Sofia Martinez
Plastic landscape edging is a great way to give your garden a clean, manicured look. It's an easy DIY project that can be completed in a few hours, and it's flexible enough to work with curved borders and round garden beds. To install plastic edging, you'll need to measure and mark the desired shape, dig a trench, and then place the edging in the trench. It's important to ensure that the edging is sturdy and secured with stakes to prevent warping. With the right tools and techniques, you can enhance the look of your landscaping and boost your home's curb appeal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To give garden beds, borders, and outdoor spaces a clean, finished, and manicured look |
| Benefits | Economical, DIY-friendly, flexible, and easy to work with, making it a good choice for curved borders and round garden beds |
| Measurement | Lay rope or twine along the desired shape and use marking paint to trace; measure the length of the rope to estimate the required amount of edging, adding 10% for waste |
| Installation | Dig a trench along the traced line to a uniform depth of 3-4 inches; place the edging in the trench with the "V" facing the bed, not the lawn; anchor with edging stakes at 3-4 foot intervals, using a rubber mallet; water the area lightly to settle the soil and add more soil for support if needed |
| Tips | Cut roots if necessary to ensure a clean edge; ensure only the top half or third of the circle is visible above ground to prevent mower damage; use commercial-grade edging of sufficient width (5.5 inches or more) to avoid frost heave; prepare the soil by digging or rototilling before installation |
| Alternatives | Aluminum, steel, concrete, stone, or timber edging; avoid no-dig edging as it tends to warp |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and measuring
First, you need to decide on the design and shape of your garden beds or borders. Use rope or twine to lay out the desired shape. Play around with different designs until you find one that you are satisfied with. Once you have decided on the shape, use environmentally safe marking paint to trace the curvature of the rope. This will act as a guide for digging the trench.
After the paint has dried, cut the rope to size and measure its length with a tape measure. This will give you an idea of how much plastic edging you will need for your project. It is recommended to add 10% to the total length to account for any waste or mistakes.
When you have determined the amount of edging required, you can start preparing the trench. Dig a trench along the marked edges of the bed with a round point shovel or spade. Make sure the trench has a uniform depth of 3 to 4 inches, allowing the edging to stand about half an inch above ground level. It is important to dig straight down to create a vertical "wall" that will provide support for the edging.
If you need to cut the plastic edging to size, you can use tin snips, pruning shears, scissors, or a utility knife. Ensure that the trench is prepared correctly, as this will affect the stability of the edging. The trench should be straight and uniform, following the marked line.
Additionally, consider the placement of edging stakes. These stakes will anchor the edging in place and provide stability. Place the stakes at intervals of 3 to 4 feet. Use a rubber mallet to drive each stake at a slight angle from the lower outside face of the edging to the other side. This will ensure that the edging feels sturdy all the way around.
By following these planning and measuring steps, you will be able to install plastic landscape edging that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
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Digging a trench
Use a round-pointed shovel or spade to dig a trench along the painted lines. The trench should be uniform in depth, around three to four inches deep, which will allow the edging to stand about half an inch above ground level. It's important to dig straight down to create a vertical "wall" that will support the edging. If you encounter any roots during the digging process, cut them with a serrated knife or pruning shears to ensure a clean edge.
The trench should be deep enough so that the edging can be placed securely, with the little curled-up "V" at the bottom facing the bed, not the lawn. This will ensure that only the top half or third of the edging circle is visible after installation, preventing damage from lawnmowers and keeping grass roots from entering the garden bed.
It is recommended to prepare the soil inside the bed by rototilling before installing the edging. Alternatively, you can rototill after installation to avoid disturbing the freshly placed edging.
By following these steps for digging a trench, you will create a solid foundation for your plastic landscape edging, ensuring a neat and durable finish to your garden beds or borders.
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Placing the edging
Firstly, prepare the trench by digging or rototilling to a depth of about six inches. This step is crucial for a stable and secure edging installation. Ensure you cut any roots that may interfere with the edging. The trench should follow the marked curvature created earlier using rope and marking paint. The trench should be uniform in depth, approximately three to four inches deep, allowing the edging to stand about half an inch above ground level.
Next, place the edging into the trench. Curve the edging along the trench, ensuring it sits loosely. Good-quality edging often comes in 20-foot lengths, so you may need to cut it to size with a serrated bread knife or a utility knife. If your bed edge exceeds 20 feet, use the connectors provided in the spike kit. To use these connectors effectively, slide one end halfway into the first piece, then push down slightly with the second piece while squeezing the circle of the first piece around the connector. This technique will ensure a secure connection between the edging pieces.
Once the edging is in place, anchor it with edging stakes. Place these stakes at intervals of three to four feet. Use a rubber mallet to drive each stake through the lower outside face of the edging to the other side. This process will keep the edging sturdy and in place. After staking, lightly water the area with a garden hose to settle the soil. You can then add more soil to any areas that require additional support or to raise the edging slightly.
Finally, ensure that only the top half or third of the edging circle is visible above the ground. This positioning will prevent damage from lawnmowers and keep grass roots from entering the garden bed. It will also create a neat and tidy appearance for your landscape edging.
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Anchoring the edging
Anchoring your plastic edging is a crucial step in ensuring your landscape edging looks tidy and remains stable. Here is a detailed guide on how to anchor your plastic edging:
Firstly, it is important to purchase high-quality, commercial-grade edging. Opt for edging that is five-and-a-half inches wide or more, as cheaper, narrower options are often too flimsy and susceptible to frost heave. Commercial-grade edging will come with steel stakes, which are essential for anchoring.
Once you have your edging, prepare the trench by digging or rototilling a six-inch deep trough along the marked-out curvature of your garden bed. Place the edging into the trench, ensuring the little curled-up "V" at the bottom faces the bed, not the lawn. Curve the edging along the trench, loosely installing it to ensure it fits the shape of your garden bed. If your bed edge is longer than twenty feet, you will need to use connectors, which typically come in spike kits. To use the connectors effectively, slide one end halfway into the first piece, then push down on the connector with the second piece while squeezing the circle of the first piece around the connector.
Now, it's time to anchor the edging. Use edging stakes to anchor the edging in place at three to four-foot intervals. Drive each stake at a slight angle from the lower outside face of the edging through to the other side, using a rubber mallet. Ensure the stakes go through the edging and into the ground on the outside of the trench. Water the area lightly with a garden hose to settle the soil, and add more soil to any areas that need extra support or to raise the edging.
Finally, check that your edging feels sturdy all the way around. If it feels loose in certain areas, add more stakes to secure it. By following these steps, you will have a neatly edged garden bed that is firmly anchored in place.
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Settling the soil
Once you've dug a trench and placed your edging, the next step is to fill the soil back in. Use a shovel to backfill the trench with the soil you removed earlier. As you fill, force the edging against the wall of the trench and pack the dirt in as you go. This will help to keep the edging firmly in place.
Compact the soil by stomping along the edging with your feet. Make sure the soil is tightly packed. Keep adding soil until it's slightly higher than ground level, as it will settle with the first rain or watering.
Now, you'll need to install your stakes. Starting three inches in from the beginning of the edging, place the pointed tip of the stake into the V at the bottom of the edging. The end you hit with a hammer should be bent at a ninety-degree angle, with the short, bent part facing down.
Finally, water the edging to settle the soil. Walk along the edging with a garden hose, watering the soil lightly on both sides. You don't need to saturate or flood the soil, just make it moderately damp. This will cause the soil to settle in tight on both sides.
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Frequently asked questions
To measure the amount of edging you need, lay rope or twine along the garden beds in your desired shape. Trace the curvature of the rope with environmentally safe marking paint, then cut the rope to size and measure its length with a tape measure. Don't forget to add 10% to the total length to account for waste.
Dig a trench along the edges of the bed, following the marking paint. The trench should be a uniform depth of 3 to 4 inches, allowing the edging to stand about half an inch above ground level. You can use a round point shovel or spade to create a vertical "wall" that will support the edging.
Place the edging into the trench, curving it loosely along the desired path. Good edging usually comes in 20-foot lengths, so you may need to cut it to fit using a serrated bread knife or utility knife. If your bed edge is longer than 20 feet, use the connectors provided in the spike kit, ensuring you slide each piece onto the connector securely.
Anchor the edging in place with edging stakes at 3 to 4-foot intervals. Use a rubber mallet to drive each stake at a slight angle from the lower outside face of the edging. Water the area lightly with a garden hose to settle the soil and add more soil to any areas that need extra support.
