Alexei Volkov
Plastic lawn edging is a great way to give your garden a neat and tidy look. It is flexible and easy to work with, making it perfect for curved borders and round garden beds. Installing plastic edging is a simple DIY project that can be completed in a few hours. The process involves measuring the desired area, digging a trench, placing the edging, and securing it with stakes. The edging should be deep enough so that a lawnmower's wheels can smoothly run over it without causing damage. This guide will take you through the steps to install green plastic lawn edging and give your garden an instant upgrade.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To distinguish a garden bed from the rest of a lawn, making your garden look neat and tidy |
| Height | Typically ranges from 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm) high |
| Lawn Mower Accessibility | The edging will be the right height so that a lawnmower won't get caught on it |
| Installation Tools | Shovel, spade, hacksaw, rubber mallet, garden rake, garden hose |
| Installation Steps | Outline the edging path with rope or twine, mark with environmentally safe paint, dig a trench, place the edging in the trench, install stakes, backfill with soil, compact the soil, water the area, smoothen the soil |
| Stake Installation | Install a stake at every 5 feet (1.5 m) along the edging, placing it right next to the top of the edging with the pointed tip facing the "V" shape at the bottom, and hammer it into the soil |
| Stake Types | Straight or perpendicular in shape, or steel anchoring stakes |
| Stake Installation Angle | Driven at a 45-degree angle through the lawn edging toward the trench wall |
| Stake Frequency | Sparingly stake the edging until you are satisfied with your design, but use extra stakes when securing joints and curves |
| Joining Pieces | Use the provided H-clip and PVC cement to join two pieces, then drive a steel anchoring stake through both sections |
| Additional Tips | Unroll the plastic edging a day before installation to flatten it, lightly water the area after installation to settle the soil, and add more soil to low-lying spots to raise the edging |
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What You'll Learn
Outline the edging area
To outline the edging area, you must first decide where you want to place the edging and how much of it you'll need. Use a rope, string, or twine to create an outline of the desired path for your edging. You can lay the rope along the beds in whatever shape you like, including curved borders and round garden beds. Once you're satisfied with the design, mark the outline with environmentally safe marking or landscaping paint. Trace the curvature of the rope with the paint, allowing you to follow the marking when digging the trench.
After marking the outline, use a tape measure to measure the length of the rope or twine. This measurement will give you an idea of how much plastic edging you'll need for your project. It is recommended to add 10% to the total length to account for waste. This additional allowance ensures you have enough edging to cover the entire border of your garden bed.
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Dig a trench
Digging a trench is the first step in installing green plastic lawn edging. The trench should be around 3 to 6 inches deep, depending on the height of your edging. You can use a trenching machine or a straight-edge spade shovel to dig the trench. If you're using a shovel, make sure it's a round point shovel so that the front wall of the trench is straight, which will make it easier to install the edging evenly.
Before digging, it's important to outline the border of your lawn edging to ensure a straight installation. You can do this by laying out a piece of rope or twine along the desired path for your edging. Once you're satisfied with the design, use marking paint to trace the curvature of the rope. Then, once the paint is dry, cut the rope to size and measure it to determine how much edging you'll need. Don't forget to add 10% to the total length to account for waste.
When digging the trench, make sure it's deep enough so that the plastic edging doesn't stick up out of the ground. If the edging is too high, it could be damaged by a lawnmower. Cut away any small roots that are in the way of the trench using pruning shears. Leave any large tree roots and simply cut the edging to accommodate them. Once you've dug the trench, remove any excess soil or roots so that you have a clear space to work with. Keep the dirt you've dug out nearby, as you'll need it later to backfill the trench.
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Place the edging
Now that you have prepared the area, it is time to place the edging.
First, unroll the plastic lawn edging and lay it flat on the ground. If it has been rolled up until now, it is a good idea to unroll it a day or two before installation to allow it to flatten. If possible, leave it in the sun, as the warmth will make the plastic easier to shape.
Next, dig a trench along the marked line of your desired edging path. The trench should be deep enough that the edging does not stick up out of the ground, typically between 3 and 6 inches deep. Make sure to cut away any roots that are in the way of the trench.
Then, place the edging into the trench. Push the edging firmly against the garden bed and fill in the empty space around it with the spare dirt you kept from digging the trench. This will provide stability and ensure the edging stays in place.
Finally, stomp along the curves of the edging with your feet to compact the soil and push the edging outwards along the curve. You can also use a rubber mallet to drive edging spikes or yard staples through the front face of the edging to anchor it.
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Secure with stakes
To secure your green plastic lawn edging with stakes, start by measuring the outline of your garden bed using a rope or twine. This will help you determine how much edging you need and where to place it. Once you've marked the outline, dig a trench along the edges of the bed with a shovel or spade. The trench should be deep enough so that the edging doesn't stick up out of the ground and interfere with your lawnmower. Typically, a depth of 2 to 6 inches is recommended, depending on the height of your edging.
Now, it's time to install the edging. Place the edging into the trench, ensuring it's firmly against the garden bed. Use a level to check that the edging is straight and even across the length. Fill in any gaps with soil and compact it tightly with your feet or a tool. You can also water the soil lightly to help settle it.
Here comes the staking part! Install stakes at regular intervals along the edging to secure it in place. A good rule of thumb is to place a stake every 5 feet or every 2 feet, especially when securing joints and curves. You can also use extra stakes wherever you feel they are needed. Drive the stakes into the soil next to the top of the edging, with the pointed tip facing towards the "V" shape at the bottom. Hammer the portion of the stake that is above the soil to push the pointed tip through the edging.
The type of stake you use is also important. Most plastic edging kits come with stakes, but you can also purchase stakes separately. Steel anchoring stakes are a common choice, and Oly-Ola provides four steel stakes with each piece of edging. When driving the stakes, angle them at 45 degrees towards the trench wall or pavers. Leave about 2 inches of the stake undriven.
By following these steps, you can securely install your green plastic lawn edging, creating a neat and tidy border for your garden bed.
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Backfill and compact
Once you have placed the edging into the trench, the next step is to backfill and compact.
Backfilling helps the plastic edging to remain secure and blend well with the surrounding landscape. Use the soil you dug out to fill in the trench and force the edging against the wall. Pack the dirt in as you go, so that it keeps the edging firmly in place. You can use your hands to push the soil into any small gaps between the garden bed and the lawn. Make sure the backfilled area is level with the rest of the lawn.
After backfilling, you need to compact the soil. This guarantees that the edging stays in place and doesn’t shift over time. Use a tamper or the flat end of a shovel to press the soil down evenly. You can also stomp along the curves of the edging with your feet to flatten the soil and make it compact. This will push the edging outwards along the curve.
Watering the soil lightly will also help to settle and compact it. After watering, let the area sit for a few hours to allow the soil to settle. This will make sure that the edging is stable and secure, and the soil is firmly packed around it.
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Frequently asked questions
To measure the garden beds or borders you want to edge, lay rope, string or twine along the beds in the shape you desire. Once you’re satisfied with the design, use environmentally safe marking paint to trace the curvature of the rope. Then, once the rope is dry, cut it to size. Measure the length of the rope with a tape measure to get an idea of how much plastic edging you’ll need for your project. Add 10% to the total length to account for waste.
Outline the border of the lawn edging to assure an accurate and straight installation. Dig a trench around the garden bed and cut away any roots. The trench should be 3-6 inches deep and 1-2 inches wider than the edging. For pavers, dig a trench about 2 inches deeper and wider than the paver stone.
Place the edging into the trench. Push the edging firmly against the garden bed. Install edging stakes at least every 5 feet (1.5 m) along the edging. Place the stake right next to the top of the edging, with the pointed tip facing towards the "V" shape at the bottom. Hammer the stake into the ground through the edging. Stomp along the curves of the edging with your feet to compact the soil. Sparingly stake the edging until you are satisfied with your design.
