Edging your lawn is one of those tasks you need to do if you want it to look fresh and clean. The grass on your lawn is unruly and will slowly creep into your flower beds if you fail to exercise some control. However, with edging, it is possible to separate your lush green lawn from your flower beds, ensuring that this outdoor space in your home is appealing to the eye. Although it is common for many homeowners to delegate lawn care to contractors, you should know that this is one of those tasks you can DIY, saving between $30 and $70 per hour that you would have spent by hiring a professional.
While there are several techniques for edging your lawn, the one method that is relatively easy and won’t cost you a dime is using a plank of wood and any edging tool at your disposal. Cost aside, maintaining the edges by hand allows you to be more thorough, especially around the corners. That said, here is how you can implement this simple hack into your home garden and additional tips for maintaining the edges in the future.
Getting the technique right
The first order of business is to assemble the tools you will require for the task. As mentioned before, you will need a plank of wood with straight edges and an edging tool. The best edging tool for this task is the half-moon edger; however, even a regular flat shovel will help you get the job done. Whether you are using the former or the latter, be sure to sharpen the edges to make it easy for the tools to cut through the tough grass and roots.
Executing the task with either of the tools shouldn’t be a challenging task; begin by laying the plank of wood on a straight line on the edge of your lawn. Now, using either the half-moon or flat-edge spade, drive it straight down along the sides of the wood, deep into the grass. According to Utah State University Extension, a 6-inch deep cut into the grass should be enough. Because your lawn edge is likely longer than the plank of wood, move it along as you work along the perimeter.
Maintaining your edges
Although your edges lawn might look neat now, you will need to do some follow-up tasks from time to time to ensure that it remains beautiful. No set rule dictates how often you need to edge your lawns; it all depends on factors like the season and how frequently you water your grass off-season. However, while this is true, We recommend inspecting the edges of your lawn every time you mow the grass. You will need to trim the grass using garden sheers if it creeps back into the beds.
Keep in mind that edge treatment might become more frequent during the peak growing seasons. If you are not a fan of such follow-up maintenance, one option you can explore to reduce the need for occasional edge treatment is arranging bricks along the edges once you are done edging your lawn. This will prevent grass or weeds from growing on the exposed soil, giving you a more permanent solution.
