How to Edge a Flower Bed

EDGING is the secret line that separates a neglected yard from a professionally manicured landscape. By cutting a deep, distinct trench at the border of your mulch and lawn, you prevent grass runners from invading your planting beds while giving the eye a clear place to rest. It is the single most effective way to make your garden look finished without spending a fortune. A job well done requires consistency and a commitment to the depth of the trench. Don't worry about being perfectly straight; a slight, fluid curve often looks more natural in a residential landscape than a rigid, machine-straight line. Keep the wall of your bed vertical to stop soil erosion and keep the grass from finding a bridge back into your garden.

1. Map Your Garden's Edge. Lay a garden hose along the edge of your bed to serve as a guide for your curves. Adjust the hose until the shape looks organic and flows naturally with the rest of your yard.
2. Score the Line Clean. Use a half-moon edger to cut straight down into the grass along the outside of your hose guide. Push the tool into the turf with your foot until you hit the soil transition.
3. Carve Out the Trench. Shift your edger about three inches back from your first cut and dig at an angle to meet the bottom of the first cut. Pull out the strip of sod and shake off any loose soil.
4. Level the Trench Floor. Use a flat-head shovel to scrape the bottom of the trench until it is level. Ensure the bottom is about three inches deep to provide enough of a barrier to stop root growth.
5. Polish the Transition. Use a hand trowel or your gloved hands to pull any remaining loose debris out of the bed area. Ensure the transition between the grass and the mulch is crisp and free of loose grass clumps.
6. Seal It With Mulch. Spread a two-inch layer of fresh mulch up to the edge of your new trench. Do not overfill; the mulch should stay slightly below the level of the grass to keep it from washing out.