There's no "rule" that says you must install lawn edging between a lawn and a garden. I've often gone without lawn edging, myself, partly because I hate tripping over it! You have to reach your own conclusions on the necessity of lawn edging for your yard.
Your decisions aren't over with when you decide in favor of lawn edging; you'll have to sift through a number of options prior to installation. Lawn edging is not one-size-fits-all. To determine the type of lawn edging right for you, you'll have to take stock of your landscaping goals.
For instance, some homeowners choose to incorporate mowing strips. Mowing strips potentially reduce maintenance and are often used in conjunction with brick borders (i.e., bricks stood up on end, "shoulder to shoulder," to form a classy lawn edging). Others, for whom cost is a priority, forgo mowing strips and simply install a vertical barrier between lawn and garden, often of plastic. Such a barrier will keep mulch from deserting your garden while preventing grass stolons from invading it. In the following tools and materials list, I assume the use of both a mowing strip and plastic lawn edging:
Lawn Edging Tools & Materials
- Plastic lawn edging (substitute with another material, as desired)
- Precast concrete pavers
- Mulch
- Landscape fabric (optional)
- Sand
- Level
- Tape measure
- Spade or edger
- Spray paint
- Hose
- Shovel
- Trowel and mallet
I used precast concrete pavers for my mowing strip: a product called, "Edgestone™," which boasts an interlocking end connection system. Although people often speak of "brick" pavers used for mowing strips, note that regular bricks would break down too quickly to be used in this manner. "Bricks" intended for paving are made of tougher stuff.
For plastic lawn edging, I bought a product called, "QuickEdge™."
On Page 3 we begin the installation of the lawn edging....
