Ethan Clarke
Plastic edging is a wallet-friendly and DIY-friendly way to give your garden a neat and tidy look. It can be used to distinguish a garden bed from the lawn, line a gravel border, or define the perimeter of outdoor spaces. Installing plastic edging can be done in a few hours and is a straightforward task that can significantly enhance your garden's appearance. This guide will take you through the steps to lay plastic edging and offer some tips and tricks to make the process even simpler.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To distinguish a garden bed from the rest of a lawn, making your garden look neat and tidy |
| Installation time | A few hours |
| Cost | Wallet-friendly, with 60 feet of edging starting at $30 |
| Durability | A few months to a few years, depending on climate, type of edging, and exposure to the sun |
| Installation steps | 1. Measure the desired area with a string or flexible measuring tape. 2. Dig a trench along the edges of the bed. 3. Place the edging in the trench. 4. Secure the edging with stakes. 5. Backfill the trench with dirt. 6. Water the dirt to help it settle. |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and preparation
Start by measuring and marking out the area where you want to install the edging. Use a garden hose or rope to create a flexible guideline, allowing you to visualise the layout and make any desired adjustments. Consider the overall design and functionality of your landscape, ensuring the border edging complements the existing features and meets your practical needs.
Once you've finalised the layout, remove any existing edging or obstacles along the marked path. This includes rocks, roots, or old edging that might interfere with the installation of the new plastic border. Ensure you dig out and clear the entire line of any debris, creating a clean and clear path for the new edging.
Now, it's time to measure and cut your plastic edging to size. Using a sharp utility knife, cut the edging to the required length, ensuring a precise fit along the marked path. Take your time with this step to guarantee a neat and accurate result. Remember to wear gloves and eye protection for your safety.
After cutting the edging to size, prepare the ground by digging a shallow trench along the marked path. The trench should be slightly wider than the edging to allow for easy installation and a secure fit. Aim for a depth that accommodates about half the height of the edging, ensuring it remains stable and firmly anchored.
Before installing the edging, weed the area thoroughly to prevent future growth under the edging. This step is crucial to minimise maintenance and ensure the long-term effectiveness of your border. Remove any weeds or grass along the trench line, creating a clean and clear space for the new edging.
Finally, if you plan to fill the border with mulch, soil, or other materials, now is the time to prepare those fillings. Have them ready nearby so that you can efficiently fill the border once the edging is installed. By planning and preparing these fillings in advance, you'll save time and effort during the final stages of your project.
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Unrolling and laying out
Plastic edging is a great way to give your garden a neat and tidy look. It is flexible and easy to work with, making it an excellent choice for curved borders and round garden beds. It is also a wallet-friendly option for those looking to enhance their landscaping.
To get started, you will need to measure the garden beds or borders that you want to edge. Use a flexible measuring tape or string to determine the length of edging you will need. You can also use rope or twine to lay out the desired shape and then measure the rope to get the required length. Don't forget to add about 10% to the total length to account for waste.
Now, let's talk about unrolling and laying out the plastic edging. If your edging comes in a roll, it is a good idea to unroll it and lay it flat on the ground a day or two before you plan to install it. This will allow it to flatten out and make it easier to work with. If it keeps curling back, place a rock or another lightweight object on each end to hold it down. Alternatively, you can leave it in the sun for about 60 minutes to warm up the plastic and make it less curled.
Once your edging is unrolled and ready to go, you can start digging your trench. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to secure the edging underground, but you can dig deeper if needed, depending on the height of your edging. Make sure the width of the trench is slightly larger than the width of the edging, with about 2 inches of extra space on each side. Keep the soil that you dig up close by, as you will use it later to fill in the trench and provide stability for your edging.
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Digging the trench
Before digging the trench, it is a good idea to measure the desired area to determine how much plastic edging you will need. You can use a string or a flexible measuring tape and run it along the desired path for your edging. This will help you to mark the area with stakes and visualise the final look. It is also important to remove any weed-control fabric before you start digging.
When digging the trench, use a round point shovel or spade to create a neat trench along the marked line. If you are installing edging around a circular perimeter, you can skip the step of uncoiling the plastic edging and letting it sit in the sun, as it will be easier to work with when it is curled. However, if your edging is straight, uncoil it and set it in the sun for about an hour to make it easier to work with.
As you dig, be careful not to damage any large tree roots. Use pruning shears to cut away any small roots that interrupt the trench. Once you have finished digging, remove the roots and set aside the soil that you have dug up, as you will be using it again soon. The width of the trench should be slightly larger than the width of the edging. While the exact width depends on your particular edging, 2 inches is typically sufficient.
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Placing the edging
Now that you have your plastic edging, it's time to place it in the trench. If your edging came in a roll, it's a good idea to unroll it and lay it flat on the ground a day or two before you plan to install it. This will help it straighten out and make it easier to work with. If it keeps curling back into its original shape, place a rock or another lightweight object on each end. You can skip this step if you're installing edging around a circular perimeter.
When you're ready to place the edging, start by digging 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 accommodate the edging and allow for an extra half inch to one inch of space above the edging. Pull up any weed-control fabric before you start digging.
Once the trench is dug, cut your plastic edging according to your measurements using garden shears. Place each strip in the trench, pushing it firmly into place and against the garden bed. If you're using stakes to secure your edging, hammer them in at a 45-degree angle to avoid the edging being forced out by frost. Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter, using a mallet to install them from the inside of the garden or flower bed. Avoid using a metal hammer, as this can break the stakes.
Finally, backfill the trench with dirt on both sides of the edging, gently patting it down with your hand. Water the area lightly to help the dirt settle. If necessary, you can lightly step on the dirt to pack it down further.
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Securing the edging
Securing your plastic edging is a crucial step in ensuring the longevity and effectiveness of your garden border. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
Firstly, it is recommended to unroll your plastic edging and lay it flat on the ground a day or two before installation. Exposing it to sunlight during this period will make the plastic more malleable and easier to work with. This step is especially important if your edging came in a roll, as it allows the material to flatten out and maintain its shape.
Next, you'll need to dig a trench along the desired path of your edging. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to accommodate the edging securely, with an extra half inch to one inch of space above for uniformity. Ensure that the trench is slightly wider than the edging itself; a width of approximately 2 inches is generally sufficient. Remove any small roots that may interfere with the trench, and cut away any weed-control fabric if necessary.
Now it's time to place your edging into the trench. Firmly push the edging against the garden bed, ensuring it is evenly placed and secure. If you're working with a circular perimeter, simply place each strip roughly where it needs to go along the edge of the trench.
To enhance the stability of your edging, use landscape stakes along the perimeter. Space the stakes about 3 to 6 inches apart, and install them from the inside of the garden bed with a mallet (avoid using a metal hammer as it can break the stakes). For black plastic edging, drive the stakes in at an angle near the bottom of the edging to prevent it from being forced out by frost. You can also use plastic coupling to secure corners or odd angles together.
Finally, backfill the trench with dirt on both sides of the edging. Gently move the dirt to avoid shifting the edging, and lightly pat it down with your hand. Water the area to help the dirt settle, and if needed, lightly step on the dirt to pack it down further.
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Frequently asked questions
To calculate how much edging you need, use a flexible measuring tape or string to measure the length of the border. Then, write down the dimensions so you know what you need to cut later.
If your plastic edging came in a roll, unroll it and lay it outside for a day or two so it can flatten out. If it keeps curling back, place a rock or another lightweight object on each end.
Dig a trench along the border that is at least 3 inches deep. Place the edging into the trench and push it firmly against the garden bed. Use a trowel or shovel to backfill dirt into the trench on both sides. Lightly water the area to help the dirt settle.
