Chloe Zhang
Plastic landscape edging is a practical, inexpensive, and quick way to upgrade your garden. It is a great way to separate your lawn from your garden bed, keeping the mulch, rock, and dirt in the garden bed and out of the grass. To install plastic edging, you will need to dig a trench. The trench should be 2-6 inches deep and only about an inch or two wide, depending on the height of your edging. You can use a shovel, an old ax, or a trench-digging tool to dig the trench. Be sure to keep the dirt you've dug out nearby, as you will need it later to fill in the trench and hold the edging in place.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To separate the lawn from the garden beds |
| Tools | Shovel, spade, half-moon edger, manual rotary edger, mechanized tool with a circular blade, garden hose, chalk, flour, wheelbarrow, string, flexible measuring tape, ax, hammer |
| Trench depth | 4-6 inches |
| Trench width | 1-2 inches |
| Plastic edging width | At least 5 inches |
| Plastic edging placement | Level with the surrounding lawn |
| Plastic edging installation | Place edging in the trench, fill the trench with soil, pound in metal stakes, pack in dirt, water the soil |
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$37.99 $39.99
What You'll Learn
Choose the right tool for digging
The right tool for digging a trench depends on the trench's size, depth, and purpose. For instance, a 4-inch pipe for a French drain requires a trench that is 6-12 inches wide and 18-24 inches deep. In this case, a 24-inch trencher would be suitable.
Trenchers are often used for digging trenches and are chosen based on the depth of the trench they can dig. Trenches for electrical wiring are typically 6 inches deep and 4 inches wide, while trenches for drainage can be 18 inches deep and 9 inches wide.
For small jobs under 2 feet deep, manual hand trenching tools such as shovels, trowels, and garden spades are suitable. Shovels with pointed tips and squared sides are ideal for slicing into the ground and creating smooth trench walls. Scoop shovels are perfect for moving loose soil, while spade shovels have sharp edges for cutting into packed earth. Pick-ax shovels are suitable for rocky or clay soils.
For deeper trenches, powered trenchers are heavy-duty tools that can efficiently dig high volumes. Walk-behind trenchers are suitable for trenches up to 48 inches deep and are often used for installing irrigation, plumbing, and cable systems. They are ideal for softer terrain and offer more precision. Ride-on trenchers, on the other hand, are more powerful and can handle rocky terrain or pavement. They are used for the longest and deepest trenches.
Other types of trenchers include chain trenchers, which can cut deep and narrow trenches suitable for drainage, and wheel trenchers, which are designed for rocky soil, pavement, or concrete. Micro trenchers are another option for smaller trenches, such as those required for laying fiber optic cable.
Additionally, consider safety measures when choosing a trenching tool. For trenches deeper than four feet, testing for hazards like fumes, gases, or low oxygen levels is crucial. Utilizing a protective system is necessary for trenches five feet or deeper unless the entire trench is in stable rock.
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Outline the trench area
Before you start digging, outline the trench area by marking the shape and gradual curves of your lawn edging. You can use a string, a garden hose, chalk, or flour to do this. If you want straight borders, follow a tightly stretched string line. If you're using pavers, the trench width will depend on the width of the stone. Add 6 inches to the stone width (2 inches for the mowing edge and 4 inches extra). If you're using bricks, dig a trench about an inch wider than the brick pattern.
If you're installing plastic edging, measure the desired area to determine how much edging you will need to cover the entire border of your garden bed. Use a string or a flexible measuring tape, running it along the desired path for your edging.
Before you start digging, be sure to call your local utilities to locate any underground lines.
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Dig to the right depth
Digging to the right depth is key when it comes to installing plastic edging. The trench should be deep enough so that the edging can be covered halfway by soil. This will prevent grass and weeds from spreading into the flower bed. The recommended depth for the trench is between 3 and 6 inches.
Before you start digging, it is important to measure the perimeter of your garden bed to determine how much edging you will need. You can do this by laying out a piece of rope along the edge of the bed and then measuring the rope with a tape measure. This will ensure that you purchase the correct amount of edging.
When you are ready to start digging, use a round point shovel or spade to dig a trench that is slightly wider than the width of the edging. If you are using a spade, stomp on it with your foot to create a starting point for the edging. If you are installing a large amount of edging, you may want to consider renting a machine such as a bed scraper or edger to speed up the process.
As you dig, aim for one side of the trench to be vertical so that the edging can stand up against it. This will provide support for the edging and help to keep it in place. Make sure to dig the trench to a uniform depth, creating a straight vertical "wall".
By digging to the correct depth and following these additional tips, you will be able to ensure that your plastic edging is installed securely and effectively.
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Place edging into the trench
Now that you have dug a trench, it is time to place the edging into it. If you are using a kit, it should include the plastic edging pieces, stakes to provide stability, and connectors to allow your edging to flow seamlessly around your garden bed. Unravel the plastic edging and cut the amount you need to fit around your defined areas. If you have not already, measure the desired area to determine how much edging you will need. Use a string or a flexible measuring tape, running it along the desired path.
After installing a foot of edging into the ground, fill the empty spaces next to the edging in the trench with the soil you collected earlier. This will cause the soil to settle in tight and hold the edging firmly in place. Drive landscaping stakes through the plastic and into the lawn horizontally to hold the edging firmly in place for curves around the landscaping beds.
If you are using pavers, stones, or bricks, you'll need to fill the bottom of your trench with paver base and follow that layer with stone dust. This creates the foundation the blocks will need. Install the blocks, and in between each joint, fill the area with polymeric sand to hold the bricks in place. If you are using plastic edging, make sure it is level with the surrounding lawn.
Once your edging is installed, survey the entire area for any holes and gaps and backfill with soil. Do not leave them, or the edging may come loose. Take a garden hose and walk along the edging, watering it on both sides to enable the soil to settle down firmly.
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Fill in the trench
Once the trench has been dug, the next step is to fill it in. This process is known as backfilling. It is important to use the soil that was removed from the trench when digging to fill in the gaps between the edging and the surrounding lawn or garden bed. This will help stabilise the edging and create a seamless transition between the lawn and the garden bed. The backfill helps the plastic edging to remain secure and blend well with the surrounding landscape.
When backfilling, it is important to press the soil firmly around the edging to keep it in place. Be sure the backfilled area is level with the rest of the lawn. Use a shovel to place the soil that you previously dug up back into the trench. Fill the soil to the height where only the top ½ or ⅓ of the decorative, circular edge is visible. The top border of the lawn edging can stick out approximately half to three-quarters of an inch.
After backfilling, tamp down the soil around the edging to firm it up. Use a tamper or the flat end of a shovel to press the soil down evenly. This step guarantees that the edging stays in place and doesn’t shift over time. A firm, compacted base around the edging creates a stable environment for the plastic material to hold its position. Take your time with this step to avoid leaving air pockets or loose soil, which could cause the edging to become unstable.
Finally, lightly water the area with a garden hose to settle the soil. The edging should feel sturdy all the way around. Add more soil to areas that need more support and to low-lying spots to raise the edging.
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Frequently asked questions
Outline the area where you want to dig the trench using a string, garden hose, chalk, or flour. Mark the shape and gradual curves of your lawn edging. Choose the right kind of tool for digging. You can use a spade, a half-moon edger, or a manual rotary edger. You can also use a mechanized tool with a circular blade, which will be easier but more expensive.
The trench should be 4-6 inches deep and only about an inch or two wide, just enough to get your edging into the ground. If you are using pavers, stones, or bricks, the trench should be as wide as the material you are using.
Insert a shovel or trench-digging tool into the soil with your foot on its flat edge. Dig the trench along the marked line. Make sure you move the shovel back and forth to loosen the soil from the trench. Collect the soil in a wheelbarrow because you will need it later to fill in the trench.
Lay your edging out along the trench line. Unravel the plastic edging and cut the amount you need to fit around your defined areas. After installing a foot of edging into the ground, fill the empty spaces next to the edging in the trench with the collected soil. This will cause the soil to settle in tight and hold the edging firmly in place.
