How to edge a flower bed with a lawn edger

Mowing grass only goes so far - follow these 9 simple steps for using a lawn edger like a pro and you’ll have the neatest lawn in the neighbourhood!

When is lawn edging necessary?

It is only necessary to edge your lawn when the grass itself infringes into other areas of the garden. When the soil becomes crumbly or receives heavy foot traffic it may inadvertently get pushed into its surroundings and becoming necessary to define a clear border again. Edging can reduce the risk of skidding on damp patios, paths and paving by removing slippery compressed grass which creeps on the surface which can’t be reached with a mower.

How to edge a lawn with an edger

Using a lawn edger to edge a flowerbed is a straightforward task which can drastically improve the appearance of a lawn with the minimum amount of time and effort.

Prepare

First, before using a lawn edger prepare the area by creating a perimeter line using string and pegs unless you are already cutting against an existing structure such as a patio path or driveway. Remember to check the ground for obstacles and utilities such as rocks, cabling and pipes.

Dig

With the foothold of the lawn edger facing towards you place the sharp blade in the lawn at the beginning of the perimeter line pointing vertically straight down. Press your foot on top of the blade of the lawn edger with your bodyweight forcing the edger into the ground as far as possible then use the handle to rock the edger along the direction of the border until the motion becomes smooth without resistance.

Check

If you feel any resistance whilst digging you may have hit a stone, pipework or a cable so it is important that you stop and investigate, remove any debris or work around any important obstacles.

Pull out

Pull up the lawn edger and you will be left with a thin trench.

Repeat

Move the lawn edger a few inches across and repeat until you reach the end of the border.

Remove surplus turf

Using a pair of gardening gloves pull out the unwanted strip of turf and discard, leaving you with a perfectly straight border. You can re-use the surplus grassy turf to ‘build out’ portions of the border which lack grass.

Edging against hardscaping

If you are creating a straight line next to any hardscaping such as a patio or pathway then you can lean the blade against that surface using the existing perimeter to the guide you. Afterwards brush away any overlapping soil and grass that has crept onto that surface.

Edging against beds

When edging flower beds or areas of bark we recommend creating two parallel cuts then tearing the middle strip out to form a trench, then brushing the soil or bark across towards the lawn to fill up the gap into a neat line.

Clean

Remember afterwards to clean your lawn edger to prolong the lifespan of the tool.

How often should I use a lawn edger?

Edging the lawn can be performed once a year or it performed every time you mow your lawn. How often you use a lawn edger is entirely up to you, the standard you like to keep your garden and how quickly Mother Nature decides to reshape your borders.

Avoid taking too much lawn away as it is possible that you could shrink your lawn significantly. You can create an initial shape at first using a reference line and then tidy up that border with smaller trims on during subsequent cuts.

How does a lawn edger work?

It is important to clean a lawn edger after use to prevent rust, decay and the spread of diseases from contaminated soils and plants, you will also be keeping your storage area cleaner as a result.