By: Kathy Johnston
Submitted: 2010-08-29 16:54:25 | Word Count: 454
Garden edging is the act of creating a border within a yard. This would be the border between the lawn itself and the mulched garden bed. A person may also refer to garden edging as lawn edging, or more commonly, landscape edging. There are several different types of garden edging, and numerous tools with which to do so.
Besides the obvious aesthetic improvement, there are other reasons to engage in garden edging. One reason is the prevention of the spread of stoloniferous grasses into the bed of the garden. Without that prevention, one would need to plan on consistently removing grasses from the beds. Another possible motivation could be the guidelines of home-owners associations. Additionally, the existence of uncontained mulch can easily spread over into the actual yard.
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One very simple example of garden edging is the trench. This is done by cutting a shallow, even border. However, this is one of the higher maintenance ways to create a border, and given that, may not always be the most popular choice. Other available options are the use of natural items such as river rocks, wood, or stone. A person could also use metal, concrete, or plastic items that create an obvious line or border.
There are many tools to choose from when beginning this process. To determine the preferred tool, one will need to evaluate individual goals and desires that relate to both the appearance and usability of the yard. For example, if flower beds will cover the majority of the yard, different choices need to be made than if it was simply a tree or two and grass.
The available tools will include lawn edging, mulch, sand, paint, an edger, a hose and a level. Crucial items will also include a trowel and concrete pavers. A choice that is not required, but can help make the appearance more attractive, is the use of a landscape fabric. A landscape fabric would be an eye-catching addition to any yard project.
Many home-owners use a hose when defining the proposed borders. When the borders are clarified, spray paint is used to make them more obvious and easy to follow. Following that, the pavers are deposited and trenches are dug.
Garden edging is not vital to the health of a yard. The choice to do so will depend on the home-owners goals for his or her yard, as well as the existing aesthetics.
