How to install garden edging

Garden edging is a fantastic way to keep your outdoor space looking neat and tidy. It also has many functional benefits. Garden edging helps prevent your lawn grass from sneaking into your flower beds or vegie patches, which minimises the spread of weeds from one area to another. It also creates better water retention and drainage for your soil.

Garden edging can also boost the value of your property, which is why it’s a popular choice during renovations. It’s a great way to spruce up your existing garden or you can factor it into your garden design layout prior to planting.

Garden edging comes in a variety of materials (steel, concrete, timber, plastic, stone, etc.) and designs (straight, curved, wavy, etc.). Each of these will add a completely different look to your garden.

Time can also play a factor. Depending on how much time you have to complete your D.I.Y. garden edging project, you might prefer pre-cut pieces. If you’re flexible with time, you might want to cut the length yourself to fit your specific needs.

Installation methods vary depending on the product; generally, you'll use pegs to secure the garden edging in place.

Take your time to explore the options and find the edging that complements your garden style and meets your requirements.

It’s easy to determine how much edging you'll need for your garden edging project. If your garden has straight edges, measure the length you want to cover and add an additional 10 percent for contingencies. For curved edges, grab some twine and lay it down following all the dips and curves, then measure the twine precisely.

Divide that total length by the length of each edging piece you have or plan to cut. This will give you the number of pre-cut edging pieces you’ll need to buy. Don't forget to round up to ensure you have enough pieces to go all the way around. Alternatively, if you’re going to cut your own edging, use the measurement from the total length of twine, plus 10 percent extra (just in case).

Next, dig the trench that your edging will sit in. Take a shovel and start digging alongside your garden bed, making it deep enough for the edging to reach about halfway down. Keep the trench narrow, just wide enough to accommodate the edging and a bit of backfill.

If you want to be precise with the height of your edging trenches, you can always add a string line. For straight trenches, tie a string tightly between two stakes positioned at each end, ensuring it's straight and level. If your trench is curved, gently bend the string to match the curve, securing it with stakes along the way for consistent alignment. Use a tape measure to make sure the height is consistent all the way along the trench.

How you install your garden edging will depend on the material you’ve selected. For flexible materials like plastic or rubber, simply unroll them along the edges. If you’ve gone for stone or steel, place this halfway into the trench and use a screwdriver or scraper to lock the two pieces of edging together at the clip.

Depending on the edging design, you might need to align these two pieces together prior to placing them into the earth. Wooden edging, like pickets, may need pre-drilling for stakes. For curves, remember to curve the edging where needed and secure it in place with a peg for a polished look.

To secure your garden edging in place, use a mallet and some plastic or steel pegs to loop over the edging. This will fortify your edging.

Backfill the trench with a shovel and pat down the soil around the edging for stability.