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Mowing your backyard on the regular keeps grass looking neat and tidy, but trimming lawn edges takes your turf to the next level. With these six steps to neat lawn edges, it’s easy to keep your garden looking crisp and pristine.
Neat and tidy edges take your home’s yard to the next level, creating a polished finish. A lawn edging tool will help you to get a clean, sharp line between grass, paths and driveways, or between the nature strip and footpath. You may find a manual hand edger or half-moon edger the best gardening tools for curved edges such as around garden beds.
Take the hard labour out of yard work with a powered garden edger. For a smaller outdoor space with access to power, a corded model may be the way to go. Or, for not too much more, you can get a cordless model. Both offer adjustable cutting depth, giving you extra flexibility for achieving the perfect finish to your turf. A petrol-powered lawn edger is a good option for tougher jobs or a larger property.
Regular mowing helps maintain a healthy lawn but do you start with trimming lawn edges or leave it until after you mow? There is no hard and fast rule, so it comes down to your own gardening preference. As a guide, trim areas the mower can’t reach with a whipper snipper, then mow the lawn and edge it. Don’t forget to keep lawn mower blades and cutting tools sharp with a cut file so grass is cut and not torn or shredded.
Keep lawns out of garden beds, off paths and neatly bordered with garden bed edging. This can be decorative or minimal, depending on your landscape style. Concrete or steel edging will complement modern or contemporary properties, while terracotta, natural rock, bricks or treated pine tidy up cottage, traditional or coastal scapes. Corten steel is a useful all-rounder.
To define the lawn but also give your outside landscape texture and interest, consider edging borders with plants. Use wispy grasses like lomandra, blue fescue or miscanthus for a relaxed feel. Or, for a more formal look, go for tightly clipped hedges of westringia, buxus or rhaphiolepis. Mulch with pine bark or eucalyptus mulch to suppress weed growth and keep the lawn from creeping into the garden beds. A periodic trim with garden tools such as a spade or half-moon edger will help keep the lawn tidy.
A verdant lawn with manicured edges won’t look its best if you don’t clean up after your edging and trimming efforts. Using a blower is the quickest way, but for compact areas you should be able to rake and sweep easily enough. Give your garden’s hedges, bushes and shrubs a trim while you are in lawn edging mode and make sure to clean your tools of all grass, soil and other matter so they are ready to go for next time. Use a stiff brush or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and maintenance.
When using powered garden tools, always wear the recommended safety gear, and wear gloves and a mask when handling mulch.
Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
