Ethan Clarke
Black plastic edging is a great way to give your garden a clean, finished look. It is flexible, easy to work with, and can be used to create curved borders and round garden beds. It is also a wallet-friendly option for those who want to enhance their landscaping without breaking the bank. To get started, you'll need to measure the garden beds or borders you want to edge. Then, unroll the black plastic edging and let it sit in the sun for a while to make it easier to work with. After that, you can start digging a trench and placing the edging. Finally, secure the edging with stakes and fill in the trench with soil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic edging installation | A DIY project that can be completed in a few hours |
| Plastic edging | Flexible, easy to work with, and economical |
| Plastic edging uses | Distinguishing a garden bed from the lawn, making the garden look neat and tidy |
| Plastic edging durability | A few months to a few years, depending on climate, type, and sun exposure |
| Installation tools | Shovel, garden shears, mallet, trowel, and garden hose |
| Installation steps | Measure and mark the area, dig a trench, place the edging, secure with stakes, and fill the trench with soil |
| Plastic preparation | Unroll and leave in the sun for a day or two to make it easier to work with |
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What You'll Learn
Unroll the plastic and leave it in the sun
Plastic edging often comes in a roll, and it's important to unroll it and let it sit in the sun for a while before you start installing it. This process will make the plastic easier to work with when you begin your project.
If you can, unroll the plastic and leave it in the sun for about a day before you plan to start your project. This will give the sun enough time to warm the plastic, making it less curled and more flexible. This step is especially helpful if you're working with a larger area or if you're looking for a more precise installation.
If you're in a hurry or can't wait a full day, you can still benefit from leaving the plastic in the sun for about 60 minutes. This shorter duration will also help to reduce curling and make the plastic more cooperative. During this time, you can prepare the area by measuring and marking where you want the edging to go.
While the plastic is in the sun, you might need to weigh down the ends with something lightweight, like a rock, to prevent it from curling back up. Just be careful not to use anything too heavy, as you don't want to bend or damage the plastic.
Leaving the plastic edging in the sun is a simple yet crucial step that will make your installation process much smoother. It will help you achieve a neat and professional-looking result for your garden or lawn project.
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Dig a trench and cut away roots
To install black plastic edging, you'll first need to dig a trench. Use a round point shovel or spade to dig a trench along the edges of the bed. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep for plastic edging to fit—the deeper the trench, the less likely the edging will stick up out of the ground. Dig straight down to create a vertical "wall" that will support the edging. This trench will also help prevent weeds and grasses from spreading into the bed.
Before you start digging, pull up any weed-control fabric. If there are roots in the way, cut them away using pruning shears or a utility knife. Remove small roots that interrupt the trench, but leave any large tree roots and cut the edging to accommodate these. Cut a notch in the edging if there is a large root, and line it up with the root to check that you have the right spot. Avoid placing edging around garden beds with many large tree roots.
Once you have cut away the small roots, remove them from around the trench so that you have a clear space to work. Now, you can start to place the edging into the trench, pushing it firmly against the garden bed. Make sure the lip on the bottom of the edging points toward the garden bed, not the lawn. If you need multiple rolls of edging, use a connector to attach the ends of the rolls.
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Place the edging in the trench
Before placing the edging in the trench, it is important to prepare the edging and trench properly. First, unroll the black plastic edging and lay it outside in the sun for about 60 minutes or a day before. This will make the plastic warm and less curled, making it easier to shape and work with. If the edging keeps curling back, place a rock or another lightweight object on each end.
Next, dig a trench along the edges of the bed with a round point shovel or spade. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to secure the edging underground, but not too deep that the edging sticks up out of the ground. The width of the trench should be slightly larger than the width of the edging, with an extra 1/2-inch to 1-inch space above to maintain uniformity. Remove any small roots that interrupt the trench with pruning shears and keep the soil that you dug up close by.
Now you are ready to place the edging in the trench. Set each strip of edging roughly where it needs to go on the edge of the trench. Push the edging firmly into the trench and against the garden bed, ensuring only the top rolled edge is above the surface level.
Finally, secure the edging in place. Fill in the trench with the soil you dug up earlier, backfilling dirt into the trench on both sides of the edging. Gently move the dirt and pat it down with your hand to avoid shifting the edging. You can also use landscape stakes to secure the edging. Place stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter and hammer them in at a 45-degree angle with a mallet to avoid the edging being forced out by frost.
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Hammer in edging stakes at a 45-degree angle
To install black plastic edging, you will need to first unroll the plastic lawn edging the day before you want to use it. This will make the installation process easier as the sun will warm the plastic, making it less curled and easier to shape and work with.
After unrolling the plastic edging, you can start digging a trench around the garden bed where you want to install the edging. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep, but you can go as deep as 6 inches to ensure the edging doesn't stick up out of the ground. Keep the soil that you dig up close by, as you will need it later.
Now, it's time to place the edging into the trench. Push the edging firmly against the garden bed, ensuring that only the top rolled edge is above the surface level. At this stage, you can cut the edging to accommodate any large tree roots that are in the way.
Finally, secure the edging in place by hammering in the stakes at a 45-degree angle. This angle is crucial to avoid the edging being forced out by frost. Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter. Do not use a metal hammer, as this will break the stakes. Instead, use a mallet or even the claw of a hammer to install the stakes from the inside of the garden or flower bed.
Once the stakes are securely in place, backfill the trench with the soil you dug up earlier. Gently move the dirt to avoid shifting the new edging and lightly pat it down with your hand. Water the area with a garden hose to settle the soil, and add more soil to any low-lying spots to raise the edging and ensure it feels sturdy all around.
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Backfill the trench with soil
Once you've placed your black plastic edging into the trench, the next step is to backfill the trench with soil. This process will help secure the edging in place.
To begin backfilling, use a trowel or shovel to add soil to the trench on both sides of the edging. Be gentle when moving the dirt to avoid shifting the plastic edging out of place. Use your hand to gently pat down the soil as you fill the trench. Make sure to use the soil that was previously dug up and set aside.
It is important to ensure that the edging is firmly secured and does not shift during the backfilling process. If needed, you can use landscape stakes to provide additional support. Place the stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter, and use a mallet to install them from the inside of the garden or flower bed. Avoid using a metal hammer, as it can break the stakes.
After backfilling, lightly water the area with a garden hose to settle the soil. This will help the dirt around the edging settle and provide a sturdy base. If needed, add more soil to areas that require additional support or to raise the edging to the desired level.
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Frequently asked questions
Measure the outline of the garden bed using rope. Then, measure the rope with a tape measure to determine how much edging you'll need.
Unroll the plastic edging and lay it flat on the ground. If possible, leave it in the sun for about 60 minutes to make it less curled and easier to shape.
Dig a trench around the garden bed and cut away any small roots. Place the edging into the trench, ensuring only the top edge is above the surface level. Then, fill in the trench with soil.
Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter. Use a mallet to install them from the inside of the garden bed. You can also use plastic coupling to secure corners or odd angles together.
