Omar Khalid
Plastic garden edging is a great way to give your garden a clean, manicured look. It's a relatively easy and inexpensive way to enhance your landscaping and boost your home's curb appeal. Installing plastic edging can be done as a DIY project and can be completed in just a few hours. In this guide, we will take you through the steps to successfully lay plastic garden edging and give your garden a fresh, new look.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | Typically ranges from 3–6 inches (7.6–15.2 cm) high |
| Plastic edging | Comes in kits with edging pieces, stakes, and connectors |
| Comes in a coil and often maintains that shape | |
| Should be laid out in the sun to make it less curled and easier to shape | |
| Should be unrolled the day before installation to allow it to flatten | |
| Installation | Requires digging a trench at least 3 inches deep |
| Requires placing edging in the trench and hammering in stakes | |
| Requires watering the edging to settle the soil | |
| Requires backfilling the edging into any gaps in the soil |
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What You'll Learn
Planning and measuring
Step 1: Measure the Perimeter
Use a tape measure to determine the length of the garden bed's perimeter that you want to cover with plastic edging. If you have curved borders or round garden beds, you can use rope or twine to measure the desired shape. Mark the curvature of the rope with environmentally safe marking paint, then cut the rope to size and measure its length. This will give you an idea of how much plastic edging you need. Don't forget to add about 10% extra to account for waste.
Step 2: Prepare the Edging
Plastic edging often comes in a coil or roll. To prevent it from curling, unroll the edging and lay it flat outside in the sun for a day or two before installation. This will make it easier to shape and work with.
Step 3: Dig the Trench
Using a round point shovel or spade, dig a trench along the edges of the garden bed, following the marking paint if you used any. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep and slightly wider than the width of the edging. If you are using multiple rolls of edging, use a connector to attach the ends of the rolls.
Step 4: Place the Edging
Place the plastic edging in the trench, ensuring that the lip on the bottom is pointing toward the garden bed. Set each strip down roughly where it needs to go along the edge of the trench. Make sure the edging is even before securing it in place.
Step 5: Secure with Stakes (Optional)
If you want to secure the edging further, you can use stakes. Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter, hammering them in from the inside of the garden bed with a mallet at a 45-degree angle. This will help prevent the edging from moving and provide additional stability.
By following these planning and measuring steps, you will be well on your way to successfully laying plastic garden edging.
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Preparing the ground
Firstly, you need to measure the garden beds or borders you want to edge. Use a flexible measuring tape or string/twine to outline the desired path for your edging. Mark the measurements as you go, so you know what length to cut later. Remember to add 10% to the total length to account for waste.
Next, you'll want to remove any existing weed-control fabric or other landscaping material in the area. Use a pair of garden shears or a sharp spade to cut through any roots and clear the ground. This step ensures a clean surface for your edging to be installed.
Now, it's time to dig a trench. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep and follow the marked outline from your measurements. A round point shovel or spade can be used to dig a neat trench. If you have particularly tough soil, consider using a tool like a trenchmaster or an E-Z Trencher, which can make the job easier.
Before placing the edging, it's a good idea to unroll it and leave it in the sun for a day or two. This will help the plastic become less curled and easier to shape and work with.
Finally, lay the edging into the trench, ensuring it follows the desired path. Use a trowel to backfill any spaces between the edging and the trench, packing the soil tightly to provide stability.
Now you're ready to move on to the next steps of installing your plastic garden edging!
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Cutting the edging
First, determine the required length of edging for your project. Use a tape measure to establish the dimensions of the area you need to cover. This step will guide your cutting process, ensuring you cut the right amount of edging.
When you are ready to cut the plastic garden edging, there are several tools you can use. Some people recommend using aviation snips or shears, which are effective and affordable. Straight-cutting styles are generally preferred for this task. Alternatively, you can use tin snips or metal shears, which are also inexpensive and readily available. For a more heavy-duty option, consider a Sawzall or a hacksaw.
If you are cutting edging that comes in a roll, you will need to unroll it first. Plastic edging often has a natural curl due to its packaging, so ensure you unroll it completely before cutting. This will allow you to cut the edging to the desired length without being constrained by the coil shape.
Once you have the required tools and have unrolled the edging (if necessary), proceed with caution and cut the edging according to your measurements. It is essential to follow your marked dimensions to ensure a precise fit for your garden or flower bed.
After cutting, you can move on to placing the edging in the trench and continuing with the installation process. Remember to handle the tools with care and take the necessary safety precautions when cutting plastic garden edging.
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Placing the edging
To place the edging, start by unrolling the plastic lawn edging the day before you want to install it. This will allow it to flatten out of its rolled-up shape, making it easier to work with. If possible, leave the plastic edging in the sun, as the warmth will make it easier to shape.
Next, dig a trench along the edges of the garden bed. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to accommodate the plastic edging and allow for uniformity around your garden's perimeter. Use a round point shovel or spade to dig a neat trench, following any marking paint or rope guidelines you may have previously laid out.
Once the trench is dug, place your edging into it. Line it up as desired, ensuring it follows any curves or bends you want to create. Keep a trowel handy to dig or backfill any spaces as you go. Before hammering in stakes, ensure the edging is as even as possible.
Now, install the stakes. Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter of the edging. Use a mallet to gently tap the stakes into the ground from the inside of the garden bed. Be careful not to use a metal hammer, as this can break the stakes. The stakes should be installed at a very flat angle, no more than 25 degrees. These stakes will provide stability and help secure the edging in place.
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Securing the edging
Firstly, it is important to prepare the trench. The trench should be at least 3 inches deep, with an extra half to one inch of space above the edging to maintain a uniform look. Remove any weed-control fabric and use garden shears to cut the plastic edging according to your measurements. Place each strip along the trench edge, ensuring it follows the desired path.
Next, install the stakes to provide stability to the edging. Stakes can be made from scrap wood or purchased as part of a kit. Place the stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter of the edging. The stakes should be installed from the inside of the garden bed, using a mallet to hammer them in. It is important to hammer the stakes at a flat angle, preferably no more than 25 degrees. This ensures the edging is sturdy and secure.
Finally, use the soil you removed when digging the trench to backfill any gaps around the edging. Water the soil lightly with a garden hose to settle it and compact the edging in place. You can also lightly step on the damp soil to pack it down further. Check that the edging feels sturdy all around, and add more soil to any areas that require additional support.
By following these steps, you will ensure your plastic garden edging is securely installed and ready to enhance the look of your garden beds and borders.
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Frequently asked questions
Use a string or flexible measuring tape to measure the desired area. Then, lay rope or twine along your desired border and use environmentally safe marking paint to trace the curvature of the rope. Once the rope is dry, cut it to size and measure the length with a tape measure. Don't forget to add 10% to the total length to account for waste.
The trench should be at least 3 inches deep to secure the edging underground, but you can dig up to 6 inches deep. This will help prevent grass from invading your garden bed.
Place landscape stakes every 3 to 6 inches along the perimeter, starting 3 inches in from the beginning of the edging. Use a mallet to install them from the inside of the garden or flower bed. Do not use a metal hammer, as this will break the stakes. Pound the stakes in at a 25-degree angle, maximum.
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