Edging: Creating a well-defined garden

Edging is an important task completed during Spring Clean Up:

Advantages of Edging:

1. Edging and borders give flower beds a clean, finished look and define the boundaries between a flower bed and your lawn.
2. A well-maintained border keeps mulch inside a bed.
3. Edging and borders keep out weeds.

To Create New Garden Beds:

1. Use a garden hose, flour, string or another non-toxic substance to mark the lines before you begin making any cuts.
2. Insert the blade of the garden spade vertically between the lawn and the edge of the garden bed.
3. Step on the foot press of the tool and drive the blade about 3 inches into the ground.
4. Make a second cut at a 45 degree angle so that it meets the bottom of the vertical cut.
5. Lift out the sod that has been created by the two cuts and toss it into your wheelbarrow.
6. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the entire edge has been cut.
7. The resulting chunks of grass and soil that are in your wheelbarrow can be used to fill in low areas of your lawn that need to be filled or they can be placed in a composter.
8. For the remaining sod within the body of the bed, use a round point shovel or tiller to remove the sod or turn it over.

To Maintain Clean Lines in an Existing Garden Bed or To Edge Lawns:

1. This is the perfect project for spring when the ground is still soft from the rain.
2. Insert the blade of the garden spade vertically between the lawn and the edge of the pavement or garden bed.
3. Step on the foot press of the tool and drive the blade about 3 inches into the ground so that it slices off turf and leaves a clean line.
4. Lift out the sod that has been cut and toss it into your wheelbarrow.
5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 until the entire edge has been cut.
6. Use the sod in the wheelbarrow to fill in low areas in your lawn or chop up, mix with fertilizer
7. Re-trim the edges each year or as needed throughout the growing season.

Decorative Options for Garden Bed Edges or Walkways:

1. For a decorative border to your garden bed, consider using wrought iron, stone or fence edging.
2. All three types of edging have interlocking pieces that can be easily tapped into the ground with a rubber mallet.
3. Walkway lighting is another option that can add an element of elegance to any house or lawn.

Insider Tip: Garden spade can edge straight lines or curves and can be used to dig.