nice and tidy — enjoy!
Installing Metal Edging
Metal edging is often used in decorative gardening because of its durability and modern look, as well as its long life expectancy. Installing metal edging is relatively easy if you follow the necessary steps. Here’s what you’ll need:
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Metal edging.
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Landscape fabric or cardboard for creating barriers, protecting flower beds and containing the soil.
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String line to mark trench perimeters and ensure straight lines during install.
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Digging tools (shovel, level).
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Stakes to hold edging.
To begin installation, mark out your edge area with a string line or flags. If there are any obstructions near your edge, such as sprinkler heads or plants, be sure to plan around them so that they are not disturbed during the installation process. Once your space has been marked bring in your other materials including fabric (used as a barrier) and stakes/pegs that will attach the metal edging down once it’s installed.
Then dig out a trench at least 2 inches deep and just wide enough for your metal edging to fit inside of without being too close to the walls of the trench (since it has sharp edges). With all the materials and tools in place you can secure each section of metal edging one by one – using holding pegs at either end – ensuring that when you come back to your piece after securing another section it remains secure in position until being locked into place with additional pegs or spacers further down along its length if needed.
After assembly be sure to run water over any connections where soil was dug away so that they are sealed together tight against the landscape fabric barrier created earlier on – which serves to contain your soil even further – completing a professional finish whilst also protecting any delicate roots nearby from wind erosion etc…
Installing Brick Edging
Brick edging is an attractive way to provide a structured border in your garden or lawn. It creates a strong visual that gives shape and definition without sacrificing the natural look of your surroundings. Installing brick edging is a great way to add value and appeal to your outdoor space.
When installing brick edging, it’s important to be aware of all the details and take time to ensure that each step is done properly. The steps covered in this article will help you lay a beautiful, enduring boundary in your landscape.
1. Measure and Mark the Area: Measure the area you would like to edge and mark the perimeter with stakes or rope. This provides an important visual guide for installation.
2. Dig Out an Area for Installation: Dig out an area around the perimeter about 6-8 inches deep, making sure that the edges are as level as possible throughout. If available use a garden hose as another helpful reference guide when digging out this area for installation.
3 Installation Materials: Select either clay pavers or concrete pavers for your edging – choosing those that most closely match with the rest of stonework on your landscape. Keep in mind however, clay pavers are more prone to cracking over time from frost heave. After selecting chosen materials, purchase one bag of mortar mix per every 9 feet length of wall – always make sure there is sufficient material on hand prior to beginning installation process.
4 Mix Mortar: Mix mortar according to manufacturer’s directions on bag—usually adding water until reaching putty -like consistency —on even surface such as large tarp (for larger projects ) other work surfaces such as cardboard box works well too; then set aside until needed during installation process.
5 Begin Installing Brick Edging: Spread half way portion of first layer of bricks into mud bed according using level often ensuring brick edges line up with string guideline; repeat along entire line repeating process when required. Be sure also apply appropriate amount of mud between each joint between bricks eliminating any large gaps; After first layer completed, allow mortar dry period at least 24 hours before continuing working phase onto next layer if desired for deeper border wall!
Finishing Touches
The finishing touches are what make your landscaping stand out from the rest. Edging is a great way to add definition and charm to your landscaping while also providing a tidy and pleasing appearance.
Performing edging in your garden and lawn is an art form and if done properly, it can really give your landscaping a polished and professional look.
Let’s get into the details of how you can create beautiful borders in your lawn and garden.
Sealing Edging
Sealing your edging after installation is an important part of the overall process. Sealing protects against soil erosion, the growth of weeds and grass, and pest infestations. Sealants can provide a very effective barrier between these damaging agents and your edging project. Depending on the type of edging you have installed and the kinds of pests in your area, several types of product may be used to seal your project.
One key factor in selecting a sealant is water resistance: make sure that any sealant you use is able to stand up to outdoor weather conditions for extended periods of time without becoming damaged or discolored. The most widely used sealants are made from polyurethane foam compounds which provide excellent resistance to water and pests while also resisting damage from seasonal temperature changes. A few coats of polyurethane foam can help guard against future damage from water penetration into the joint between sections or from pressure exerted by vehicles driving over it.
Other types of cementitious coatings such as epoxies can also be used for sealing edging projects. Epoxy-based coatings are particularly useful when heavy traffic (such as cars) will be crossing over your edging multiple times each day; they wear well over long periods and establish a strong bond with concrete surfaces which gives better overall wear resistance than polyurethane seals. Make sure that any epoxy you use is compatible with decorative stone products; some epoxies may not adhere properly when used with them depending on the type or size.
Finally, a good sealant should also weather well – meaning it won’t become prone to flaking or cracking due to extreme temperatures, evaporation, or other environmental factors over time – so always check the label before using one!
Adding Mulch
Adding mulch to your property is an easy and effective way to create a neat, finished look for your landscaping. This finishing touch can also offer soil protection and moisture retention. When used over flower beds and around trees, mulch can help control weeds by blocking light from the soil.
Mulch comes in many varieties with different pros and cons, so it’s important to choose the right type for your needs. Bark mulch is composed of soft wood chips that decompose slower than other types, providing long-term soil protection. Straw mulch is excellent at preventing weed growth while still being breathable and stimulating healthy root growth. Cedar or cedar apples are made of wood chips that are bigger in size than most other varieties of mulch; this makes them great for making curls around edging stones or pathways.
No matter what type of mulch you decide on, it’s important to check the label for any additional instructions as some require specific treatment or maintenance requirements such as water management or addressing compaction from heavy traffic surface areas. After spread evenly throughout the lawn or garden area, rake the edging stones carefully set into place before adding a layer of mulch for a neat finish.
Planting Flowers and Shrubs
Creating beautiful flower and shrub borders is one of the best-loved aspects of gardening. Borders not only enhance the overall look of your garden, but also provide a wide variety of colors, textures, heights and fragrances throughout the year. When designing a border for your garden, consider both seasonal and evergreen types of flowers and plants as well as native plants that resist pests better.
When planting flowers and shrubs along your lawn or garden edges, spatial relationships between plant types should be taken into account. Choose plants with varying heights to create interest and texture — the tallest should be planted in the back row, slightly decreasing in height throughout each row until the shortest is placed in front. Planting densely will create a lush visual effect but keep in mind that plants will need space to grow so allow for at least 4″-6” between each one for their root systems to develop properly.
For lasting color throughout all four seasons, select varieties such as perennials like azaleas or hydrangeas which bloom during different times of year or invest in evergreen shrubs which are attractive all year-round with no additional effort from you! For added flair add hummingbird or butterfly feeders to your planted borders which will provide an inviting environment while allowing you to observe these wonderful creatures up close.
Adding flower beds along the lawn’s edges is a great way to brighten any outdoor space with lively hues while creating an interesting focus point within your landscape design layout. With just a few simple tips you can build beautiful flower borders that dazzle visitors while showcasing your green thumb!