Edging a flower bed can transform your garden into a well-organized and aesthetically pleasing outdoor space. Edging not only enhances the visual appeal of your garden but also serves practical purposes for landscaping maintenance. 

Today, we’re giving you a step-by-step guide on how to edge a flower bed explaining the process from beginning to end. We’re discussing why homeowners choose to edge a flower bed as well as when it’s time to call in the professionals vs doing it yourself. 

Why Should You Edge a Flower Bed?

Learning how to edge a flower bed isn’t just about aesthetics; it serves several practical purposes that can benefit your backyard flower garden ideas. By defining the boundaries of your flower bed and maintaining a tidy appearance, edging offers both functional and visual advantages. 

Some of the reasons you might decide to edge a flower bed are:

1. Distinct boundaries: Edging a flower bed creates well-defined boundaries between your flower bed and the surrounding landscape. This clear separation helps keep the garden’s elements in their designated areas, preventing the spread of plants where you don’t want them to be and helping define your outdoor living design.
2. Enhanced visual appeal: One of the primary reasons homeowners learn how to edge a flower bed is the visual improvement it brings. The clean lines and polished appearance that come with edging a flower bed significantly enhance the overall look of your garden. It creates a more attractive landscape, which makes it a pleasure to enjoy as well as boosts your property value.
3. Ease of maintenance: Edging a flower bed is one of the best low maintenance lawn ideas you can have. The distinct border allows for easy mowing and trimming along the edges, ensuring that your flowers are not inadvertently damaged during routine upkeep. This saves both time and effort in maintaining your garden. It also helps with weed prevention.

There are a seemingly infinite number of flower bed edging ideas you can consider for your landscaping. Deciding how to edge a flower bed is the perfect way to complete the look of your outdoor spaces. It’s a simple change that makes a large impact!

How to Edge a Flower Bed: A Step-By-Step Guide

Learning how to edge a flower bed is a rewarding task but requires advanced planning and the proper tools. Make sure you’ve got the right tools and materials before you begin. While it’s possible to edge a flower bed yourself, many homeowners prefer to leave it to professional hardscaping services (more on that shortly).

Materials You’ll Need:

• Garden edging tool (manual or powered)
• Wooden or plastic garden stakes
• String or twine
• Measuring tape
• Shovel
• Rubber mallet
• Safety gear (gloves and safety glasses)

Ready to get started? Let’s walk through the process to edge a flower bed step-by-step:

1. Gather Your Materials
2. Plan Your Edge
3. Dig a Trench
4. Install Edging Material
5. Backfill and Finishing Touches

Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Before you begin, double-check to ensure you have all the necessary materials on hand. Not only do you want to have the right tools available, but you need to be certain you’ve got all the materials you want to use while edging a flower bed so you don’t run short.

Step 2: Plan Your Edge

Start by measuring and planning the outline of your flower bed edge. Use a measuring tape to mark the desired dimensions and shape of your bed. To create a visual guide, lay out string or twine along the marked perimeter. This step helps you visualize the edge and ensures it aligns with your garden’s design and layout.

Step 3: Dig a Trench

Now it’s time to dig a trench along the marked perimeter. You can use a garden edging tool or a shovel for this purpose. The depth and width of the trench will depend on the type of edging material you intend to use. As you dig, maintain a straight line and follow the intended shape closely. It’s best to start with the outer edge and then go back with the inner boundary to stay on track.

Wooden or plastic garden stakes can be used to keep the string or twine in place, ensuring your edge remains consistent and well-defined.

Step 4: Install Edging Material

Carefully place your chosen edging material such as metal, plastic, stone, or brick, into the trench you’ve just created. Use a rubber mallet to gently tap the material into place. If you’re using flexible plastic edging, secure it with stakes along the trench. For rigid materials like stone or brick, ensure they are level and properly aligned. This step gives your flower bed edge the structure and stability it needs.

Edging Tip: You also want to make sure your materials are all level when edging a flower bed. This will give it a professional look when finished.

Step 5: Backfill and Finishing Touches

With the edging material in place, it’s time to backfill the trench with soil. Ensure the edging is secure and level as you add soil to the trench. Use your feet or a tamp to compact the soil around the edging, providing stability and preventing shifting. If applicable, you can trim any excess edging material with a saw or suitable cutting tool to achieve a clean and uniform appearance.

Edging a Flower Bed Yourself vs Calling the Pros

When it comes to how to edge a flower bed, some homeowners opt to take on the task themselves. Others choose to leave it to the professionals in order to make sure they get the look they want. The choice is yours, but let’s take a look at some of the reasons you might consider DIY vs professional edging services for your garden.

DIY Approach to Edging a Flower Bed

Are you a weekend warrior? Love taking on a landscaping project yourself? That’s great! Here are some reasons homeowners may opt to edge a flower bed on their own:

• Small flower beds: If you have a small flower bed with a simple shape, edging it yourself may be entirely possible. Basic straight or gently curved edges can be accomplished with relative ease.
• Lower budget: Doing it yourself can be cost-effective, as it mainly requires your time and effort, along with readily available tools and materials.
• Personal satisfaction: DIY edging can be a rewarding project, allowing you to connect with your garden and feel a sense of accomplishment.

While edging a flower bed yourself might seem appealing, keep in mind that it could come at a cost. Not only could it become more expensive if you need to redo or fix any issues (or buy tools), but you may not end up with the visual result you were hoping for.

Professional Edging Services

Sometimes the best method for how to edge a flower bed is to leave it to the pros! You might consider leaving the work to us if you have:

• Large or complex beds: For larger flower beds with intricate designs, hiring professionals like us may ensure a more precise and visually appealing outcome. Our team has the expertise and equipment to tackle complex projects effectively.
• Limited time: If you have a busy schedule or limited time for gardening tasks, hiring professionals can save you a significant amount of time and ensure that the job gets done efficiently. We’ll give you the look you want without you having to lift a finger.
• Lack of skills or tools: If you lack the necessary skills, experience, or specialized tools required for specific edging materials (e.g., heavy stone or brick), professionals can provide expert installation.
• Custom designs: If you want custom edging designs that require professional expertise, such as intricate stonework or unique patterns, we advise you to give us a call and let our team bring your vision to life.

Deciding how to edge a flower bed can boost curb appeal and help you enjoy your outdoor spaces even more. By following our step-by-step guide, you can achieve a well-defined and aesthetically pleasing edge for your flower bed. Consider your garden’s size, complexity, and your own time and skill level when deciding whether to tackle the project yourself or bring in the help of our team of landscaping professionals in Upstate NY.

Contact us using the form below to discuss services, or give us a call! 

518-869-LAWN