Last updated on March 19th, 2012
“A GARDEN IS ONLY AS GOOD AS ITS EDGES” is one of those quaint old sayings that many gardeners (including me) consider gospel. For even a simple flower border can look sophisticated if its termination is cleanly defined. And a formal planting (like my curvaceous rose garden above) must necessarily be edged in order to keep lawn from creeping in, and blurring an otherwise crisp design. Would you like to see how I edge the beds, borders and pathways here at A Garden for the House?
Edging, I find, is best accomplished with the following tools:
Half-moon edger (I prefer the long-handled variety)
Wheelbarrow or basket
Trowel
Gin & Tonic
Here, with established beds like the circular rose garden, I simply eye-ball curves and lines. But when creating a new bed, I use a length of thick, colored rope (or sun-softened hose) to map out a desired shape. Then I step on the edger and cut into the ground, making a clean, new edge between turf and border. To remove the severed turf, I slip a trowel beneath it, and peel it up, roots and all. This severed turf is dropped into the wheelbarrow. The peelings make fine, nitrogen-rich contributions to the compost pile.
Every 25 linear feet or so, I usually reward my edging-work with a sip of the fourth, aforementioned tool. That is, unless I’m edging the Serpentine Garden. Working there, in such a steep, winding place, requires utter sobriety. One clumsy balancing-act on the edging device, and down you go. Unless the Russian Olive tree breaks your fall.
Anyway, you will find that edging your beds instantly improves your garden’s appearance. And maintenance there becomes easier, too. For crisply defined beds, borders and pathways keep the lawn mower where it ought to be — on the lawn.
Are you a bed-edging fiend, too? And if so, do you enjoy such work?
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Yolanda says
If I had to edge a 300 foot garden, I'd want gin and tonic breaks too!!!
Nice work!
Eric says
Here's another reason to edge flower beds: it keeps mulch from spreading onto the lawn.
Also, if you edge an area near shrubs, you won't hit (and damage) the shrubs with the weed wacker.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Yolanda – I knew you'd understand.
Eric – good points. Before I expanded the borders in the rose garden, the lawn-cutting person routinely whacked the Taxus hicksii (upright Yew) hedge.
Adele says
What a beautiful garden you get to edge. I like to edge my flower borders twice each year, once in spring and once in summer. It's a relaxing job for me. As you said, it instantly improves the look of a garden.
Justin says
Kevin, home depot sells flexible plastic edging. Is it worth installing for a curved bed?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Adele – I find edging work to be rather relaxing, too. Few gardening chores bring such immediate satisfaction.
Justin – I do not like the black, plastic edging you are referring to. That's probably because I've seen it so many times associated with garish, red cedar mulch. But that's just me. It probably works as advertised.
Sheila says
For Justin: I tried the plastic edging once, and ended up pulling it all out. No matter how much mulch you use it is still visible, and unsightly because it's not a natural material. Just my own .02
Anonymous says
You sound like you a speaking from experience regarding the Serpentine Garden. Did the Russian Olive survive?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Anonymous – Yes, both of us lived to tell the tale!
Sara says
Kevin, love your tips! Please tell us about how big of a piece of sod you remove–about 6″ deep x the width of your edger (about 10″?) by how far over (2″, 4″, or ?). Also, it seems like even removing only a small chunk would result in lots of stuff to add to the compost pile. Do you add it all at once to your compost pile or just a little at a time, and do you break it into smaller pieces before you add it to your compost pile? My arms are aching right now thinking about the hard work that would require!! And, then do you fill in the newly dugout areas with mulch or something else? Thanks so much for your clear instructions and humor–I always look forward to getting my weekly Garden for the House fix!
dori says
I find a straight edge shovel works faster than a half moon edger.
Joann says
Hi Kevin…..I find at my age that a glass of wine and a nice comfortable chair helps when I’m out in the garden. There is nothing I enjoy more than to be out in the sunshine and fresh air and digging in the dirt. Thanks for all the info!!
Ann Honer says
I used landscaping timbers along the straight edges, and other than having to replace them every now and then, they seem to do a pretty good job, and they blend in well also.