How to Install Permanent Paver Edging

Pavement failure almost always begins at the edges, where the lateral pressure of foot traffic and freeze-thaw cycles causes stones to drift outward. Without a rigid restraint system, your carefully laid patio will eventually succumb to 'spreading,' leaving unsightly gaps between stones and ruining the structural integrity of your sand bed. Installing permanent edging isn't just about aesthetics; it is a critical structural requirement. When done well, this barrier acts as a hidden foundation, holding your aggregate base and pavers in a tight, immovable lock. Use this guide to ensure your hardscape stays square, level, and gap-free for the next decade.

  1. Dig Straight, Dig Deep. Excavate a narrow trench around the entire edge of your paver area, extending about 3 inches below the bottom of your paver stones. Ensure the soil floor of this trench is compacted and level to provide a solid footing for the edging material.
  2. Test Before You Lock. Lay your plastic or metal edging strips into the trench, ensuring they sit flush against the vertical face of the outermost pavers. If the patio has curves, cut the connecting tabs on the back of the plastic edging to allow the strip to bend without buckling.
  3. Hit the Right Height. Use a rubber mallet to tap the edging strips down until the top edge is just slightly below the finished height of the pavers. This keeps the edging hidden from view while providing enough height to secure the pavers.
  4. Anchor Every Hole. Insert 10-inch landscape spikes through every pre-drilled hole in the edging flange. Drive them into the compacted sub-base using a sledgehammer until the heads are seated firmly against the flange.
  5. Pack It Solid. Replace the soil you excavated back into the trench against the backside of the edging. Tamp the soil down firmly with your foot or a hand tamper to eliminate air pockets and lock the edging into the surrounding ground.
  6. Seal the System. Run a plate compactor over the surface of the pavers one last time to settle them into the sand bed against the newly installed edging. Add polymeric sand to the joints, sweep it in, and mist it to create a final, water-resistant bond.