No matter how pretty your flowers are, great edging on a flower bed can take their splendor to the next level. Conversely, flower beds that look haphazard and overrun will take away from all the other hard work you've done to cultivate them.
You don't need boards, metal sheets and other framing to create well-defined flower bed edges. With the right techniques and tools, plus a little elbow grease, you can have clean lines that make the landscape pop. If you've been wondering, "How do I edge a flower bed?", this guide will walk you through the process.
1. Marking the Edge
Start by laying out the edge lines using a garden hose, rope, heavy twine or other similar materials. If you are adding curved edges, try to keep them gentle. This will make it easier to mow later. NOTE: If you are simply freshening up your current garden bed, you can usually skip to step two unless the edge is significantly overgrown.
2. Establishing the Edge
Next, cut your landscape edge with a spade or an edging tool (such as a half-moon edger) as follows:
- Position the edging tool at one end of the guiding line.
- Tilt the handle slightly toward you.
- Step on the tool to drive the head 3-4 inches deep into the ground.
- Lift the tool enough to move it down the guiding line a little and repeat until finished.
Now you need to dig out the unwanted turf that's inside your edge line. We recommend using a small shovel (or your hands) for the bulk of the work and switching to a trowel near the edges. You'll want to dig a little deeper at the edges as well; this will give you a trench that helps with drainage.
4. Refining the Edge
While step two was more of a rough cut, now you should clean things up a little. Use a trowel or small spade to groom the edges and make them a 90-degree angle to the ground. If you like ultra-defined edges, do further refinement by using hand sheers to cut away overhanging grass. (Hold the shears vertically to maintain the 90-degree angle you just created.)
5. Adding Soil and Mulch
Finish up by adding the materials flowers need to grow. This will also keep the flower bed from looking sunk into the ground. Loose soil will work well in most cases. If you want to add some color and texture to the landscape, consider topping the soil with 2-3 inches of mulch.
Add Pre-Designed Edges with Our Composite Wood Edging
What if you want beautiful garden edges where there is a physical barrier between the lawn and garden? In that case, consider composite wood landscape edging from Frame It All. We have straight and curved edging kits in various colors to complement natural edging or stand out on their own with distinct lines. They're made of durable materials with a modular design that lets you customize the layout to fit the space.
