Edging isn’t needed for flower beds, but it is still a smart idea. An attractive flower bed can be the highlight of any garden. They’re versatile, changeable, and bring a burst of color to the lawn.
It’s hard not to smile when you look at a flower bed. However, they can quickly become ruined by stray plants working their way in.
Weeds and grasses spread quickly and voraciously. Some particularly aggressive weeds can seem impossible to remove once they’ve taken root, and can even get in from other gardens.
No one wants to spend time and money on a flower bed, only to have it ruined by invasive grasses. A hardy weed can even choke out the flowers, meaning your gorgeous decoration has become a hotbed of weeds.
What edging does is establish a boundary around a flower bed. Plants grow via a root system, and edging prevents outside roots from spreading and breaking in.
Edges don’t need to be expensive, and they don’t need to be particularly hard work either. In fact, the effort of putting up edging is much less than that of constantly needing to pull grass from a flower bed.
Edging may not be needed, but it is worth doing if you want your flower beds to always look their best. That way you can focus on adding flowers, not removing grasses.
How do I separate grass from flower beds?
Grass is separated from flower beds by a system known as edging. This is when a physical barrier is used around the edge of the flower bed. Grasses are then prevented from spreading, and growing outwards into the flower beds.
Edging is an easy and consistent way to keep grasses and flower beds separate.
There are many types of edging, and some are more effort to do than others. When choosing a type of edging, there are three main factors to consider. The first is what will look best in your garden.
The second is how much maintenance you’re interested in doing. Finally, you’ll need to consider the costs. It should be relatively simple to find a type of edging that fits your parameters.
If grasses have gotten into the flower bed, they need to be removed. The best way to do this is by hand. Although it may be a time-consuming task, working by hand causes the least damage.
When you try to remove weeds and grasses with a spade or shovel, it’s a very invasive method. It’s far too easy to damage the flowers alongside the grasses.
When pulling, be sure to remove the roots completely. Otherwise, the grasses can grow back. Ideally, you should remove any grasses as soon as they pop up, and then install edging.
How do you edge a garden?
A garden is edged by installing a physical barrier between different areas of planting. This is done to stop grass from spreading into flower beds.
There are multiple types of edging available. Some can be used as features of the garden, where others are instead a subtle wall that keeps areas separate. Edging can also be done by using sharp cuts, rather than creating an actual wall.
To edge a garden, first you need to choose which material to use. This can be done by deciding a budget, a look, and the level of work required. Then, you need to determine the firm borders between the planting and the grass.
In most cases, this will be fairly obvious. For new planting, use a garden hose to lay out where the edge will be. Cut away and neaten your edge, removing any turf.
If you’re choosing simply to cut edging, use your edging tool to create a bold line, and then place mulch around the border. Otherwise, lay your materials.
For a large garden, you may choose to use different types of edging. Edging may be done by installing a path, and this is a good choice for particularly large areas of planting.
Alternatively, a more aesthetic solution may be preferred for smaller areas. The very edges of the garden may then be done using an edging tool.
Is garden edging necessary?
Garden edging isn’t necessary, but it is recommended. Done correctly, garden edging prevents grass from spreading into your flower beds. There are many types of edging, so it can become a feature of the garden, rather than an imposition. Installing garden edging is a hard and sweaty task.
However, in many cases, once it’s done, it’s done. In the long run, installing edging is easier than removing spreading grasses.
Rather than just preventing the spread of grass, edging can be used to create a design for the garden. There are many materials that can be used for edging, including lumber, brick, flagstone, and paving.
Even a simple cut edging can really improve the look of the garden. Edging gives a finished appearance, and makes your planting stand out.
For a large garden, edging can be used to create areas, or ‘rooms’ in the garden. By doing this, you’re able to experiment with different types of planting. Edging can even be used to create areas that are ‘off limits’, to stop people from walking over your flowers.
Edging doesn’t have to be a long and difficult process. By using an edging tool, you can cut out borders with ease. The only problem is it requires regular upkeep.
By installing other forms of edging, you have a long-lasting solution to an annoying problem. We all want our gardens to look their best, and edging ensures every flower can shine.
What can I use to edge a flower bed?
A flower bed can be edged with any number of materials, anything that provides a barrier between the grass and the planting.
A simple solution is to use aluminum or plastic strips. These are hammered into the ground, and form an unobtrusive wall. They may not be the most attractive of edging solutions, but they’re versatile and durable. These are great for a clean finish.
Alternatively, you can use paving, or other types of stone. Flagstones and paving stones can be either a lining, or a wide path between planting. This is best if you want the edging to serve multiple purposes.
Otherwise, natural stone can be used as a barrier. Ball-sized rocks placed around the flower bed are a naturally appealing choice. A border of gravel can also be used as an effective way of edging.
If you want to use natural products, wood is adaptable for this purpose. Cedar can create an attractive fence. If you have long-straight edges, then timber has a farmhouse appeal. Wood chips can be used similarly to gravel.
A long term solution is either laying brickwork, or pouring concrete. These options are labor-intensive, but incredibly durable. For concrete, you look to hire outside help.
Finally, an edging tool cuts neat lines to prevent grass-spread. This needs upkeep, but looks neat and is easily adapted for new planting.
Should flower beds be higher than the lawn?
Flower beds should be raised above the lawn, due to the compost and mulch used for growth. When initially creating a flower bed, you need to dig down to turn the soil. This will give you a slightly lowered bed.
Then, when you intend to start planting, mulch is applied in a thick layer. This keeps the soil moist, improves plant fertility, and lowers weed growth. When the mulch is added, and you’re ready to start planting, the bed will be higher than the lawn.
This height allows for better drainage, and gives the roots more room to grow. Flower beds are generally mounded, but some are higher than the lawn for edging purposes.
There is also a specific type of flower bed that is much higher than the lawn. These are raised beds, and they’re used to grow a variety of flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
Raised beds are quite different to regular flower beds, in that they’re in containers separate to the lawn. Many like these because they allow for neat and precise planting.
They’re also good for gardens with poor soil, as you can use different types across the beds. Raised beds are used for increased drainage, which warms the soil faster.
Raised beds can be only a few inches off the soil, or they may be in containers several feet high.
