I have always been one of those people who loves to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for others, which is why I started looking at landscaping design in the first place. It was incredible to me to see how much of a difference I was able to make by adding a few new plants, and after that first project, I wanted to help other people. I started volunteering to help friends and neighbors do their landscaping, and after a few months, I had developed quite a following. This blog is all about creating a warm, inviting yard through smart landscaping and an eye for detail.
There are two types of edging in lawn maintenance: the edging between the lawn and hardscaped surfaces, like sidewalks and patios, and the edging that separates the lawn from garden beds and planted areas. Although edging may seem a purely ornamental practice, it actually serves an important purpose.
Edging Issues
A lack of edging between the grass and garden beds is most likely to cause issues. Lawn grasses, which are hard to eradicate, will invade the garden bed, where they can choke out flowers and other ornamental plants. The grass will compete for nutrients and water as well as space, so soon, the desired flowers will be crowded out or covered in overly long, weedy grass that has gone to seed. In some cases, the roles can reverse, and some ornamental plants may invade the lawn as weeds.
Along paved areas, the main issue with poorly edged grass is that the edges that begin to overgrow the pavement attract lawn weeds, like common mallow and clovers. The overgrown grass edge can also increase existing damages on paving. If there are cracks near the edge, the grass can invade the crack and begin to force the paving apart so that the damage becomes worse.
Sidewalk Edging Techniques
Edging along pavement is relatively simple. Generally, a strip is cut from the edge of the lawn so there is a 1 to 2-inch space between the edge of the grass and the paving. This strip is cut into the soil layer, extending down into the ground a couple of inches to form a small trench at the perimeter of the lawn. This trench is below the root zone of the grass, which helps prevent it from spreading back across the edging cut.
Grass edging can be done manually with a spade or a special edging cutter. More often, though, gas or electric-powered edgers are used.
Bedside Edging Styles
There are more choices when it comes to garden bedside edges. Trench edging, similar to paving by pavement, can be done by cutting a V-shaped trench between the bed and the grass. This trench must be maintained because the grass will grow over rather quickly.
More often, edging strips are installed, such as those made of rubber. Masonry edges made of pavers, bricks, or formed concrete curbs are also popular. The key is to extend the edging several inches in the ground so grass roots won't grow beneath it. The edging must also be a couple of inches tall to discourage the grass from growing over the top.
Contact a lawn maintenance service if you need help with maintaining your lawn's edging.
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